TY - JOUR
T1 - The global iron industry and the Anthropocene
AU - Mallinger, Kevin
AU - Mergili, Martin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2020.
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - Iron ore is the most mined metal and the second most mined mineral in the world. The mining of iron ore and the processing of iron and steel increased sharply during the 20th century and peaked at the beginning of the 21st century. Associated processes along the iron ore cycle (mining, processing, recycling, weathering) such as the massive displacement of rock, the emission of waste and pollutants, or the weathering of products resulted in long-term environmental and stratigraphic changes. Key findings link the iron ore industry to 170 gigatons of rock overburden, a global share of CO
2 with 7.6%, mercury with 7.4%, and a variety of other metals, pollutants, and residues. These global changes led to physical, chemical, biological, magnetic, and sequential markers, which are used for the justification of the Anthropocene. The potential markers vary significantly regarding their persistence and measurability, but key findings are summarised as TMPs (Technogenic Magnetic Particles), SCPs (Spheroidal Carbonaceous fly ash Particles), POPs (Persistent Organic Particles), heavy metals (vanadium, mercury, etc.), as well as steel input and steel corrosion residues.
AB - Iron ore is the most mined metal and the second most mined mineral in the world. The mining of iron ore and the processing of iron and steel increased sharply during the 20th century and peaked at the beginning of the 21st century. Associated processes along the iron ore cycle (mining, processing, recycling, weathering) such as the massive displacement of rock, the emission of waste and pollutants, or the weathering of products resulted in long-term environmental and stratigraphic changes. Key findings link the iron ore industry to 170 gigatons of rock overburden, a global share of CO
2 with 7.6%, mercury with 7.4%, and a variety of other metals, pollutants, and residues. These global changes led to physical, chemical, biological, magnetic, and sequential markers, which are used for the justification of the Anthropocene. The potential markers vary significantly regarding their persistence and measurability, but key findings are summarised as TMPs (Technogenic Magnetic Particles), SCPs (Spheroidal Carbonaceous fly ash Particles), POPs (Persistent Organic Particles), heavy metals (vanadium, mercury, etc.), as well as steel input and steel corrosion residues.
KW - ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS
KW - Anthropocene
KW - COMPREHENSIVE EMISSION INVENTORY
KW - DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS
KW - FLY-ASH POLLUTION
KW - HEAVY-METALS
KW - LCA
KW - LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT
KW - OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
KW - PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS
KW - POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS
KW - POP
KW - SCP
KW - TECHNOGENIC MAGNETIC PARTICLES
KW - TMP
KW - carbon oxide
KW - environmental geology
KW - geochemistry
KW - iron ore
KW - material cycle
KW - steel
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85098565775&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/2053019620982332
DO - 10.1177/2053019620982332
M3 - Meeting abstract/Conference paper
SN - 2053-0196
VL - 9
SP - 52
EP - 70
JO - The Anthropocene Review
JF - The Anthropocene Review
IS - 1
ER -