Humans have been around for only about 0.01% of Earth’s history, yet we’ve altered natural landscapes and processes that have remained stable for millions of years. A team of researchers from the University of Glasgow recently studied a formerly sandy beach in the UK that highlights how fast these changes can occur.

Industrial steel and iron furnaces operated extensively in the UK from 1856 until the 1980s. During these decades, workers dumped roughly 335 million cubic meters (90 billion gallons) of molten furnace waste, called slag, across the country. Of that, roughly 27 million cubic meters (6 million gallons) now sits on the coast of Derwent Howe in a massive 30-meter (100-foot), solidified cliff. 

The researchers analyzed this region to understand how man-made, or anthropogenic, materials influence the way rocks form. Rocks naturally form and change into different types of rocks over million-year timescales, through a continuous process called the rock cycle. When the team uncovered a soda can tab manufactured in 1989 within the hardened grains, or clasts, of slag, they concluded that the beach had solidified within the last 35 years. Based on this discovery, they proposed a new term for rocks formed from anthropogenic sediments: the anthropoclastic rock cycle. 

The team collected 1,300 grains of sediment from 13 sites in the study area and found that 83% were slag. Natural beach sediments, like quartz sand, comprised only about 17% of the grains. As wind and waves broke down the cliff, slag clasts fell off and became rounded by friction as tides transported them from the cliff to the beach. 

At the boundary where the slag touched the beach, the researchers also saw evidence that the slag had seeped into the underlying wet sediment. The rocks there resembled a type of rock called peperite, which forms when lava flows over wet, loose sediments.  They concluded that this peperite-like rock formed as the molten slag flowed over the still sandy beach. Slag is much thicker than wet sand, so the resulting rock looked like blobs of slag encased in sandy rock. 

The researchers then visually observed how the slag grains were arranged in the solidified rock to reconstruct the tidewater speeds at different points in the coast’s history. The different ways sediments are arranged within a rock are called sedimentary features, and they reflect the processes that formed the rock. For example, as water flows over sand, it forms small, dune-like ripples. When the sand beds harden into rock, the ripples are preserved as features known as trough cross-bedding. 

Faster water erases any ripple formations and instead forms horizontal layers in the sediment, known as planar lamination. The researchers observed both trough cross-bedding and planar laminations preserved in the slag beach rocks. These sedimentary features indicate that the beach at Derwent Howe turned from loose sediment into rock in a generation. 

To investigate why this beach rapidly solidified, the researchers scanned the surfaces of the beach rock with electron beams and X-rays using a scanning electron microscope, or SEM, equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray, or EDX. Every chemical element emits a unique set of X-rays with different wavelengths when hit with EDX, so the researchers could compare the X-rays from their samples to databases of known mineral X-ray signatures. They identified the primary binding agents as calcium- and iron-rich minerals like calcite, goethite, and brucite. These minerals are called cements because they bind grains of sediment together. 

The researchers expected the slag to produce these cement compositions, since extracting metal ores from rock enriches the resultant slag in calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron, which readily dissolve in water. When water flowing between closely packed slag grains can no longer hold additional dissolved elements, those elements precipitate as solid mineral cements. Since cements only form when the water has very high concentrations of dissolved elements, the introduction of massive amounts of slag caused the cement to form faster than it would in waters with lower concentrations of elements.

The researchers suspected that the anthropoclastic rock cycle they observed at Derwent Howe is not uncommon. Since slag contains all the elements necessary to form rocks when in contact with seawater and air, slag deposits all over the world could be rapidly influencing their local environments. With this in mind, the team suggested that future researchers update geological models to account for human contributions to the natural rock cycle. 

The post Industrial waste solidified a UK beach in just 35 years appeared first on Sciworthy.

As the newly elected president, Abelardo de la Espriella, pledges to exploit oil reserves, environmentalists prepare to defend climate progress

It is hard for Yuvelis Morales Blanco to pinpoint when her activism started. Now 25, she recalls getting involved in land rights and environmental issues in Santander, northern Colombia, from a young age. Living near water, she says, has always shaped her connection to nature. “My parents are fishers on the Magdalena, Colombia’s most important river,” says Morales. “For us, the river isn’t just food – it embodies life, identity and culture.”

In April, she received the Goldman environmental prize for her leadership in Puerto Wilches, where she succeeded in halting oil extraction and fracking. Yet, it seems her struggle is only just beginning.

Zijin Mining couldn’t find an ultra-class electric haul truck that could get the job done at its Wulagen mine in Wuqia County, Xinjiang, so they designed their own: a 140-ton BEV haul truck with a huge, 770 kWh swappable battery pack.

Then they built 290 of them. (!)

In a groundbreaking study published in Scientific Reports, a team of researchers led by Liu, D., Li, X., and Zhang, Z. has unveiled pivotal insights into the intricate mechanisms dictating how particle size influences the migration and deposition behaviors of weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores. This investigation probes deeply into the physicochemical principles and dynamic environmental interactions responsible for the distribution patterns of these valuable mineral resources, providing an unprecedented lens on their geochemical mobility.

The research tackles the challenge of understanding the migration pathways of rare earth elements (REEs) within the weathered crust, a layer significantly dictating ore generation. Central to their inquiry is the particle size of these ore constituents, which affects not only sediment transport dynamics but also the ore’s eventual deposition patterns through complex physicochemical interactions with surrounding media. The work bridges gaps between mineralogy, sedimentology, and geochemistry, offering a holistic view important for both scientific and industrial applications.

Their methodology encompassed a series of meticulously designed experiments and computational models to simulate natural conditions accurately. By varying particle sizes in controlled settings, the research team could monitor kinetic behaviors, adhesive interactions, and sedimentation rates of particles subjected to elution and migration processes. This allowed them to unravel size-dependent mechanisms underlying the spatial distribution and aggregation tendencies of REE particles within lateritic profiles.

In particular, the findings underscore the critical role of smaller particle fractions, which exhibited enhanced mobility due to lower gravitational settling but showed a propensity to adsorb onto mineral surfaces, thus influencing local concentration hotspots. Conversely, larger particles demonstrated reduced migration, primarily influenced by mechanical transport limits and gravitational forces, leading to more stable deposition zones. These differential behaviors directly affect the ore-forming processes and the quality of recoverable deposits.

Chemically, weathered crust environments present dynamic pH and redox conditions, which modulate particle surface charge, coagulation tendencies, and dissolution rates. The research elaborates how particle size accentuates these processes, with fine particles showing increased surface area promoting more extensive ion exchange and adsorption phenomena. Such micro-scale interactions substantially dictate macro-scale deposition patterns, impacting exploration strategies targeting rare earth mineralizations.

Moreover, the research extends its implications to understanding the environmental fate of rare earth elements beyond mining contexts. Rare earth particles, when mobilized through weathering, can traverse soil and water systems, posing ecological and human health risks. The particle size-dependent migration insights unveiled serve as crucial input for predictive environmental risk assessments and remediation planning around mining sites.

One of the most compelling aspects of the study is its integration of field data with laboratory results, ensuring real-world relevance. Samples collected across multiple deposit sites demonstrated consistent size-dependent migration tendencies, validating laboratory conclusions and revealing nuanced local variations driven by topographical and hydrological factors. Such data synthesis enhances the predictive power of their proposed migration and deposition models.

Their study also contributes to refining current geochemical theories related to elution-deposited ores, challenging prior assumptions that often overlooked particle size as a key variable. By pinpointing size-specific migration thresholds, the researchers clarify ore genesis mechanisms in weathered crusts, a region crucial for the global rare earth supply chains. This knowledge can revolutionize resource estimation practices, allowing for improved accuracy in reserve quantification.

Technologically, the researchers leveraged state-of-the-art microscopy and spectroscopic techniques to characterize particle morphologies, mineral compositions, and surface chemistry details. These sophisticated analytical methods provided high-resolution data necessary to comprehend how particle physical attributes interact with chemical environments, culminating in comprehensive migration and deposition profiles. This multidimensional approach epitomizes modern Earth sciences research.

The implications for mining engineering and metallurgy are profound. Understanding particle size effects on ore distribution allows for optimized beneficiation processes, enhancing the efficiency and economic viability of rare earth extraction. Tailored grinding, sorting, and sedimentation techniques can be developed based on specific ore particle sizes, reducing waste and environmental footprints. This research lays the foundation for such industry advances.

Further, the research opens avenues for innovative environmental management practices. By predicting rare earth particle transport pathways, stakeholders can implement targeted monitoring and control strategies to minimize ecological disturbances. This is particularly relevant in the context of expanding rare earth mining activities fueled by the global demand for clean energy technologies, where sustainable practices are paramount.

The interdisciplinary essence of the research, combining geology, chemistry, physics, and engineering, sets a benchmark for future studies addressing complex natural and anthropogenic processes influencing critical mineral resources. The clarity gained about particle size’s role in migration and deposition elucidates broader Earth system processes, benefiting multiple scientific domains and policy frameworks concerning resource stewardship.

In conclusion, Liu and colleagues’ study represents a significant advancement in our understanding of the fundamental processes underlying rare earth ore formation within weathered crust environments. Their comprehensive focus on particle size effects offers vital scientific and practical insights, opening new research horizons and contributing to the sustainable development of an indispensable resource underpinning modern technologies.

Subject of Research: Influence mechanism of particle size on the migration and deposition of weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores

Article Title: Research on the influence mechanism of particle size on the migration and deposition law of weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores

Article References:
Liu, D., Li, X., Zhang, Z. et al. Research on the influence mechanism of particle size on the migration and deposition law of weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ores. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-56907-6

Image Credits: AI Generated

In a groundbreaking development that could revolutionize the future of clean energy, researchers have unveiled a novel material designed to dramatically enhance uranium extraction from seawater. This latest advance hinges on the innovative use of a hollow hierarchical covalent organic framework (COF) characterized by bidirectional reactant flux coupling. This unique structural and functional design enables unprecedented efficiency in capturing uranium ions from the vast and dilute oceanic reservoir, with far-reaching implications for sustainable nuclear fuel supply and environmental safety.

Uranium, a critical element for nuclear power generation, exists in seawater at extremely low concentrations—approximately 3.3 parts per billion—making its extraction both technically challenging and economically prohibitive. Traditional mining techniques are resource-intensive and often environmentally detrimental, prompting scientists to pursue alternative methods, particularly adsorption-based techniques that leverage specialized materials. However, these materials have generally faced limitations including slow kinetics, low selectivity, and limited recyclability, which curb their practical applications. The newly reported COF-based material addresses these challenges head-on by integrating a sophisticated structural architecture with dynamic chemical properties.

At the heart of this innovation is the concept of bidirectional reactant flux coupling, an advanced mechanism that facilitates the simultaneous transport and interaction of multiple ionic species within the COF pores. Unlike conventional adsorbents that rely on unidirectional ion diffusion, this bidirectional flux allows for a synergistic interplay between uranium ions and reactants or functional groups embedded within the framework, effectively accelerating the uranium uptake process. This mechanism enhances both the selectivity and capacity of the material, setting a new benchmark in adsorption performance.

The hollow hierarchical structure of the COF is ingeniously engineered to maximize surface area while ensuring efficient mass transport. Typically, higher surface areas in porous materials improve adsorption capabilities, but this often comes at the expense of diffusion limitations. In this COF, the hierarchy of pore sizes—from large hollow channels to smaller microporous domains—facilitates rapid access of uranium ions to active binding sites. This multiscale porosity coupled with controlled chemical environments inside the pores promotes a highly effective capture process that is robust even in the complex ionic milieu of seawater.

Chemically, the COF is adorned with functional groups optimized to coordinate uranium ions selectively. These ligands, typically nitrogen- or oxygen-rich moieties, form strong yet reversible bonds with uranyl species (UO2^2+) prevalent in seawater. The reversibility of the adsorption process is crucial, enabling the material to be regenerated and reused multiple times without significant loss of performance. This recyclability translates into lower operational costs and improved environmental metrics compared to single-use adsorbents or conventional extraction methods.

The synthesis of the COF involves precise control over the polymerization conditions and monomer selection to achieve the desired hollow architecture and functional group distribution. The researchers utilized a bottom-up strategy, leveraging modular organic building blocks that self-assemble into crystalline frameworks. This level of control allows for fine-tuning the pore size distribution, surface chemistry, and overall material stability, ensuring resilience under harsh marine conditions. The material exhibits excellent chemical and mechanical stability, maintaining performance over extended exposure to seawater, which is a known challenge for many adsorbents due to corrosive salts and biofouling.

Advanced characterization techniques, such as electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction, were employed to elucidate the hierarchical structure and confirm the integrity of the COF post-synthesis. Spectroscopic analyses, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), provided insights into the chemical environment of the active sites and the nature of the uranium interaction. In situ studies revealed real-time adsorption dynamics, underpinning the understanding of the bidirectional flux and exchange mechanisms.

Benchmarked against existing adsorbents, the hollow hierarchical COF demonstrated uranium extraction efficiencies that are significantly higher, with faster kinetics and enhanced selectivity. The material consistently achieved high uranium uptake capacities in seawater samples, far exceeding traditional polymeric adsorbents and metal-organic frameworks previously reported. Equally important, the COF retained its adsorption performance over numerous cycles, underscoring its practical potential for long-term deployment.

The implications of this research extend beyond uranium extraction alone. The fundamental principles of bidirectional reactant flux coupling and hierarchical structural design can be applied to other separation and purification challenges in aqueous environments—such as desalination, pollutant removal, and rare earth element recovery. This cross-disciplinary potential suggests that the material design approach could ignite a new era in functional porous materials tailored for sustainability.

Furthermore, by enabling access to one of the planet’s most abundant uranium reservoirs, the oceans, this technology promises to mitigate supply risks associated with terrestrial uranium mining. Given the strategic importance of nuclear energy in reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change, materials that make nuclear fuel sourcing cleaner and more efficient could accelerate the transition to low-carbon energy systems globally.

Environmental considerations were also addressed, with preliminary life cycle analyses indicating that using the COF-based extraction process can reduce the ecological footprint relative to conventional mining. The absence of harmful solvents and the material’s recyclability contribute to eco-friendliness, while the ability to capture uranium directly from seawater minimizes disruption to terrestrial ecosystems. The potential for integrating this material into large-scale ocean-based extraction systems holds promise for sustainable resource utilization.

Looking ahead, the challenges to commercialization include scaling synthesis, engineering large-format adsorbent modules, and optimizing deployment strategies in marine environments. However, the foundational knowledge established in this study provides a clear roadmap for overcoming these hurdles. Collaborative efforts between material scientists, chemical engineers, and environmental specialists will be crucial to translate this laboratory breakthrough into a viable industrial technology.

The research team envisions that future iterations of the COF will incorporate multifunctional sites to simultaneously capture other critical elements present in seawater, thereby enhancing economic viability. Moreover, integration with renewable energy-powered extraction stations could further reduce the carbon footprint of nuclear fuel procurement, aligning with global clean energy initiatives.

In summary, this pioneering work represents a significant stride toward unlocking the ocean’s uranium wealth through innovative material science. The hollow hierarchical covalent organic framework with bidirectional reactant flux coupling introduces a new paradigm in adsorption technologies, combining structural elegance with chemical sophistication. As the world grapples with energy security and environmental responsibility, such advances offer a beacon of hope and a tangible path forward for sustainable nuclear energy production.

Subject of Research: Uranium extraction from seawater using advanced covalent organic frameworks.

Article Title: Bidirectional reactant flux coupling in hollow hierarchical covalent organic framework enabling efficient uranium extraction from seawater.

Article References:
Zhang, J., Cao, X., Zhang, J. et al. Bidirectional reactant flux coupling in hollow hierarchical covalent organic framework enabling efficient uranium extraction from seawater. Nat Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74724-3

Image Credits: AI Generated

Last month, the Bellevue Gold mine did something that was previously unthinkable. For over 155 consecutive hours – a full six-and-a-half day work week – the mine operated on 100% renewable energy. The future is now, kids: engines off!

Electric vehicles and other clean energy devices rely on batteries that use a metal called lithium. The expanded use of lithium has made lithium mining a rapidly growing industry. Lithium is most often found in volcanic rocks called pegmatites. Researchers have studied how much carbon and water pegmatite mining uses, but they don’t know how it affects local water quality. 

Pegmatite mining releases not only lithium but also other metals commonly found in pegmatite, such as rubidium and cesium. These trace metals are under-researched in terms of their environmental effects and possible human toxicity, though the EPA has linked high levels of lithium to adverse health effects in kidney function, neurological development, and thyroid function. As such, there’s currently no established safe level for lithium in drinking water, but the U.S. Geological Survey suggests a preliminary safety level of 10 micrograms per liter (μg/L). 

Researchers at Duke University recently tested how much pegmatite mining increased lithium levels in local waters, and how long those effects lingered after mining processes ended. To do so, they measured metal concentrations in waters downstream from 2 lithium mines and adjacent processing plants. They hypothesized that mining activities would increase interactions between rocks and the surrounding surface water and groundwater, impacting their lithium concentrations.

The researchers collected 99 water samples from surface streams and 93 samples from groundwater wells surrounding the Kings Mountain and Hallman Beam lithium mines, in a zone of about 40 kilometers (25 miles) along the border of South Carolina and North Carolina. The researchers took 51 surface water samples upstream of the mines to evaluate natural metal levels, and compared these with 48 downstream samples showing the mining-impacted metal levels. 

The researchers measured lithium and other trace elements, like rubidium, cesium, arsenic, and strontium, in the waters using an instrument called an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. They found that lithium concentrations in the surface waters increased from a background of 0.2 to 79 μg/L to concentrations of 785 to 1,249 μg/L within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of the mines and processing facilities. The groundwater lithium levels were as high as 4,500 to 47,000 μg/L in the wells at the mines, but were not affected at downstream wells where lithium levels ranged from 0.5 to 890 μg/L. 

They suggested that lithium in the groundwater downstream from the mines came from natural interactions of the pegmatite rocks with the water, rather than from the mines themselves. This natural process was confirmed when the researchers noticed that lithium levels in the groundwater rose after rainfall, which caused more water-rock interaction.

The researchers also measured ions like calcium, sulfate, and chloride in the waters using a tool that can analyze compound molecules, called an ion chromatograph. They found that calcium and sulfate concentrations increased in surface waters within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) downstream of the processing facilities. These downstream waters had 50 to 120 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of calcium and 100 to 300 mg/L of sulfate, compared to 5 to 20 mg/L of calcium and 3 to 10 mg/L of sulfate in the background surface waters. These ions are also byproducts of pegmatite processing, produced from a waste product made up of calcium sulfate, called gypsum. 

The team explained that active mining has been discontinued at this site for approximately 3 decades, meaning that the lithium concentrations they measured reflect the long-term release of lithium from inactive mines and mining waste. Drawing from historical data, they estimated that while the mines were active, they likely released 10 to 30 times the amount of trace metals they measured at the same location today. 

The researchers concluded that hard-rock processing impacts downstream metal and ion concentrations more than the mining itself. As lithium mining operations expand, the researchers suggested that future researchers examine lithium toxicity as well as the potential effects of its co-occurring metals, like rubidium and cesium. They also emphasized the need to find solutions for removing the trace metals and dissolved gypsum from water systems, or preventing them from leaking into the water systems to begin with.

The post Lithium mining impacts local waters appeared first on Sciworthy.

Asteroid mining startup AstroForge has completed assembly of its latest spacecraft for launch later this year, incorporating lessons from a failed mission last year.

The post AstroForge completes DeepSpace-2 spacecraft appeared first on SpaceNews.

Nour Haydar speaks with Christopher Knaus about the BHP files – the cache of internal documents leaked to the Guardian and the ABC’s Four Corners – which show that the world’s biggest miner has war-gamed ways to massively delay decarbonisation

Additional audio in this episode was sourced by Financial Times Live

Read more:

Exclusive: Mining giant says technology is not yet advanced enough to run a fully electrified fleet but experts say it is hooked on federal fuel tax credits

• Revealed: the internal BHP memo that slammed the brakes on world’s biggest miner’s climate push

• Read more from the BHP files investigation here

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

BHP has continued to spend hundreds of millions of dollars buying diesel trucks in the Pilbara despite internal documents suggesting it would increase emissions and be “misaligned” with its decarbonisation goals.

The mining giant is Australia’s biggest consumer of diesel and trucks are its biggest single source of diesel emissions. Replacing the fleet with battery-electric trucks is considered a critical step in the multinational’s efforts to decarbonise.

Outrage as leaked documents reveal mining giant’s backsliding on commitments to slash emissions

• Adam Morton: Big Mining gets a $4bn tax break to use fossil fuel. It’s a strange way to tackle emissions

• Read more from the BHP files investigation here

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

The independent senator David Pocock says leaked BHP documents show that the mining giant is “laughing” at Australia’s key climate policy while pocketing hundreds of millions of dollars through a generous diesel tax break.

An exclusive investigation based on documents leaked to by the Guardian and the ABC show BHP has scrapped a project to significantly reduce global emissions, delayed vast renewables projects in the Pilbara and war-gamed options to push the electrification of its polluting diesel truck and train fleets into the next two decades.

Exclusive: Cache of internal documents leaked to the Guardian and the ABC’s Four Corners show multinational has war-gamed ways to massively delay decarbonisation

• Revealed: the internal BHP memo that slammed the brakes on world’s biggest miner’s climate push

• Read more from the BHP files investigation here

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

The world’s biggest miner has halted or delayed projects to cut vast amounts of emissions and has quietly war-gamed options to push major climate investments in its Western Australian iron ore operations into the next two decades, internal documents show.

An exclusive investigation based on documents leaked to the Guardian and the ABC’s Four Corners can reveal that BHP, one of Australia’s biggest historic emitters, has dumped plans for a facility that could have significantly reduced emissions and has put on ice renewable projects designed to power its iron ore operations in the vast, resource-rich Pilbara region.