The global iron industry and the Anthropocene
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5108302 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kevin Mallinger (0000-0002-3031-505X, University of Vienna, corresponding author), Martin Mergili (0000-0001-5085-4846, University of Vienna) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 52-70 |
| Publication date | 2022-04-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Anthropocene Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2053-0196 • E-ISSN: 2053-020X |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/2053019620982332 |
| OpenAlex | W3115594679 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 116 |
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 CO2 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
Anthropocene · Earth science · Geochemistry · Iron ore · Metallurgy · Mining engineering · Pollutant · Vanadium · Weathering · Chemistry · Environmental Science · Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping · Heavy metals in environment · Materials Science · Mercury impact and mitigation studies · Environmental Chemistry · Geology · Paleontology
The New World of the Anthropocene
Impact of Humans on the Flux of Terrestrial Sediment to the Global Coastal Ocean
The Anthropocene is functionally and stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene
Geology of mankind
Scheffer/Schachtschabel
Environmental life-cycle comparisons of steel production and recycling
Dating of recent catchment peats using spheroidal carbonaceous particle (SCP) concentration profiles with particular reference to Lochnagar, Scotland
Using mineral magnetism to characterise ironworking and to detect its evidence in peat bogs
Human bioturbation, and the subterranean landscape of the Anthropocene
Humans are the most significant global geomorphological driving force of the 21st century
Early mining and smelting lead anomalies in geological archives as potential stratigraphic markers for the base of an early Anthropocene
| Highly cited | No |
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