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Mineral Resource Abundance: An Assessment Methodology for a Responsible Use of Mineral Raw Materials in Downstream Industries

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolas Charles

    (BRGM-French Geological Survey, 3 av. Claude Guillemin, CEDEX 2, 45060 Orléans, France)

  • Gaétan Lefebvre

    (BRGM-French Geological Survey, 3 av. Claude Guillemin, CEDEX 2, 45060 Orléans, France)

  • Rémy Tuloup

    (L’Oréal Recherche & Innovation, 1 av. Eugène Schueller, 93600 Aulnay-sous-Bois, France)

  • Audrey Carreaud

    (L’Oréal Recherche & Innovation, 1 av. Eugène Schueller, 93600 Aulnay-sous-Bois, France)

  • Antoine Boubault

    (BRGM-French Geological Survey, 3 av. Claude Guillemin, CEDEX 2, 45060 Orléans, France)

  • Anne-Sophie Serrand

    (BRGM-French Geological Survey, 3 av. Claude Guillemin, CEDEX 2, 45060 Orléans, France)

  • Maxime Picault

    (BRGM-French Geological Survey, 3 av. Claude Guillemin, CEDEX 2, 45060 Orléans, France)

  • Virginie Piguet

    (L’Oréal Recherche & Innovation, 1 av. Eugène Schueller, 93600 Aulnay-sous-Bois, France)

  • Valeria Manzin

    (L’Oréal Recherche & Innovation, 1 av. Eugène Schueller, 93600 Aulnay-sous-Bois, France)

  • Fabien Deswarte

    (L’Oréal Recherche & Innovation, 1 av. Eugène Schueller, 93600 Aulnay-sous-Bois, France)

  • Julien Aupoil

    (L’Oréal Recherche & Innovation, 1 av. Eugène Schueller, 93600 Aulnay-sous-Bois, France)

Abstract

The sustainability of mineral resources and, in particular, their abundance is a topic of growing interest. Nevertheless, the abundance of mineral raw materials is an extremely complex notion as it not only encompasses geological considerations but also environmental, technical, economic, and social constraints. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, no tools are currently available to allow a comprehensive evaluation of mineral raw material abundance. This research paper, therefore, aims to present an innovative and unique methodology to evaluate the abundance of non-energy mineral resources and determine a mineral abundance index (MAI). Based on a multicriteria analysis, MAI considers the natural abundance of a mineral raw material in the Earth’s crust and its availability on the market and integrates the influence of factors that could constrain or promote future market changes. This new index ranging from 0 (very scarce) to 100 (very abundant) aims to qualify the abundance of mineral resources in a simple and rapid manner based on published and reliable data. This new methodology could be a powerful decision-making support tool for any downstream industrials and end-users making use of mineral raw materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Charles & Gaétan Lefebvre & Rémy Tuloup & Audrey Carreaud & Antoine Boubault & Anne-Sophie Serrand & Maxime Picault & Virginie Piguet & Valeria Manzin & Fabien Deswarte & Julien Aupoil, 2023. "Mineral Resource Abundance: An Assessment Methodology for a Responsible Use of Mineral Raw Materials in Downstream Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-39, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16783-:d:1299133
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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