Special Issue on Green Minerals under Belt and Road Initiative

Introduction:

The Belt and Road Initiative has accelerated the demand for reliable supplies of strategic and critical minerals to support infrastructure development, clean energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and regional economic cooperation. At the same time, mineral exploration, extraction, processing, and utilization face increasing pressure to reduce environmental impacts, improve resource efficiency, enhance workplace safety, and strengthen social responsibility. Under this context, the development of green minerals has become an essential pathway toward sustainable mining and low-carbon industrial transformation. This Special Issue on "Green Minerals under Belt and Road Initiative" aims to provide a platform for researchers, engineers, policymakers, and industry practitioners to share recent advances in green and smart mining technologies, sustainable mineral processing, mine environmental protection and restoration, carbon reduction, waste recycling, digital and intelligent mining systems, and responsible mineral supply chains. By highlighting innovative theories, technologies, and practical case studies from Belt and Road countries and beyond, this Special Issue seeks to promote international collaboration and contribute to the sustainable development of mineral resources in a greener, smarter, and more inclusive manner.

Topics covered:

• Green exploration technologies for mineral resources
• Low-carbon mining methods and equipment
• Smart monitoring and control in mines
• Tailings reduction and comprehensive utilization
• Mine water treatment and reuse
• Carbon emission accounting and reduction in mining
• Backfill Mining
• Safe and sustainable mining
• Green mining standards, policies, and case studies

This Special Issue welcomes submissions presenting experimental, theoretical, and applied studies related to green minerals and sustainable mining development. Research on green exploration, low-carbon mining, cleaner mineral processing, mine waste utilization, post-mining land use, ecological restoration, and the rehabilitation and sustainable development of mining regions is particularly encouraged. Contributions that demonstrate innovative technologies, practical applications, successful case studies, and best practices from Belt and Road countries and related regions are also highly welcome. We invite scientists, engineers, policymakers, and researchers from diverse disciplines to submit their manuscripts, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches that integrate mining engineering, environmental science, resource management, digital technology, and sustainable development..

Important Deadline: 

Submission deadline: 31 December 2026

Guest Editors:

• Prof. Dr. Aixiang Wu, University of Science and Technology Beijing, China. Email: wuaixiang@126.com
• Prof. Dr. Renshu Yang, University of Science and Technology Beijing, China. Email: cumtbyrsz@163.com
• Prof. Dr. Emmanuel Chanda, University of Zambia, Zambia. Email: emmanuel.chanda@unza.zm
• Prof. Dr. Xun Xi, University of Science and Technology Beijing, China. Email: xixun@ustb.edu.cn