Rio Tinto has assembled a team of climate innovation and research leaders to explore new approaches in carbon mineralization technology as a way to safely and permanently store carbon as a rock. Rio Tinto will contribute $4 million in funding for the 3-year project, in addition to the funding from the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E Innovation Challenge.

From basalt to other types of rock

Until now, large-scale carbon mineralization projects have focused on areas with certain types of rock formations, known as basaltic lava geology, such as Carbfix‘s sites in Iceland. In contrast, the Tamarack Nickel Project includes a large bowl of what is known as porous ultramafic rock, which also has potential for carbon storage. 

Carbfix CEO, Dr. Edda Aradottir said: “This project will bring together leading industrial players, academics, and experts demonstrating the international partnerships needed for accelerated climate action. Carbfix is a global pioneer in carbon mineralization with a proprietary technology that can play a vital role in climate action, having over a decade-long experience in safely injecting and storing CO₂ from emission sources as well as the atmosphere. We are excited to bring our expertise to this partnership and help find solutions for the unique geological conditions found at the Tamarack site.”

Rio Tinto Chief Scientist Dr. Nigel Steward said “Our aim is to deliver carbon storage solutions that can help to meet climate targets by reducing and offsetting emissions from our operations and in other industries and to explore the emerging commercial opportunities carbon storage may offer at Rio Tinto sites around the world. We will be working with leading researchers and innovators to prove the carbon storage potential of the Tamarack site and develop mineralization solutions that can be used not just here but at other similar locations.”

Other participants in the research project are the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Columbia University, and Advantek Sorpe Management Services. Talon Metals, the majority owner and operator of the Tamarack Nickel Project and Rio Tinto’s joint venture partner, is contributing orebody knowledge and land access for scientific fieldwork. The three-year project will also be financed by a 4 million contribution from Rio Tinto.