This study analyzes the economic potential of raw materials that can be produced from the thermal waters of Chile. Beyond the widely known energetic potential of geothermal systems, a combined raw material production could add economic value to geothermal projects and enable micro-invasive mining processes using renewable energy. Raw materials such as lithium are key to Chile’s development and could also be an important incentive for new geothermal energy projects. Chile is a country known for its large mineral deposits and its geothermal potential. However, the focus of raw material production is on hard-rock mining and evaporation ponds in the salars, which can consume high amounts of energy, water, and space. The potential of a green mining approach in terms of geothermal energy and raw material production is yet untapped in Chile while receiving high industrial and scientific interest in countries such as the United States (US) or Germany. In this study, the potential of seven raw materials present in thermal springs in Chile is analyzed, based on a compilation of more than 800 samples from twenty different studies throughout the country. The quantifications of potentially producible amounts of commodities are then compared to the current production in Chile and the economic potential is outlined on the basis of current market prices.

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Raw Material Potential of Geothermal Systems in Chile

  • Ignacio Pérez,
  • Valentin Goldberg,
  • Fabian Nitschke,
  • Diego Morata,
  • Joachim Koschikowski,
  • Thomas Kohl

摘要

This study analyzes the economic potential of raw materials that can be produced from the thermal waters of Chile. Beyond the widely known energetic potential of geothermal systems, a combined raw material production could add economic value to geothermal projects and enable micro-invasive mining processes using renewable energy. Raw materials such as lithium are key to Chile’s development and could also be an important incentive for new geothermal energy projects. Chile is a country known for its large mineral deposits and its geothermal potential. However, the focus of raw material production is on hard-rock mining and evaporation ponds in the salars, which can consume high amounts of energy, water, and space. The potential of a green mining approach in terms of geothermal energy and raw material production is yet untapped in Chile while receiving high industrial and scientific interest in countries such as the United States (US) or Germany. In this study, the potential of seven raw materials present in thermal springs in Chile is analyzed, based on a compilation of more than 800 samples from twenty different studies throughout the country. The quantifications of potentially producible amounts of commodities are then compared to the current production in Chile and the economic potential is outlined on the basis of current market prices.