Recovery of strategic elements from mining tailings at La Cienega, Peru, through geochemical and mineralogical assessment: a focus on circular economy policy

Abstract

Amid growing global concern over the security and sustainability of critical raw material supply, mine tailings deposits are increasingly being reconsidered as strategic secondary resources. This study evaluates the revalorization potential of Tailings Deposit I at La Cienega (northern Peru) through a comprehensive methodology that integrates geochemical and mineralogical characterization with geostatistical modeling, in support of circular economy frameworks and resource governance. A total of 68 samples from drill cores and trenches were analyzed, focusing on strategic elements such as silver (Ag), lead (Pb), molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), antimony (Sb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), scandium (Sc), and indium (In). Average concentrations were found to be 2293.60 ppm for Pb, 719.61 ppm for Zn, and 98.65 ppm for Cu, along with spatially structured trace levels of In (0.14 ppm) and Sc (9.00 ppm). Ordinary kriging modeling yielded high correlation coefficients (R > 0.8) for Cu, Cd, and Sc, enabling robust three-dimensional estimation of recoverable resources. Mineralogical analysis identified dominant phases such as pyrite and arsenopyrite, along with secondary minerals like jarosite, which influence metal availability. The results underscore the dual character of the deposit as both an environmental liability and a latent strategic asset. Within the context of Peru's evolving institutional and regulatory framework including the MINEM–INGEMMET agreements and the roadmap toward a circular economy in mining this study provides key technical evidence to support sustainable reindustrialization policies. The selective recovery of critical metals and mitigation of toxic elements position the La Cienega deposit as a replicable case of circular mining and integrated resource governance.