Mining tailings as a frontier for sustainable nanomaterials: advancing circular economy and environmental innovation.

The mining industry plays a crucial role in global economic growth and technological advancement, faces persistent challenges in managing mining tailings pose significant environmental and societal risks. Mine tailings are primarily composed of finely milled rock, water, and extraction chemicals, often lead to soil and water contamination, atmospheric pollution, and ecological disruption when improperly managed. Recent advancements have transformed mining tailings from waste into valuable resources for synthesizing nanomaterials (NMs) through sustainable extraction processes.