Mining Dust for Carbon Capture

Context: Alt Carbon, a Darjeeling-based company, accelerates the natural process of rock weathering to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) by using crushed basalt, a type of volcanic rock rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium.

Process:

• Crushed basalt, a type of volcanic rock, is spread over land to increase surface area, accelerating natural weathering processes.

• Atmospheric CO2 reacts with minerals in the basalt, forming bicarbonates that are washed into oceans where carbon is stored for long periods.

• This speeds up the natural carbon capture process, which normally takes thousands of years, making it efficient in 2-4 years.

Location:

• Basalt-rich regions like the Deccan Traps in Maharashtra and Gujarat, as well as Jharkhand and West Bengal (Rajmahal Traps), are ideal for sourcing the basalt rock.

Environmental Benefit:

• Apart from capturing carbon, basalt also acts as a soil enhancer, improving fertility and benefiting agricultural productivity.

Scale:

• For every 3-4 tonnes of basalt dust, 1 tonne of CO2 can be sequestered over a few years.

Usage in Carbon Credits:

• Companies can purchase carbon credits generated from this process to offset their emissions voluntarily.

Usage in UPSC Syllabus:

• GS Paper 3 – Environment and Ecology: Climate change mitigation: Enhanced rock weathering as a method for carbon sequestration can be discussed in solutions to combat climate change. Sustainable development: Incorporates innovation in reducing carbon emissions and ensuring sustainable soil management. Carbon credit markets: Discussing voluntary carbon credits and international climate commitments.

• Climate change mitigation: Enhanced rock weathering as a method for carbon sequestration can be discussed in solutions to combat climate change.

• Sustainable development: Incorporates innovation in reducing carbon emissions and ensuring sustainable soil management.

• Carbon credit markets: Discussing voluntary carbon credits and international climate commitments.

• GS Paper 2 – Governance: Environmental policies: Reference to how this can be incorporated into national policies on climate change and green technologies.

• Environmental policies: Reference to how this can be incorporated into national policies on climate change and green technologies.