How One Startup Turns Mine Waste Into Carbon Capture

Lucas and Luna dive into a surprising source of carbon removal: mining waste. They look at a startup called Arca, which accelerates the natural process of mineral carbonation — turning crushed rock from nickel and diamond mines into a permanent CO2 sponge. Lucas explains the chemistry: certain silicate minerals react with carbon dioxide to form solid carbonates, locking away CO2 for thousands of years. Arca's pilot at a mine in British Columbia uses waste rock that's already dug up, so the marginal cost is low. They've raised $6 million in seed funding and are targeting removal at under $100 per ton by 2028. Luna asks about the scalability — could this really move the needle on the gigaton scale? They discuss the challenges: not all mine waste is suitable, and you need the right mineralogy, particle size, and access to renewable energy to grind and spread the rock. But the potential is huge: there are hundreds of billions of tons of suitable mine tailings globally. A concrete case in a fast-moving space. #ClimateTech #CarbonRemoval #MiningWaste #Arca #MineralCarbonation #DirectAirCapture #NetZero #CarbonDioxideRemoval #MineTailings #CleanTech #Startup #Sustainability #Decarbonization #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #EnergyTransition Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo