Towards comprehensive assessment of mineral resource availability? Complementary roles of life cycle, life cycle sustainability and criticality assessments

Regarding mineral resources, there is ambiguity around concepts such as scarcity, rarity, criticality and depletion associated assessment methods. This paper investigates three method groups: life cycle impact (LCIA), sustainability The aim to clarify how these groups relate their potential roles in a comprehensive resource availability assessment. study finds that modeling approaches practical implementations are sometimes misaligned with what they assess. results similarities between methods from different groups. Some LCIA-methods include elements which belong assessment, could explain some of the ambiguity. A reason for misalignment lack distinction stocks, funds flows. thereof also invalid pathway cause-effect chains imprecise terminology allowing misunderstandings “resource debate”. Distinguishing flows resolves misalignments within and, turn, depletion. It follows long-term scopes need assessments ecospheric stocks. Methods focusing on factors represent or can influence magnitude location technospheric suitable short term scopes. Different types funds, resources active use, end products landfills, be relevant short, medium Altogether, complementary parts