Larger rock extraction sites could improve the efficiency of enhanced rock weathering in the United Kingdom

Mohammad Madankan; Euripides P. Kantzas; Rafael M. Eufrasio-Espinosa; Sylvia H. Vetter; Lenny Koh; Pete Smith; David J. Beerling; Phil Renforth

doi:10.1038/s43247-025-02656-9

Larger rock extraction sites could improve the efficiency of enhanced rock weathering in the United Kingdom

Mohammad Madankan, Euripides P. Kantzas, Rafael M. Eufrasio-Espinosa, Sylvia H. Vetter, Lenny Koh, Pete Smith, David J. Beerling, Phil Renforth^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Large-scale removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is required to meet net-zero targets. Enhanced rock weathering, in which crushed silicate minerals are spread on cropland soils, is a promising approach, but the logistics of its supply chain are poorly understood. Here, we use a numerical spatio-temporal allocation model that links potential rock extraction sites in the United Kingdom with croplands, modelling deployment pathways over the period 2025–2070. We find that expanding individual quarries (up to 20 times larger than the current average) and prioritising supply timing and location can increase carbon-removal efficiency by 20%, cut transport demand by 60% and reduce the number of operating quarries four-fold, while enabling up to 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide removal by 2070. However, these large sites may face stronger local opposition and planning challenges, underscoring the critical role of policy in enabling feasible deployment.

Original language	English
Article number	666
Journal	Communications Earth and Environment
Volume	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02656-9
Publication status	Published - 15 Aug 2025

Keywords

Climate-change Mitigation
Environmental impact

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Environmental Science
General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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10.1038/s43247-025-02656-9Licence: CC BY

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Cite this

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title = "Larger rock extraction sites could improve the efficiency of enhanced rock weathering in the United Kingdom",

abstract = "Large-scale removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is required to meet net-zero targets. Enhanced rock weathering, in which crushed silicate minerals are spread on cropland soils, is a promising approach, but the logistics of its supply chain are poorly understood. Here, we use a numerical spatio-temporal allocation model that links potential rock extraction sites in the United Kingdom with croplands, modelling deployment pathways over the period 2025–2070. We find that expanding individual quarries (up to 20 times larger than the current average) and prioritising supply timing and location can increase carbon-removal efficiency by 20\%, cut transport demand by 60\% and reduce the number of operating quarries four-fold, while enabling up to 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide removal by 2070. However, these large sites may face stronger local opposition and planning challenges, underscoring the critical role of policy in enabling feasible deployment.",

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AU - Madankan, Mohammad

AU - Kantzas, Euripides P.

AU - Eufrasio-Espinosa, Rafael M.

AU - Vetter, Sylvia H.

AU - Koh, Lenny

AU - Smith, Pete

AU - Beerling, David J.

AU - Renforth, Phil

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AB - Large-scale removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is required to meet net-zero targets. Enhanced rock weathering, in which crushed silicate minerals are spread on cropland soils, is a promising approach, but the logistics of its supply chain are poorly understood. Here, we use a numerical spatio-temporal allocation model that links potential rock extraction sites in the United Kingdom with croplands, modelling deployment pathways over the period 2025–2070. We find that expanding individual quarries (up to 20 times larger than the current average) and prioritising supply timing and location can increase carbon-removal efficiency by 20%, cut transport demand by 60% and reduce the number of operating quarries four-fold, while enabling up to 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide removal by 2070. However, these large sites may face stronger local opposition and planning challenges, underscoring the critical role of policy in enabling feasible deployment.

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KW - Environmental impact

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Larger rock extraction sites could improve the efficiency of enhanced rock weathering in the United Kingdom

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Keywords

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