Rethinking the utilization paradigm of abandoned mining resources in China’s new developmental epoch

The development and utilization of abandoned mine resources has become a critical global issue in the fields of resource management, energy security, and environmental sustainability. Based on comprehensive literature review and systematic synthesis, this study conducts a thorough analysis of global research progress regarding the comprehensive utilization of abandoned mines. We first trace the historical evolution and theoretical foundations of this field, then integrate resource science with life cycle theory to identify key constraints hindering effective utilization in the new era. A novel utilization framework is proposed based on the national economic industry classification system. On this basis, the study analyzes the relationship between the characteristics of abandoned mine resources and socio-economic development, and proposes a systematic solution for the comprehensive development and utilization of abandoned mines in the new era. It is believed that the comprehensive development and utilization of abandoned mines should be supported by national strategic application needs, with the theory of human-land coupling system as the core. Research on real-time dynamic multi energy complementary comprehensive development and utilization of abandoned mines and different scale conversion technologies should be carried out to achieve full element, full process and full coverage of abandoned mine resources development. In addition, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the multi-dimensional coupling relationship between natural elements and spatial environmental elements, establish a high spatiotemporal precision energy supply and demand response collaborative simulation technology, form a data twin technology system for the comprehensive development and utilization of the whole chain of abandoned mines, and improve the intelligent decision-making support level of the comprehensive development and utilization of abandoned mines, so as to provide scientific and technological support for the planning and layout optimization of development and utilization under the long-term carbon neutrality goal in the future.