Vancouver Startup Turns Mining Waste Into Carbon-Eating Rock

Mining operations leave behind mountains of waste rock, but a Vancouver startup just figured out how to turn that rubble into a powerful weapon against climate change.

Arca, a cleantech company born from University of British Columbia research, completed an 18-month pilot project at an active nickel mine in Australia. The results showed their technology capturing 10 to 20 times more carbon dioxide than the natural process alone.

The secret lies in three clever innovations working together. First, autonomous rovers that look like Martian dune buggies patrol mine sites, measuring carbon absorption with onboard sensors. Second, those same rovers plow through mining waste, exposing fresh layers of special magnesium-rich rocks to the air and speeding up a natural process called carbon mineralization, where CO2 gas literally becomes rock.

The third piece sounds like science fiction. Arca's team developed microwave technology that supercharges rocks' ability to trap carbon. Co-founder Greg Dipple, who spent over 20 years at UBC studying these ultramafic rocks, compares it to making microwave popcorn out of minerals.

The company's 27-person team now works with more than 30 mining companies worldwide. They generate verified carbon removal credits for industries looking to offset emissions, creating a business model that pays polluters to clean up their own mess.

The journey hasn't been smooth. When the nickel mining market crashed, Arca had to pivot toward other industrial waste like steel slag and coal ash. Funding for greentech has cooled as some massive direct-air capture projects across the U.S. saw their hundreds of millions in backing cut.

But in November 2024, Arca landed its biggest win yet. Microsoft signed a 10-year deal to remove nearly 300,000 tonnes of CO2 from the air using Arca's technology. The partnership puts Arca alongside fellow Vancouver company CO280 as major players in Canada's emerging carbon management industry.

The Ripple Effect

British Columbia is home to over 1,100 mining companies, making it the perfect testing ground for technologies that bridge natural resources and climate innovation. Sarah Goodman, CEO of NorthX Climate Tech, one of Arca's biggest funders, sees the province emerging as a global hub for carbon management. "This is a moment to bet on ourselves," she says.

Arca has raised over $14.5 million to date, including $3.3 million from NorthX, $1.8 million from the Canadian government, and $1 million as an Xprize finalist. The company joins Vancouver success stories like Carbon Engineering and Svante in proving that cleaning up the planet can also build a thriving industry.

What started as lonely robots on mine sites now represents a future where our messiest industries help heal the atmosphere instead of harm it.