Different magnitude, intensity and timing of precipitation can impact runoff, hillslope erosion and transport of sediment along river channels.  Human activities, such as dam construction and surface mining can also considerably influence transport of sediment and sediment-bound contaminants. Many river basins of the world are currently subject to changes in climate at the same time as pressures from other human activities increase. However, because there are often complex interactions between such multiple drivers of change, it is challenging to understand and quantify contributions of individual drivers, which is needed in predictive modelling of future sediment and contaminant flows. This thesis considers sediment transport in the Lake Baikal basin, which is hydrologically dominated by the transboundary Selenga River of Russia and Mongolia. The Selenga River basin is, for instance, subject to climate change and increasing pressures from mining, but process complexity is reduced by the fact that the river basin is one of few large basins in the world that still is essentially undammed and unregulated. A combination of field measurement campaigns and modelling methods are used in this thesis, with the aim to: (i) identify historical hydroclimatic trends and their possible causes, (ii) analyse the spatial variability of riverine sediment loading in the mining affected areas, and (iii) investigate sediment transport and storage processes within river channels and in river deltas. Results show that, during the period 1938-2009, the annual maximum daily flow in the Selenga River basin has decreased, as well as the annual number of high flow events, whereas the annual minimum daily flow has increased. These changes in discharge characteristics are consistent with expected impacts of basin-scale permafrost thaw. Both field observations and modelling results show that changes in magnitude and number of high-flow events can considerably influence the transport of bed sediment. In addition, the average discharge has decreased in the past 20 years due to an extended drought. Under conditions of low flow, metal-enriched sediment from mining areas was observed to dominate the river water. If discharge will continue to decrease in the Selenga River (or other mining-impacted rivers of the world), further increases in riverine metal concentrations may hence be one of the consequences. Furthermore, under current conditions of extended drought, less sediment may have been distributed over the floodplain wetlands in the Selenga River delta. Present estimates, however, show that sediment can still be transported to, and deposited within, the banks and water bodies located in the backwater zone of the Selenga River delta. This can aid bank and levee stabilization, support the development of wetlands and foster net sedimentation.​ / Nederbördens olika magnitud, intensitet och tidpunkt kan påverka ytavrinning, vattenerosion och transport av sediment längs flodkanaler. Mänskliga aktiviteter, som dammkonstruktion och gruvdrift i dagbrott kan också påtagligt påverka transport av sediment och sedimentbundna föroreningar. Många avrinningsområden i världen påverkas för närvarande av klimatförändringar samtidigt som trycket från andra mänskliga aktiviteter ökar. Men eftersom det ofta förekommer komplexa interaktioner mellan sådana multipla orsaker till förändring, är det utmanande att förstå och kvantifiera bidrag från enskilda orsaker, vilket behövs vid prediktiv modellering av framtida sediment- och föroreningsflöden. Denna avhandling behandlar sedimenttransport i Bajkalsjöns tillrinningsområde, som hydrologiskt domineras av den internationella Selengafloden i Ryssland och Mongoliet. Selengaflodens tillrinningsområde är exempelvis påverkat av klimatförändringar och ökat tryck från gruvdrift, men processkomplexiteten reduceras av det faktum att tillrinningsområdet är ett av världens få stora som fortfarande väsentligen saknar dammar och flödesreglering. I denna avhandling används en kombination av fältmätningskampanjer och modelleringsmetoder, i syfte att: (i) identifiera historiska hydroklimattrender och deras möjliga orsaker, (ii) analysera den rumsliga variationen i flodens sedimentbelastning inom de gruvpåverkade områdena, och (iii) undersöka sedimenttransport- och retentionsprocesser inom flodkanaler och i floddeltan. Resultaten visar att det årliga maximala dygnsflödet, liksom det årliga antalet högflödeshändelser, har minskat i Selengafloden under perioden 1938-2009, medan det årliga minimala dygnsflödet har ökat. Dessa förändringar i flödeskaraktäristika överensstämmer med förväntade effekter av storskaligt tinande permafrost. Både fältobservationer och modelleringsresultat visar att förändringar i högflödeshändelsers magnitud och årligt antal kan påverka transporten av bottensediment påtagligt. Dessutom har medelflödet minskat under de senaste 20 åren på grund av långvarig torka. Under lågflöden observerades metallberikat sediment från gruvområdena dominera flodvattnet. Om flödena fortsätter att minska i Selengafloden (eller andra gruvdriftspåverkade floder i världen), kan således ytterligare ökningar av flodvattnens metallkoncentrationer vara en av konsekvenserna. Under den långvariga torka som nu råder mängden sediment som fördelats över våtmarkerna i Selengaflodens delta ha minskat. Sediment beräknas dock fortfarande kunna transporteras till och deponeras inom flodbankar och vattenkroppar i Selengadeltats backwaterområden. Detta kan bidra till stabilisering av bankar och skyddsvallar, stödja våtmarkers utveckling och främja nettosedimentering. / Wielkość, czas trwania oraz intensywność opadów atmosferycznych oddziałuje na charakter odpływu, erozję oraz transport osadów rzecznych. Również ingerencja człowieka w środowisko – np. budowa zapór i zbiorników wodnych, czy górnictwo odkrywkowe – w różnym stopniu może wpływać na transport osadów oraz powiązanych z nimi zanieczyszczeń. Wiele dorzeczy na Ziemi, będących pod wpływem obecnych zmian klimatycznych, jest jednocześnie poddawanych narastającej antropopresji. W celu przewidywania przyszłych zmian w transporcie osadów i powiązanych z nimi zanieczyszczeń, potrzeba dogłębnego zrozumienia i oceny wpływu poszczególnych czynników powodujących te zmiany. Taka analiza jest jednak często utrudniona ze względu na złożone interakcje pomiędzy czynnikami powodującymi zmiany. Niniejsza rozprawa doktorska przedstawia wyniki badań związanych z analizą transportu osadów rzecznych w zlewni jeziora Bajkał, zdominowanej hydrologicznie transgraniczną rzeką Selengą, przepływającą przez tereny Rosji i Mongolii. Zlewnia rzeki Selengi podlega współczesnym zmianom klimatycznym oraz wzrastającej presji związanej z górnictwem. Złożoność procesów hydrologicznych jest jednak w tym wypadku ograniczona, ponieważ zlewnia Selengi jest jednym z nielicznych, względnie dużych dorzeczy na świecie, którego przepływy są – jak dotychczas – naturalne, nieuregulowane przez żadne zapory lub zbiorniki wodne. Dla poszczególnych celów: (i) identyfikacji historycznych trendów hydroklimatycznych i ich przyczyn, (ii) analizy przestrzennych zmian w transporcie osadów rzecznych w części zlewni dotkniętej górnictwem odkrywkowym oraz (iii) badania procesów transportu i magazynowania osadów w korycie i delcie rzeki; zostały w pracy zastosowane hydrometryczne dane pomiarowe, dane pochodzące z badań terenowych oraz metody modelowania. Wyniki badań wskazują na to, że w latach 1938-2009 zmalały roczne przepływy maksymalne oraz liczba wezbrań, podczas gdy w tym samym czasie wzrosły roczne przepływy minimalne. Powyższe zmiany są zgodne z oczekiwanym wpływem rozmarzania wiecznej zmarzliny na ustrój przepływów rzecznych. Analiza danych pomiarowych oraz wyników modelowania wskazują na to, że obecne zmiany dotyczące liczby oraz wielkości wezbrań mogą znacznie wpłynąć na transport osadów dennych w korytach rzek. Dodatkowo, w ciągu ostatnich 20 lat (1995-2014), średnie roczne przepływy znacznie spadły ze względu na przedłużający się okres suszy na terenie zlewni. Analiza danych terenowych pochodzących z obszarów górniczych wykazała, że podczas obniżonych przepływów, w zanieczyszczonych znaczną ilością metali osadach rzecznych, dominuje materiał pochodzący z działalności człowieka (około 80\% transportowanych osadów). Należy zatem przewidywać, że jeśli obecne zmiany w ustroju przepływów w dorzeczu Selengi (lub w innych podobnych dorzeczach na świecie) będą postępować, to ich następstwem może być dalszy wzrost koncentracji zanieczyszczeń (metali pochodzących z obszarów górniczych) rzek. Ponadto, w obecnym okresie obniżonych przepływów, na terenach zalewowych i jeziorach delty rzeki Selengi zatrzymuje się prawdopodobnie mniej osadów. Wyniki badań wskazują jednak na to, że osady rzeczne mogą być wciąż transportowane do brzegów i obszarów wodnych znajdujących się w strefie, w której stany wodne cieków delty są pod wpływem stanów wodnych jeziora Bajkału. Akumulacja materiału w tych częściach delty Selengi może pozytywnie wpływać na stabilizację naturalnych wałów oraz mokradeł i zwiększać sedymentację netto. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

Detta utvecklingsarbete betraktar formativ undervisning för GIS-projektarbeten från insamlingav data till användbar karta inom geografiundervisning på gymnasieskolan. Studien utgår från ett sociokulturellt lärandeperspektiv där kommunikation mellan lärare och elever har en nyckelroll. Problem och frågor blir därmed utgångspunkt för lärandet och kan initiera formativ agerande av läraren. Under lektionsseriens gång har läraren försökt att hela tiden reflektera över vad den ser och vad som kan göras annorlunda i undervisningssyfte. Utifrån det har läraren bestämt sig för metoder och vägar för att sprida geografins kunskap till elever och samtidigt granska sitt agerande. En kategorisering av lärarens agerande visar att diskussioner med eleverna har en central roll inom formativ undervisning. Att diskutera med eleverna är det främsta undervisningssätt som används tillsammans med att ge instruktioner, motivera elever eller erbjuda eleverna material att arbeta vidare med. Motiv till att läraren väljer agera formativt kan uppstå i en samtalssituation med elever, i läsning av elevers skrivna material eller genom att iaktta elevernas ageranden respektive lyssnandet till deras egna diskussioner. Det visar sig att inom en lektionsserie om och med GIS ges stor möjlighet att elevers utvecklingsprocess gynnas när de gemensam utför praktiska uppgifter där de är tvungna att kommunicera och på olika sätt delar erfarenheter med varandra. Samtidigt ger det läraren chansen till att observera och reflektera med möjlighet att agera formativt. Att mäta själva effekten genom formativt agerande har förblivit svårbedömt men utifrån de gjorda erfarenheterna uppmuntras till att använda sig och pröva formativ undervisning särskilt i ramar av projektarbeten.

Study of Production Drifts Stability and Assessment of Reinforcement Requirements at LKAB Konsuln Test-Mine Levels 436 and 486 Using Geologic Structures Data, and Modelling Software - Dips and Unwedge:  a Part of dp1 Project (Mine Layout and Technology) of the Sustainable Underground Mining (Sum) Project Oludare Joseph Olufe Global population has been on exponential increase over the past half century. The population explosion is driving massive urbanization and infrastructure developments across the globe, which result in huge demand for metals, especially steel. The trend is forecasted to continue to rise steeply in for the next two decades. This is putting enormous strain on metals mining, especially because new surface economic deposits are rare to come by. Therefore, mining is steadily going deeper in many of the mining destinations across the world.     Mining at great depths present unique challenges, particularly regarding stability of excavations at depths. Rock falls, rock burst, excavation collapse are common occurrences associated with deep mining. In regions with high seismicity potentials the frequency and consequences could be very high. Over the past decade ground instability has become a significant challenge confronting mining at LKAB deep mines. There had been incidents that resulted in long term closure of sections of the mines, with resultant adverse economic impacts. More undesirable is loss of live of personnel.     The study was conducted at the Konsuln test mine levels 436 and 486, aimed to investigate the impacts of geologic structures on excavations instability at depths, at the Kiruna iron ore mines, on one hand.  And on the other hand, evaluate the influence of geologic structures on ground reinforcements at the mine. Structural data were collected and analysed using Dips program to define orientation of major structures. The results were used for wedge analysis and excavations stability modelling using Unwedge program. Important rock mechanical parameters were defined based on data provided, and others based on literatures. A design factor of safety of 1.5 was used.     Results from the study established that structures have significant impact on excavations instability at the Konsuln mine. 100% of the production drifts studied has minimum of four wedges formed in its perimeters. Out of this approximately 37% has factor of safety lower than 1.5. Evaluation of reinforcements (shotcrete and rock bolts) implemented in the mine found that approximately 15% of the total wedges formed in the production drifts has factor of safety less that 1.5 after both shotcrete and rock bolt reinforcements had been implement. Also, approximately 5% of the total wedges has apex height longer the rock bolt length.     It was therefore concluded that structurally induced instability is a major contributor to excavations instability at the Kiruna mine. The study approach presented a new methodology to understand and provide robust solution to ground instability problem at the mine.

Currently, the world as we know it is undergoing many different transformations towards a more sustainable future, one of which is the energy transition. The energy transition is a wicked problem that requires transformative and creative thinking to be solved. One way to foster an innovative environment in organizations is by having a diverse workforce with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. However, the energy sector, which has a major responsibility in the transition, is currently gender-segregated. Thus, not taking advantage of diverse capabilities. This thesis studies the energy-gender nexus within a Swedish context and explores what implications a male-dominated energy sector could entail for the energy transition. This is done through a qualitative research design using two methods, (1) a document review to analyze how important actors in the Swedish energy transition currently address gender equality, (2) expert interviews to further explore these findings. The results showed that the energy-gender nexus is a complex paradigm and that opportunities and challenges to integrate more diversity often are interconnected. The main challenges were showed to be connected to presumptions of generalized gender norms, the sectorial image, and the need for structural change. Opportunities were connected to affirmative action and advocacy from initiatives or role models, and benefits from specific measurable targets. It was also concluded that more perspectives and a diversified energy sector could potentially benefit the energy transition through acceleration.

Aluminum (Al) is a potentially toxic element for humans, animals, and plants. Al emitted from smelter plants is one source of Al that may be responsible for increased exposure to humans and the environment. In this study I investigated whether the Kubikenborg aluminum smelter (Kubal AB) emitted Al to such extent that it can be detected above regional background concentrations in soils and plants. The study was conducted by analyzing O- horizon cores and Scots’ pine (Pinus sylvestris) needles along two transects using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). In the O-horizon cores, Al concentrations along the two transects (mean conc. 5250 mg kg-1 in T1 and 3472 mg kg-1 in T2) did not decrease with distance from the smelter. In Scots’ pine needles, Al concentrations (mean conc. 491 mg kg-1 in T1 and 590 mg kg-1 in T2) decreased significantly with distance along transect T2. Aluminum showed high negative co-variance with soil organic matter content (R2 = 0.47) and positive with silicon (Si) and titanium (Ti) in the soil (R = 0.84 and R = 0.86 respectively), suggesting that mineral dust is the main source of Al. However, the Al/Si ratio of the soil decreased with increasing distance from the smelter along T1, indicating a possible additional source of Al besides that of soil dust that may originate from smelter emission. Nevertheless, I found no strong support for detectable Al emissions in humus and Scots’ pine needles near the Kubal AB smelter.

In accordance with the guidelines set forth by PBSGEO, this study aims to highlight the significance of public greenspaces within cemeteries and to propose cost-saving solutions for graveyard maintenance. This research employs a Design Science approach to examine the impact of various factors, including geospatial data, on cemetery maintenance costs. Through a case study of graveyards in Frankfurt, this thesis explores alternative solutions and presents graphical data analysis to better understand the properties of public greenspaces and graveyards. The main findings of this study indicate that effective cost estimation can significantly decrease maintenance costs and improve long-term profitability for cemetery management. While no specific model has been created, the availability of a comprehensive analysis and management portal will assist managers in making informed decisions in the future. The research concludes with the presentation of an online interactive map that can be utilized by cemetery management to reduce costs and enhance productivity. This thesis provides valuable insights into the importance of public greenspaces in cemeteries and the ways in which they can be maintained more efficiently. In addition to its exploratory analysis, this study offers practical implications for the cemetery management industry. The proposed cost-saving solutions can be easily implemented by cemetery management, leading to a reduction in maintenance costs and an improvement in the overall profitability of cemeteries. Furthermore, the findings of this study can also inform future research on the topic and contribute to the development of more sustainable cemetery management practices.

During intensive rainfall, the ground is at risk of flooding if the water has no opportunity to infiltrate into the ground or drain. Cities are most heavily affected by such pluvial floods due to their predominantly solid surfaces. An example of such a city is Umeå, which experienced extensive floods causing up to 40 million Swedish kronor in damages. During the period 1970 to 2020, the population of Umeå has increased from 70,000 to 130,000 inhabitants, which means that both housing demand and thus the proportion of hardened surfaces in the municipality increased rapidly. To avoid future flooding problems, studying intensive precipitation trends as well as factors that affect the risk of pluvial floods is of the utmost importance. The purpose of this research is thus to investigate heavy precipitation trends as well as study how climate change and hardened surfaces affect the risk of flooding in Umeå. This study shows that the frequency of intense rainfall in Umeå has increased compared to the mean of the period 1963-1987 and that climate change could lead to an even higher frequency. Increased frequency of intensive precipitation in combination with an increased proportion of hardened surfaces increases the risk of flooding problems. Furthermore, heavy rainfalls, defined as precipitation above ten millilitres a day, occurred eighteen times a year during the period 1996-2020, which is four days more than the 1963-1987 average. By the end of the twenty-first century, climate change is expected to increase these number of days by a further 20-30% (equivalent to 7-12 days) according to SMHI predictions. Intense rainfall is likely to become more common in the future and population growth in Umeå will likely lead to an increase in the number of paved areas. These changes, in combination, place high demands on Umeå municipality to work efficiently with urban planning and climate adaptation.

The aim of this work is to test the proposed approach of algal scavenging as a driver of sediment mercury (Hg) on different time scales and to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of Hg accumulation in lake sediments. A 3000-year sediment record from Nylandssjön in northern Sweden was analysed for this purpose, as well as a 20-year sediment record from the seasonal sediment traps of this lake. The diatom proxy biogenic silica (bSi) was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) as a proxy for primary productivity by non-destructive visible near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (VNIRS). Silica, normalised to minerogenic matter by aluminium (Si/Al) as an indirect diatom proxy and other geochemical parameters were analysed by the non-destructive method of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The Hg content in the sediment was determined using the the thermal decomposition atomic absorption spectrophotometers (TD-AAS) method. Over the different time scales, organic matter (OM) is an important control factor for Hg, which in turn was strongly associated with primary productivity. Hg was normalised against OM by determining the Hg/LOI or Hg/C ratios. No positive correlation was found between the normalised Hg ratios and the proxies of primary productivity (bSi, Chl-a and Si/Al). Negative correlations between OM and minerogenic elements coinciding with human-induced erosion events and increasing Hg levels in the sediment were found. This is true, both for the long-term record in the sediment cores and the high-resolution data from the sediment traps. Furthermore, in the seasonal sediment record of the sediment traps, in-lake processes like lake turnover in spring and autumn could be linked to precipitation of iron oxyhydroxides (FeOOH) and increasing sedimentary Hg. This may be supported by the parallel sediment accumulation of other metals like nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) at the time of the lake turnover.

The evolving science of astrobiology for the search for life beyond Earth has put focus on the possibility of subsurface bodies of liquid water beneath the surface of icy moons within our Solar System. Specifically, the Jovian moon of Europa and the Saturnian moon of Enceladus show telling characteristics of endogenous heating through their complex tidal resonances with their parent planets – suggesting the presence of oceans of liquid water and therefore a potential for astrobiology. Today, the planning of upcoming satellite missions to guarantee the identification of completely unknown, possibly habitable environments has become an intriguing task for space agencies worldwide. A method of guidance, ground-truthing, debugging and testing of the viability of planned satellite missions is to utilize relatively accessible analogue environments on the Earth. Fortunately, the research of Antarctic subglacial water environments has been acknowledged as the most suitable analogues to the environments of Europa and Enceladus. Given its recorded motions of ice dynamics, erosion, complex thermal systems, and occasions of sampled microbes within – these sensitive, exotic environments beneath the Antarctic ice bed are currently assessed for their suitability as habitats for extremophilic microorganisms, which may provide important insights into the potential existence of habitats, perhaps even life, on icy moons. Ultimately, viable lessons can be drawn from the research of Antarctic subglacial environments given the uncovering of reliable sanitary methodologies that are going to be required during future approaches and sampling of natural systems of extraterrestrial subglacial environments in order to minimize irreparable anthropogenic disturbances on any potential astrobiology. Regardless of the question if the future investigation of Europa’s and Enceladus environments is going to reveal astrobiology within beneath their icy surfaces; this investigation is going to be of invaluable information for the improving familiarity of physical systems beyond Earth. / Sedan länge har forskare vetat att flytande/rinnande vatten är en av de viktigaste förutsättningar för allt liv på Jorden. Under de senaste decennierna har frågan om liv på Jupiters måne Europa, och Saturnus måne Enceladus aktualiserats, efter upptäckten av frusna islager på deras månytor. Evidens från respektive månars omloppsbanor, gör att forskare idag tror att månarnas djupa islager hettas upp inifrån av en aktiv, inre geologi, vilket i sin tur kan tyda på större mängder av flytande vatten. I och med omvandlingen av is till flytande vatten, får detta forskare att tro att cirkulationen av vatten, ihop med den aktiva geologin, möjligtvis har skapat och upprätthåller beboliga förutsättningar för mikroskopiskt liv. I dagsläget planeras ett flertal satelliter skjutas upp till månarna med uppdrag att bekräfta fallet om flytande vatten och beboliga miljöer på månarna, och därmed även undersöka frågan om månarna möjligtvis bär på liv. På den frusna kontinenten Antarktis har ett flertal motsvarande subglaciala miljöer undersökts för att fastställa deras kvalifikationer att upprätthålla liv under extrema levnadsförhållanden. Under dessa undersökningar har ett flertal mikroorganismer påträffats i prover från iskärnor från två subglaciala sjöar (Vostoksjön och Whillanssjön), varav några blivit omstritt påstådda som inhemska extremofiler. Ifall detta stämmer, betyder det att de två subglaciala sjöarna underhålls av ett unikt samspel av drivande faktorer som upprätthåller de nödvändigaste levnadsförutsättningarna för att mikroorganismer kan överleva, även frodas i uppenbart extrema miljöförhållanden. Med forskningen av Antarktis subglaciala sjöar som rapporterar ett unikt samspel mellan is, vatten och underliggande geologi; kan den fortsatta fastställningen av detta fysiska samspel, samt vidare identifikationer av inhemska mikroorganismer att bli en viktig lärdom för framtida satelliters datainsamling av subglaciala vattenmiljöer på Europa och Enceladus. För att underlätta och effektivisera sökandet efter potentiella livsmiljöer, samt möjligtvis hitta utomjordiskt liv på isiga månar bör framtidens satellituppdrag dra stor lärdom och väga in de erfarenheter och resultat som gjorts på subglaciala sjöar i Antarktis.

The application of chemical additives, known as grinding aids (GA), dates back to 1930 in the cement industry. As opposed to the cement industry, where the use of GAs is on the final processing step, it could be one of the first process steps in ore beneficiation. A few investigations addressed the GA applications in ore dressing; therefore, further studies are required to better understand the GA effects on the product properties and downstream separation processes. This thesis undertakes a comparative study on the dry grinding of magnetite and the resulting product characteristics with and without GAs. The main aim is to reduce energy consumption and to address some of the challenges associated with dry processing.  The effects of GAs on the dry batch ball milling of magnetite were examined to analyze the energy consumption (Ec), particle size distribution, flow properties, bulk properties, surface morphology, particle fineness, and surface chemistry of products. Their effects on the ground product were systematically explored by sieve analysis, powder rheology, BET surface measurements, optical microscopy analysis, and zeta potential measurements. Compared with the absence of GAs, the dry grinding efficiency of magnetite increased after using GAs; however, an optimal dosage exists based on the GA type. Among GAs which considered in this investigation (Zalta™ GR20-587 (Commercial GA) and Zalta™ VM1122 (Commercial viscosity aid) as well as sodium hydroxide), Zalta™ VM1122, a polysaccharide-based additive, was the most effective GA where by using this GA; the Ec decreased by 31.1% from 18.0 to 12.4 kWh/t. The PSD became narrower and finer (P80 decreasing from 181 to 142 µm), and the proportion of the particles (38–150 µm) increased from 52.5 to 58.3%. In general, the results reveal that at sufficient GA dosages, they reduce the average particle size, increase the specific surface area, and narrow the particle size distribution. However, an excessive amount of GAs could be detrimental to the grinding performance.  Further studies on powder rheology indicated that the used GAs resulted in improved material flowability compared to grinding without additives (in the examined dosage range). The rheology measurements by the FT4 Powder Rheometer showed strong linear correlations between basic flow energy, specific energy, and the resulting work index when GAs was considered for grinding. There was a strong correlation between the grinding parameters and flow parameters (r &gt; 0.93). These results confirmed the effect of GA on ground particles' flowability. Zalta™ VM1122 showed the best performance with 38.8% reduction of basic flow energy, 20.4 % reduction of specific energy, 24.6% reduction of aerated basic flow energy, and 38.3% reduction of aerated energy. The present investigation showed that the predominant mechanism of GAs is based on the alteration of rheological properties. Further investigation on the surface properties showed that using GAs could increase the surface roughness, which is beneficial for downstream processes such as froth flotation. Zalta™ VM1122 resulted in increased surface roughness and minimum microstructural defects from the optical microscope images. Furthermore, Zalta™ VM1122 (non-ionic) resulted in similar zeta potentials and pH values for the product compared to experiments without GA. These comparable product properties are advantageous as they minimize any potential negative effects on all possible downstream processes. / Kolarctic CBC (KO1030 SEESIMA)