Objectives
The objective of the work package is to extend the spatial coverage and quality of data currently stored in the Minerals4EU database to have access to up-to-date and harmonized information across borders on primary raw materials by using the existing systems developed within the project Minerals4EU. Currently, the Minerals4EU system is not covering all Europe and it is not fully harmonised, and a different degree of data is available from country to country.
WP3 will refine the Minerals Inventory (current Minerals4EU database) by identifying and filing data gaps, and low-quality or completely missing data. Solutions, addressing problems of data quality, will be given through workshops, tailored upon users’ needs.
WP3 will:
(i) identify and fill data gaps in spatial coverage;
(ii) outline data harmonization;
(iii) update mineral resource assessment information for the Minerals Inventory;
(iv) educate project partners to become capable and reliable data providers;
(v) facilitate interoperability between relevant on-going projects (i.e. ORAMA, RESEERVE, other GeoERA projects)
There will be a strong connection with WP2 (Task 2.3: Resources, reserves and exploration updates), WP5 (updates of harvesting system) and GeoERA GIP-P project.
Description of work
Task 3.1 Minerals Inventory Improvements (Month 1 to 36)
T 3.1.1 Identification and filling data gaps in spatial coverage
The existing Minerals Inventory spatial coverage will be extended with data from partners countries that were participants of Minerals4EU project but did not deliver data , countries from SE Europe that were not partners in Mineral4EU (in coordination to RESEERVE project) as well as new partners in Mintell4EU project.
T 3.1.2 Data harmonization
In coordination with Task 2.3 and ORAMA project and the GeoERA Information Platform project we will address problems of data quality through:.
– strong network and good communication among data providers
– transparent and understandable process of data collection and review, tailored upon user’s needs;
– development of new training materials;
– education of data providers through workshops to become capable and reliable data providers;
– improvement of harvesting system and its quality assurance.
Task 3.2. Quality control of harvesting (Month 13 to 34)
Establishing of harvesting reporting system including quality assurance procedures will ensure that data harvesting happens correctly, in coordination with WP5.
Task 3.3 Training Workshops (Month 18-26)
Minerals inventory improvements will be supported through workshops, tailored upon users’ needs, directed in particular at data providers. For that purpose, technical guidelines will be elaborated and freely available to all data providers.
Two workshops will be targeted towards:
- achieving up-to-date, comprehensive, reliable and harmonized information, its quality and efficiency of data reporting. The workshop will be tailored to existing data providers and their needs (with connection to ORAMA project).
- the education of new project partners (mainly form SE Europe) to become capable and reliable data providers (with connection to RESEERVE project).
Constantly, WP3 will be providing technical help to data providers via teleconferenes, web seminar e-mails, phone, etc.
Task 3.4 Historical mine sites (Months 13-24)
Europe has a long mining history dating back to the Bronze Age (3300 – 1200 BC). Early mining activity was a carried out in a primitive manner and only relatively high grade mineralization was worked. Many developments have taken place since then up to the present day. In addition, the range of commodities mined has greatly expanded over this time period and include ornamental stone, industrial minerals, fuel minerals as well as metal mines. Several of these sites have had over 1,000 years of continuous mining activity while others measure their life in decades or less. The mining activity has altered the landscape and many mining regions have a unique environment and built heritage.
This Task aims to document those mining areas which have developed tourist attractions or amenities following the closure of the mines, in partner countries. Only sites that have active attractions at the site will be documented. This will be achieved by developing a template for the recording of relevant features and attributes of each site. Specifically, information will be collected which will:
- Provide a brief overview of the mine – commodities worked, period of operation, type of mining, mining activities that were carried out at the site (extraction, processing, smelting, products, etc.).
- Describe the current condition of the site including any remediation. This will include the built heritage and any remains at the site.
- Describe the current attractions at the site (preserved built heritage, interpretative centre, walks, etc.).
- Describe the management of the site (who looks after the site, visitor attractions, numbers annual visitor numbers, any income generation – direct and indirect).
RM4 (Critical Raw Materials) will also be examining historic mine sites (WP7 led by BGR). The WP will examine the critical raw material content and resource potential of both the waste materials and any undeveloped or in-situ mineralization. The present WP will liaise with the RM4 so that any synergies or potential conflicts can be taken into account.