The GeoERA Raw Materials Monograph is a comprehensive source of information on the completed GeoERA project and provides, among other things, information on the results. GeoERA has ended and provides now comprehensive and widely harmonised information across Europe. Within theRead more
Raw-Materials GeoERA Did You Know Twitter
Posts for the GeoERA Did You Know Twitter tweets
Did you know that the GeoERA Raw Materials projects will be represented at Raw Materials Week 2021 in Brussels?
The Raw Materials Week 2021 starts on November 15th. Some of the GeoERA Raw Materials products and services are presented at the Marketplace and already accessible (requires registration for the event): https://www.eurawmaterialsweek.eu/2021
Did you know that MINDeSEA findings are highlighted in the EU Blue Economy Report 2021?
We are pleased to share with you The EU Blue Economy Report 2021 supported by the European Commission, and with GeoERA MINDeSEA contribution. This is the third edition where our work is acknowledged by the EC. Follow a resume ofRead more
Did you know about the FRAME contribution to the GREENPEG newsletter?
MREG (the Mineral Resources Expert Group of EuroGeoSurvey) and FRAME contributed to the latest GREENPEG Newsletter. This EU project is researching to improve exploration in Europe for pegmatites, sources of critical materials. Some of the newest findings from the FRAMERead more
Did You Know about the “Rock of the Year”
Rock of the Year is a label aiming to bring rocks that are remarkable due to their geological origin and economic importance into greater public interest. This German initiative started in 2007 initiated by the German Association of Geoscientists (BDG[1]).Read more
Did you know about Cobalt from critical to critical raw material?
Cobalt is a critical raw material today, due to its essential value in battery technology. We need cobalt for the green transition, as addressed in the GeoERA projects FRAME and MINDeSEA. However, cobalt was also a critical raw material longRead more
Did you know about GeoKarlsruhe 2021?
GeoKarlsruhe 2021 (https://www.geokarlsruhe2021.de) will take place as an online conference from 19 – 24 September 2021. It provides an opportunity to present and to discuss Raw Materials and Mining (Session 13). Sub-session 13.1 will address European Raw Materials in particularRead more
Did you know about the Nordic Mining Day 2021?
The raw materials needed for energy transmission and other key technologies are driving the demand for CRM. Presentations and discussions at the recent Nordic Mining Day 2021 provide an overview of the situation in Finland, Sweden and Norway to meetRead more
Did you know about the GeoERA session at EGU21?
Thursday 29 April at 9:00-10:30 a GeoERA session at EGU21 will be launched with presentation on GeoEnergy, Groundwater and Raw Materials, demonstrating some of the key outcomes of the GeoERA projects. Developing integrated geoscience services to address European resource supplyRead more
Did you know that GeoERA is invited to the UNFC Resource Management Week 2021?
GeoERA have several presentation in session 10: Workshop -UNFC in action: Progress towards a modern view on integrated resource management. Session 10 takes place on Friday, 30 April 2021 15:00 –17:00. You will get national perspectives how UNFC is orRead more
Did you know about the Nordic Mining Day 2021?
The raw materials needed for energy transmission and other key technologies are driving the demand for CRM. Presentations and discussions at the recent Nordic Mining Day 2021 provide an overview of the situation in Finland, Sweden and Norway to meetRead more
Did you know about the GeoERA Raw Materials’ contribution in SGA news March on the support to Europe’s resilience on raw materials?
The GeoERA Raw Materials group has joined forces to compile this overview of the activities in the four GeoERA RM projects: EUROLITHOS, FRAME, MINDeSEA, and MINTELL4EU. In short, the paper describes how the geological survey in Europe by joining forcesRead more
Did you know that the GeoERA Raw Material projects were present at the EGS stand within the European Commission’s virtual booth at the recent online PDAC?
The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) has wrapped up its first-ever virtual convention that happened between March 8-11, 2021, receiving positive feedback and industry accolades. The annual PDAC Convention is the premier event of the world’s mineral explorationRead more
Did you know about this new publication in materials: ‘The Critical Raw Materials Issue between Scarcity, Supply Risk, and Unique Properties’
The publication is published as part of a special publication by the COST CRM Extrem Team, see Materials 2021, 14(8), 1826; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14081826 Knowledge of the formation of chemical elements, their distribution in our universe and their specific properties isRead more
Did you know about the new MINDeSEA findings
Exploring hydrothermal systems in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge using high-resolution bathymetry. The Journal of Maps has recently published a paper on technological developments, using high-resolution bathymetry to explore high-temperature sulphides mineralization in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). This Spanish-Portuguese cooperative work showsRead more
Did you know about the GeoERA Raw Materials’ contribution in SGA news March on the support to Europe’s resilience on raw materials?
The GeoERA Raw Materials group has joined forces to compile this overview of the activities in the four GeoERA RM projects: EUROLITHOS, FRAME, MINDeSEA, and MINTELL4EU. In short, the paper describes how the geological survey in Europe by joining forcesRead more
Did you know about the Open Geoscience Talks on new technologies applied to mineral exploration?
The talk is organized by the Ore Deposits Hub and takes place Wednesday 10 March at 08:00 GMT (09:00 CET). One of the speakers, Christian Burlet from the Geological Survey of Belgium, is involved in the GeoERA RM projects FRAMERead more
Did you know that Europe’s Raw Material Potential will be highlighted at the 89th PDAC of 2021 at the booth of the European Union?
Some highlights of GeoERA Raw Materials Scientific Projects will be shown at the EuroGeoSurveys corner. Attendees will have a full slate of programming to select from.
Did you know that MINDeSEA results of seabed mineral deposits in the Canary Islands are available for free download at the IGME website?
The Canary Island Seamount Province represents a promising area for the investigation of seabed mineral deposits and their interactions with the marine ecosystems. This area of the Macaronesia has been focus of attention with significant discoveries of cobalt, tellurium andRead more
Did you know that new research has been published in Minerals Engineering on Cobalt?
The bulk of world cobalt (Co) output is as a by-product of extracting nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu). Cobalt is a transition metal featuring unique physical properties which makes its use critical the manufacture of rechargeable batteries. FRAME is activelyRead more
Did you know about the collaboration between the MINDeSEA team and the Russian Far East Geological Institute?
The collaboration has resulted in a design and experimental method obtaining precise and accurate analytical data on the content of REY in Fe-Mn deposits The World Journal of Engineering has recently published a paper on technological developments, using inductively coupledRead more
Did you know about the Critical Minerals Forum?
Advances in critical mineral research: A series of three regional sessions organized by the Geological Survey of Canada, Geoscience Australia, and the United States Geological Survey 12th, 19th and 26st of February. Daniel de Oliveira (Laboratório Nacional de Energia eRead more
Did you know that MINTELL4EU is testing the applicability of UNFC for harmonized mineral inventories?
There is a need for a harmonised tool for sustainable resource management in Europe. The United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) is a system that may be used for this purpose. In MINTELL4EU we aim to demonstrate if geologicalRead more
Did you know that 4th December is also known as Saint Barbara’s Day?
This day is celebrated worldwide by geologists and miners in particular. There are different legends and traditions from country to country, but Saint Barbara is often referred to as the patron of miners, tunnelers and other groups working with explosives.Read more
Did you know that on the 1st of January 2021, the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, focusing on tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold, comes into force?
The FRAME project is, among other things, doing a survey of the pan-European distribution of tantalum. See previous Did You Know posts. A virtual event on the 13 – 14 January 2021 will focus on Perspectives from Producer Countries
Did you know about the results of the polls raised during the GeoERA Raw Materials Webinar to which 130 individuals attended?
If any of these results surprises you, or if you have any comments, then please let us know by contacting Antje Wittenberg from BGR. “What are GeoERA Raw Materials’ most relevant products or achievements?” “Where do you see a needRead more
Did you know about the Raw Materials part of the GeoERA Webinar in November?
Here some key achievements recognised by the audience: Through the networking programme of the Geological Survey Organisations (GSO), the number of data providers has increased. Data density and key information on Europe’s minerals inventory and on Europe’s raw materials potentialRead more
Did you know that the MINDeSEA Team has produced a new paper about hydrothermal systems and bio-mineralization processes in the Canary Islands
The journal Marine Geology has recently published a case study on a novel hydrothermal system that integrates underwater ROV observations, geophysical, mineralogical, geochemical and microbiological studies. Low temperature, shallow water hydrothermal fields were discovered in El Hierro Island. Hornito chimneysRead more
Did you know about the GeoERA Webinar Series – Towards a Geological Service for Europe – 9 – 13 November 2020?
The webinars will provide an insight into the current research projects of GeoERA and will include insights from guest speakers to highlight the relevant links between geosciences and their sectors. How their results and products can be of use toRead more
Did you know that “The Monolith”, a 17 meter tall sculpture in the Vigeland park, Oslo, was made from one single granite block?
That “The Monolith”, a 17 meter tall sculpture in the Vigeland park, Oslo, was made from one single granite block? The stone was originally 17,4 meters long, weighing 270 tons. 121 human figures were carved into the sculpture designed byRead more
Did you know that spectroscopic methods constitute powerful and inexpensive tools for exploration.
They have been recently used to highlight the potential for rare earth elements (REE) in the phosphate deposits at Siilinjärvi (Finland); work done as part of the FRAME project. Raman and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy give clues regarding enrichment in REE ofRead more
Did you know, during the UMC and the ERES conferences more than 60 Stakeholders from governments, academia and industry joined our MINDeSEA talks
Stakeholders attending the Underwater Minerals Conference and the 3rd conference on European Rare Earth Resources acknowledgement the MINDeSEA work on dataset compilation, mapping and development of new exploration methods for critical raw materials in European submarine mineral deposits. They contributeRead more
Did you know about the 3rd conference on European Rare Earth Resources?
The conference will be a virtual event to explore the REE importance for Europe, including development of a sustainable exploitation scheme for Europe’s rare earth ore deposits. MINDeSEA is compiling and studying the REE submarine occurrences in Europe. Underwater mineralsRead more
Did you know how the critical metal tantalum is mined and where?
A significant part of the global production of tantalum, together with some niobium and tin, is more or less the result of artisanal mining in the central African region. Artisanal Mining is a common practise in many regions worldwide. AlthoughRead more
Did you know that the European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) will be launched today.
GeoERA Raw Materials Projects explore, prospect and map Europe on strategic and critical elements helping to improve Europes “Critical Raw Materials Resilience”. Read more about the ERMA event and the agenda at the Raw Materials Summit 2020 webpage. Read alsoRead more
Did you know that the Underwater Minerals Conference is the world’s largest gathering of ocean mineral stakeholders, presented by the International Marine Minerals Society (IMMS)
UMC 2020 offers four days of timely, exciting and diverse information on underwater mineral exploration, environmental research and mining. The conference brings together leaders in government, academia and industry from over 25 countries to exchange information about underwater mining. MINDeSEARead more
Did you know that the critical metal tantalum was discovered in a mineral from a feldspar mine in Sweden?
Tantalum is used in the high-efficiency capacitors found in a wide range of electronics including mobile phones as well as in many extremely durable alloys. The Swedish chemist Anders Gustaf Ekeberg discovered a strange mineral among others from the YtterbyRead more
Did you know about the Mineral Exploration Symposium?
The Mineral Exploration Symposium takes place online 17-18 September and is moderated by Caroline Le Turdu (Schlumberger) and Jean-Jacques Biteau (Total Professor Associate). The GeoERA Raw Materials FRAME project contributes 17 September at 16:50 CEST: Mineral Prospectivity Mapping for energyRead more
Did you know about the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) – a network of organizations supported by the EU’s integrated maritime policy?
Information on marine resources as derived from the GeoERA project MINDeSEA is part of EMODnet, and both projects contribute to the completion of databases on European submarine minerals. Your participation in the online survey will help to shape the nextRead more
Did you know that the Upper Rhine Rift hosts one of the largest gravel and sand deposits in central Europe?
Did you know that the sediments in the Upper Rhine Rift in Southwest Germany, more specifically Baden-Württemberg, is among the largest deposits of aggregates (sand and gravel raw materials) in central Europe? In an area of 300 km length andRead more
Did you know about Lampivaara Ametistikaivos, Finland?
Surrounded by Pyhä-Luosto national park, Lampivaara Ametistikaivos is an amethyst mine where mining for the semi-precious amethysts is carried out by hand. The area is part of the Fennoscandian (or Baltic) Shield and geologically old, spanning the Archean to theRead more
Did you know about the life press conference by Vice-President Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ and Commissioner Thierry BRETON on critical raw materials resilience in the EU?
Today at 11h CET Thursday 3 September, the Commissioner and the Secretary General will launch the Critical Raw Material list 2020. All in all 30 raw materials by now of which Lithium is new. Watch the conference on EbS LiveRead more
Did you know treasures, threats and transitions were the central topics of GeoUtrecht2020 last week
GeoERA has enjoyed its part to continue to deliver solutions for a comfortable life in the future. During the session 1.4 “Raw Materials and their societal relevance for Europe” a total of 21 contributions, 12 of which came from theRead more
Did you know about the Penrhyn Quarry in Wales, UK?
In the 19th century, the slate quarries of north Wales were the largest exporters of slate in the world. The cultural and industrial impact of the area has seen its nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status. Formed from 500 millionRead more
Did you know that MINDeSEA is working hard in education and research activities on seafloor mineral deposits in European seas?
MINDeSEA is working hard in education and research activities on seafloor mineral deposits in European seas. Recently, Egidio Marino has defended his PhD thesis “Cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts from southwest Canary Island seamounts: Mineralogy and geochemistry of strategic and critical elements”.Read more
Did you know about the Mežica mine in the Karawanken / Karavanke UNESCO Global Geopark, Slovenia?
Maybe your summer holiday takes you to this historical mine site. Just a few kilometers from the Austrian border lies the largest lead, zinc and wulfenite ore deposit in Slovenia and part of the largest lead-zinc ore district in Europe.Read more
Did you know about the Copper Coast UNESCO Global Geopark, Ireland?
Maybe your summer holiday takes you to this historical mine site? The Copper Coast Geopark is located on the southern coast of Ireland. Copper, lead and silver were mined in the area, with the industry at its peak in theRead more
Did you know about the UNESCO World Heritage Stevns Klint in Denmark?
Maybe your summer holiday takes you to this historical mine site. 65.5 million years ago, an asteroid smashed into Earth, and the dinosaurs and half of all animal species became extinct. Traces of this event is found in the so-calledRead more
Did you know about the UNESCO World Heritage Røros Mining Town in Norway?
Maybe your summer holiday takes you to this historical mine site. Large amounts of copper were mined in this area for more than 300 years after the mineral was discovered in the area in 1644 and a mining town, exclusivelyRead more
Did you know GeoERA meets at GeoUtrecht 2020?
First-hand information on the role of raw materials for our society and the impact scientific projects will be discussed at on Tuesday, 25 August GeoUtrecht 2020 online-event. The Plenary Talk by Karen Hanghøj (8:30 am) introduce to some aspects ofRead more
Did you know beaches, deltas and river estuaries in Europe sometimes accumulate valuable mineral deposits known as placers, from the Spanish word placer
Gold, tin, titanium, rare earth elements or gemstones eroded from source rocks on land during sedimentary processes are deposited along the coastline. Interesting placer occurrences can be explored by you during your summer holidays if you are visiting the BalticRead more
Did you know about the Ore Deposit Hub – Open Geoscience Talks?
On the 7th of July, Bénédicte Cenki-Tok (Associate professor at Montpellier University, visiting researcher at University of Sydney) talked about Critical minerals geosciences, renewables and sustainability, referring to FRAME and EURare in particular. Read more here: Re-localising the extraction ofRead more
Did you know where the largest mines in Europe are?
The map shows mines in operation, closed mines and even mines under development. Click on a mine and find more information on the commodity and mining period. The maps is constantly being updated and new areas or countries are continuouslyRead more
Did you know there is a link between deep-sea communities, mineralization processes and biomedical sciences
MINDeSEA is providing data on chemosyntetic communities at hydrothermal vents, cold seeps and other environments of mineralization in the pan-European seas. We are investigating, in transdisciplinary teams, their microorganisms, the formation of biominerals and the antitumor activity of microorganisms onRead more
Did you know an old quarry served as an inspiration for one of the most important post-impressionist painters in Europe?
An old quarry served as an inspiration for one of the most important post-impressionist painters in Europe. In fact, many claim this quarry is the birthplace of an entire artistic movement: Cubism [1]. Paul Cezanne sat and painted the landscapeRead more
Did you know how to access maps of (still growing) information on Mineral resources in Europe?
Western Balkan countries are joining the European mineral resources network through the RESEERVE project and thereby extended the geographical coverage. Besides, the MINTELL4EU project follows the foot step of a number of previous projects works to further harmonise data inputsRead more
Did you know that the EU promote responsible sourcing minerals?
Mineral resources hold great potential for our economy. However, when mined in conflict-affected or high-risk areas, they can add to the continuation of violent clashes or human rights abuses. This has raised concerns among customers, suppliers, regulators, investors, non-governmental organizationsRead more
Did you know that the session at GeoUtrecht 2020 on Raw Materials and their societal relevance for Europe provides GeoERA insides?
GeoUtrecht 2020 Annual Conference & Exhibition is organized under the theme “EARTH – Treasures, Threats, Transitions” and will be a virtual conference 24–26 August. Read more about it at https://www.geoutrecht2020.org/. The GeoERA Raw Material projects help to optimize use and managementRead more
Did you know that the European Commission just published the EU Blue Economy Report 2020?
The report were prepared by DG MARE and Joint Research Center, and reflects that EU Blue Economy directly employed close to 5 million people and generated around €750 billion in turnover and €218 billion in gross value added in 2018.Read more
Did you know deep-sea floor mineral deposits are the biggest reserve on Earth for many critical metals like cobalt or tellurium, necessary for the high- and green-technologies?
Monday 15 June at 18:00 CET, the Mining Chamber of Chile organize a webinar (in Spanish) where Francisco Javier González, researcher at the Spanish Geological survey and project lead of MINDeSEA, will present the project “Submarine mineral deposits exploration ofRead more
Did you know stone heritage supports identity and well-being?
Since the dawn of civilization, ornamental stone has been used to shelter humans, shape our environment and build a common identity. When responsibly quarried and processed, stone is not only one of the most sustainable construction materials; it beautifies ourRead more
Did you know how essential Energy Critical Elements are for the Green Transition?
The change from the use of conventional energy to clean burning energies is a vital concern for Europe and the proposed Green Deal. Lithium, cobalt and graphite are key components for battery manufacture. Do you want to learn more? –Read more
Did you know that the pan-European seas could be a source for critical metals supply?
That the GeoERA project MINDeSEA have collected information on seabed mineral deposits in the pan-European sea more and established a database with more than 600 mineral occurrences and 1,045 individual analyzed samples? This supports Europe’s long-term economic strategy to ensureRead more
Did you know copper kills virus?
Some hospitals coat surfaces with copper, and several manufacturers of face masks include a layer of copper oxide. More than 22 million tons of copper is mined every year, mostly in opencast and underground mines. See how much copper (orRead more
Did you know how important critical raw materials are, and that the European seabed mineral deposit host these?
Cobalt, manganese and rare earth elements, abundant in these minerals, are crucial to address issues concerning global climate change and to promote the high- and green-technologies. If you want to learn more about Seabed Mineral Deposits in European Seas, pleaseRead more
Did you know the Romans used large gypsum crystals as sheet glass?
Gypsum is formed during the evaporation of ocean water. In abandoned Roman mines in southern Spain we can still find good samples of easily workable gypsum known as “lapis specularis,” literally, “stone mirror.” The large transparent slabs were very soughtRead more
Did you know World Bank Group estimate more than 3 billion tons of metals and minerals are needed for green technologies required for the 2°C climate goal?
The new World Bank Group report, “Minerals for Climate Action: “The Mineral Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition”, states that the production of minerals, such as graphite, lithium and cobalt, could increase by nearly 500% by 2050, to meet the growingRead more