Sustainable exploration for orthomagmatic (critical) raw materials in the EU: Charting the road to the green energy transition (SEMACRET)

Critical raw materials (CRMs) are fundamental to the EU industrial value chains and strategic sectors, particularlywith regard to the green energy transition. Currently, the EU domestic supply of primary CRMs is below 3% for manyimportant commodities. To obtain an improved understanding of the EU?s critical raw materials potential, discovernew ore deposits and thereby increase the internal sourcing of CRMs and secure its raw materials autonomy, the EUaims to boost the exploration and production of CRMs. Orthomagmatic mineral systems host important green transition(critical) raw materials (GTRM) including Ni, Cu, Co, V, Ti, Cr and platinum-group elements (PGE). There are currentlyonly 2 mines in operation producing these metals in the EU, though there is potential for additional mines in severalEU countries. This project is designed to develop socially and environmentally sustainable means of exploration fororthomagmatic CRMs. We will apply, for the first time in the EU, the Mineral Systems Approach to guide exploration fororthomagmatic CRMs. We will thereby generate improved ore models for orthomagmatic mineral deposits which willbe translated to mappable exploration criteria to delineate areas of high exploration potential, from regional scale to localscale. Through collaboration between geosciences and social sciences the project will also develop methods to promotesocial awareness of the importance of responsible exploration and mining. Further, we will map the exploration andproduction potential of CRM in the EU and key CRM supplier countries. Our research will be conducted at five referencesites in Finland, Portugal, Poland and the Czech Republic representing different geological, social and environmentalconditions. The ultimate goal is to promote responsible sourcing of CRMs in the EU and diversify the supply from thirdcountries, thereby securing the continued supply of CRMs for EU industries.