Innovative technologies and tools for exploration and data modelling of raw materials (RIA)

Expected Outcome

• Increase information on the European Union raw materials, particularly critical raw materials occurrences and deposits, while contributing to the implementation of the National exploration programme,(article 19 of the Critical Raw Materials Regulation(CRMA)[1].
• Improve knowledge base of EU raw materials to identify new areas for exploration and resource estimation;
• Accelerate development of EU domestic raw materials exploration projects integrating innovative technologies that can form the basis for new EU SMEs;
• Develop innovative exploration data acquisition, processing and modelling and mineral system analysis for identification of critical raw materials deposits in the EU;
• Projects will provide technologies and data which will strengthen EU Geological Surveys capacities and skills to implement the National Exploration programmes as defined in the CRMA.
• Accelerate development of EU domestic raw materials exploration projects by junior mining / exploration companies.

Scope

Actions should develop and validate advanced geological modelling and mineral system analysis using multi-source data (geological, geophysical, and geochemical) from ground-based and remote-sensing techniques to develop high-resolution 3D models of mineral deposits. The integration of new (AI and machine learning) and conventional methods will be necessary to predict with the greatest accuracy the location of mineral deposits of critical raw materials and their carrier minerals. Actions contributing to the National exploration programmes under the article 19 of CRMA is encouraged.

Actions should develop new knowledge and conceptual models, supported by innovative technologies to strengthen and secure the EU’s supply of primary raw materials by:

• Generating better geological understanding (i.e. characterization, modelling, mapping) of known mineral deposits to facilitate discovery of new resources, including mineral systems carrying critical raw materials;
• Collecting new geological, geophysical, and geochemical data and developing ore genetic models and mineral system analysis to build a broad understanding of EU’s deposit type, including critical raw materials in order to identify areas for exploration, especially in previously underexplored regions;
• Advancing mineral prospectivity modelling processes;
• Facilitate the integration of existing multi-datasets with newly acquired data.

Proposals should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination.

Activities are expected to start at TRL 3-4 and achieve TRL 5 by the end of the project - see General Annex B.

[1] Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020