In June 2024, the fifth working meeting of the SEMACRET project ('Sustainable exploration for orthomagmatic (critical) raw materials in the EU: Charting the road to the green energy transition”.

The main objective of the project, which has been running since 2022, is to increase the flexibility of the supply of raw materials (including critical ones) by developing exploration and exploring extraction options in the European Union. During the meeting, the Polish Geological Institute - NRI was represented by: dr inż. Olga Rosowiecka, prof. dr hab. Stanisław Mikulski, dr inż. Kinga Bobek and dr inż. Tomasz Bieńko.

Participants of the SEMACRET project meeting in Prague

Over the course of two days, project participants discussed research progress, exchanged their knowledge and planned further work steps. The main challenge faced at this stage of the project is the integration of a broad spectrum of data: from soil and rock geochemistry and geophysical measurements to prospectivity mapping at regional and local scales.

The discussion was therefore divided between several scientific teams from different disciplines and reference sites. The most attractive part of the meeting was the opportunity to visit one of the objects being studied by the SEMACRET project - the Variscan ultramafic intrusion of Ransko, which contains rich sulphide mineralisation. In addition to nickel, copper and zinc, the ultramafic massif also contains elements of the platinum group.

Field session on the first of the stands during the trip to the Ranska massif

IInteresting specimens rich in sulfide mineralization available at your fingertips

The SEMACRET project plans to carry out a detailed geological study of selected European orthomagmatic systems containing accumulations of elements such as nickel, copper, chromium, titanium, vanadium or platinum group metals. Research is being carried out in five of the most prospective mineralised areas in Europe:

• Akanvaara (V-Cr-PGE) in northern Finland (Lapland Greenstone Belt),
• Beja (V-Ti) in Portugal (Variscan Massif),
• Ransko (Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) in the Czech Republic (Bohemian Massif),
• Suwałki (Fe-Ti, Suwałki Massif) in Poland,
• Strzegomiany-Kunów zone (V-Ti, Ślęża ophiolite) in Poland.

Multidisciplinary prospective research is carried out in these areas, including: geophysical (ground-based and using drones and helicopters), geochemical (soil, plants and rocks), petrological and geochemical.

The final interpretation of the acquired survey material, combined with archival information, is expected to ultimately lead to the development of three-dimensional models of the spread of mineralization in the deposits.

An interesting aspect of the project is the participation of a team of sociologists who will study public awareness of the importance of critical raw materials to the economy and the acceptance of local communities to carry out exploration and mining work. The project is coordinated by the University of Oulu (Finland) and brings together 17 international research units and industrial partners from various European countries, including: Cardiff University (UK), the University of Lisbon (Portugal), the Czech Geological Survey (Czech Republic), the CNRF National Research Centre (France), the Technical University of Vienna (Austria), the University of Milan (Italy), or the Nave Industrial and Technological Park (Spain).

The international consortium has been established under the European grant “Horizon Europe - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027)'.

Text: Olga Rosowiecka, Tomasz Bieńko
Photos: https://semacret.eu/2024/06/18/consortium-meeting-in-czech-republic/