Innovative tools for socially responsible mining

EU project strengthens ethically responsible exploration of critical raw materials.

Mining is a controversial topic: on the one hand, we need raw materials such as copper for the transition to climate-friendly technologies; on the other hand, exploration and extraction are primarily associated with environmental pollution and exploitation. A team of 18 European partners, coordinated by the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) at the Helmholtz Centre Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), has tackled this controversy as part of the EU project Vector, combining geosciences with data science and social sciences. The result is efficient and low-impact exploration methods, as well as solutions focused on people and the environment, which enable a responsible supply of critical raw materials in Europe.
“Europe needs to rethink its approach to raw material dependencies,” urges project coordinator Dr Richard Gloaguen from the HIF. “To implement this key requirement of the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act, adopted in 2023, we must find new approaches and strategies to safeguard the security of supply of raw materials in Europe.” To this end, the development of European raw material deposits is of essential importance. However, regional mining requires both innovative exploration technologies and public acceptance. “That is why it is not only the geoscientific perspective that matters when it comes to developing new mineral deposits, but also the social science aspect,” says Gloaguen. Over the past three years, 18 partners from seven European countries have collaborated on research in this area and, using novel exploration and data analysis methods as well as social science studies, have developed evidence-based knowledge and tools that take both aspects of raw materials procurement into account. The results are available on an open-access platform.

Innovative tools for assessing raw material potential

The Vector team has developed a kind of toolbox for exploring ore deposits. This comprises several novel technologies and workflows that enable a wide variety of geoscientific data – such as geophysical, geochemical or hyperspectral data – from a study area to be combined and visualised, in order to better assess its mineral potential. Among other things, new passive exploration methods such as magnetotellurics were employed. These allow a view into the subsurface without disturbing it. Instead of sending artificially generated signals into the ground, magnetotellurics utilises natural electromagnetic fields that are already present. This makes geological structures and material properties visible to a depth of over one kilometre – in an environmentally friendly and efficient manner.
To confirm and refine the results, the HIF examined existing drill cores using hyperspectral imaging. The minerals in the rock absorb or reflect the radiation in different ways, producing a measurable signal characteristic of the minerals. This technology enables an initial detailed analysis of the mineralogical composition of the subsurface directly on site. “For the drill core scans, we have developed a unique data-processing routine based on machine learning, which enables real-time evaluation and visualisation of the data. The mineralogical analysis is available just a few minutes after data acquisition. The new workflow helps to make faster and more informed decisions in the field. At the same time, the valuable information aids in targeted sample selection. This enables us to get the most out of existing samples quickly, cost-effectively and with minimal disruption,” explains Richard Gloaguen.
The geoscientific data was consolidated and visualised in an interactive three-dimensional space. The integration of all data into such an innovative, interactive 3D model is unique; it helps geologists assess the subsurface and also serves as a resource for stakeholders. It enables real-time collaboration for joint discussions, serves as a knowledge database and makes complex issues understandable and tangible. This fosters transparency, trust, efficiency and participation. These and other methods have been validated using data from various pilot sites, such as the Irish Midlands – known for metals such as zinc and lead – and the German copper-shale region in Lusatia. However, the approach is transferable to mineral deposits worldwide.

Cultural context as the key to understanding

According to HIZ, the extraction of raw materials is no longer seen today as merely a technological issue, but as a societal task that is strongly shaped by cultural values and perspectives. This is why countries and societies have dealt with issues such as the energy transition, mining, the acceptance of technology and environmental protection in different ways.
Research by the Vector team showed that, for example, a long tradition of mining significantly influences perceptions of raw material needs and attitudes towards mining – though concrete experience of mining is the decisive factor. At the same time, there are other values that have a strong influence on opinion-forming: If, for example, there is a stronger tendency within a society to actively shape the social and natural environment – with progress, competition and efficiency viewed positively – this can influence opinions on raw material extraction differently from an adaptation-oriented attitude – balance, sustainability and cooperation are perceived as more important. Societies that are more adaptation-oriented would therefore view technological interventions far more cautiously than societies that are more proactive. Trust in the mining sector also plays a central role – particularly in terms of its integrity and social responsibility.
Based on these findings, recommendations for action were developed on how industry and policymakers can better integrate societal values into their decision-making processes and business models. The tools developed for the public support the wider societal discourse on raw materials. These include, for example, the live experiment ‘100 Perceptions: Raw Materials’ – conducted with 100 volunteers – which took place at the Natural History Museum in London. “The results of this experiment clearly show that the discussion about raw materials is rarely black and white. Between the extremes lie many shades of grey – from responsible extraction and fair supply chains to sustainable consumption. It is crucial to understand the interrelationships and make informed decisions,” explains project manager Tina Pereira from HIF.
The Vector team is making the project results and the tools developed largely freely available on its web platform Vectorproject.eu, with the aim of supporting decision-making among all relevant stakeholders. Participating companies can use the technologies to expand their portfolios and actively drive innovation in the raw materials sector – for the benefit of the economy, the environment and society.
Source: Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology at the HZDR