The targeted raw materials include Ni, Cu, PGM, Co, V, Ti, Cr hosted in orthomagmatic ore deposits. Six of these are listed as either critical raw materials, or strategic raw materials. PGM are essential components in fuel cells in hydrogen based EV, Cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) are important battery components, and vanadium (V) is used in electricity storage facilities. The use of copper (Cu) in electric vehicles is 4 times higher than in gasoline-powered vehicles. These metals are thus fundamental for the transition to the green economy, yet their future demand will exceed the current supply by more than 100% within a decade. Currently, there is only one orthomagmatic sulfide deposit (Kevitsa Ni-Cu-PGE-Co, Finland) and one orthomagmatic oxide deposit (Kemi Cr, Finland) in production. However, there is potential in different Eu countries. The main focus of this project will be technology development and validated at small scales. The main output would be more efficient, and environmentally and societally friendly exploration methods and technologies, and the long term impact would be increasing the domestic supply of (critical) raw materials in the EU, and a diversified supply from third countries, and thus supporting green energy transition. Currently, major new data acquisition has been completed, and now in data modelling and interpretation stage.
SEMACRET intends to apply the mineral system approach to guide exploration for orthomagmatic CRMs, generate refined ore deposit models, improve socially and environmentally friendly exploration methods, promote social awareness on the needs of responsible exploration raw materials and responsible sourcing of raw materials. Further, SEMACRET aims to map the exploration and production potential of CRM in the EU and key CRM supplier countries. Our research will be conducted at five reference sites in Finland, Portugal, Poland and the Czech Republic representing different geological, social and environmental conditions. The ultimate goal is to promote responsible sourcing of CRMs in the EU and diversify the supply from third countries, thereby securing the continued supply of CRMs for EU industries. The main output are machine learning related prospectivity modelling and resource modelling, surficial geochemistry methods used for exploration, refined mineral deposit models, and mineral system guided prospectivity modelling, machine learning based language analyses to extract information from social media.
