Vectors to Accessible Critical Raw Material Resources in Sedimentary Basins

Project Information

VECTOR

Grant agreement ID: 101058483

DOI

10.3030/101058483

Project closed

EC signature date 22 May 2022

Start date 1 June 2022

End date 31 May 2025

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 5 598 316,84

EU contribution

€ 5 598 316,84

Coordinated by

HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM DRESDEN-ROSSENDORF EV
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - VECTOR (Vectors to Accessible Critical Raw Material Resources in Sedimentary Basins)

Reporting period: 2023-12-01 to 2025-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

To explore the potential of domestic sourcing, we need to understand the inherent complex social, environmental and technical challenges. VECTOR brings together geo, social and data science to develop human-centered solutions for a socially acceptable, responsible and sustainable supply of CRMs. The project seeks to change the way how exploration and mining will be performed in the future. VECTOR opens the path for new business models and the utilization of sustainability reporting standards. To ensure relevant impact the consortium proposes the following pathways: an advanced interdisciplinary knowledge base; understanding the role of primary raw materials; cost-effective exploration targeting methods, improved business models; skilled practitioners; improved land use and policy decisions; and a more effective communication.
Practically, VECTOR will create a series of toolkits to: (1) provide a step change in the geological understanding and modeling of the subsurface to locate environmentally and economically viable ore deposits; (2) develop innovative and efficient exploration technologies and methodologies for a minimal environmental and social footprint; (3) enable more human-centered industry practices based on improved understanding of values, socio-economic and demographic factors that may play a role in public responses to mining activities; (4) create a data-driven dissemination programme about CRMs that supports dialogue and informed decision making; and (5) combine geological with social indicators (vectors).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

As field work finished by early 2024, data were processed, incorporated into geological and geochemical models as well as 3D geodata visualisations, and interpreted. Highlights include successful deep subsurface imaging with low impact exploration technologies in Ireland (~1.6 km), the identification of key mineral indicators and modelling for the 3 test sides. VECTOR also addressed the social dimension of mining by defining and testing the concept of Shared Value, aiming to align mining with societal benefit. Key activities in the latter part of the project included a detailed study of trust in the mining sector, which, despite technical competence, was found to have low integrity and benevolence compared to sectors like renewables. The project tested and refined a Shared Value index, resulting in practical methods and guidelines for developing business models that align mining activities with community needs. Policy recommendations were also made to embed Shared Value principles into mining governance and decision-making. The project created an interactive, web-based portal (VECTOR Portal) that combines geological and social data with advanced visualisation to support evidence-based decisions. VECTOR widely shared its results through publications social media, videos, newsletters, a documentary film, podcasts and stakeholder webinars. Its outreach reached thousands, helping raise awareness of responsible resource extraction and encouraging dialogue through open-access tools and resources on its portal.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

In Ireland and Germany, VECTOR tested the following new exploration technologies with high potential for geological surveys and mining companies: (1) Low impact geophysical methods for subsurface imaging, including a low-cost passive seismic survey and a new type of survey array for magnetotellurics; (2) Hyperspectral imaging for rapid mineral analysis in drill cores and other geological samples; (3) Software for constructing, managing, rapidly querying and loading these data. (4) Framwork for multiphysics property prediction from hyperspectral drill core data. The toolbox facilitates rapid data exchange and will have broad applications across the exploration industry.

VECTOR aligned the intended work and the latest societal developments and knowledge by shifting from “social acceptance” towards the potential of Shared Values. Shared Value refers to common principles or visions between different stakeholders that, in turn, benefit society as well as companies. VECTOR developed Shared Value-index, which will result in recommendations on how the potential to create Shared Value can be enhanced. VECTOR also developed an interactive and unique online simulator that visualizes the complex decisions that implementing the Green Deal involves and the role of CRMs as well as education materials, a unique and awarded documentary, and many other tools for improved stateholder engagement.

VECTOR developed workflows to visualize complex geo-models (LiquidEarth) and modify input parameters easily. A new time-resolved modeling of basin-hosted mineral systems helps to delineate areas where mineral deposition likely occurred. VECTOR also investigated new geophysical inversions that can be included directly in geological modeling processes. With Squizz, VECTOR helps to explore the spatial variation of the social aspects that form the background in which any new mining takes place. Squizz incorporates a rich collection of data sources, including Eurostat, the EU Regional Competitiveness Index, CORINE Land Cover, and the European Soil Data Centre, among others. These datasets have been standardized and mapped onto Uber’s H3 hexagonal grid system to ensure consistent spatial representation, allowing a comprehensive view of factors like protected areas, degraded land, population health, education levels, and infrastructure quality. In addition to visualization of these latent social features, Squizz includes tools for modeling impact tendencies—qualitative estimates of how mining could influence local contexts across financial, human, physical, and natural sustainability dimensions. Through directed graphs, Squizz captures causal relationships between environmental and social indicators and quantifies how changes (e.g. mining activity) propagate through these systems.

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