Project description
Innovative deep critical raw material exploration
The EU’s recent initiatives for a circular net-zero economy underscore the growing need for critical raw materials (CRMs). However, traditional exploration methods are limited in scale and depth. The EU-funded UNDERCOVER project aims to revolutionise deep CRM exploration by extending the concept of mineral systems to relevant spatial scales. It integrates technologies developed by EU academia and companies, including the application of cost-effective lithospheric-scale surveys, regional-scale mapping, deeply penetrating airborne techniques, improvements in cost efficiency for high-resolution seismic and electromagnetic methods, and AI and joint inversion techniques to integrate multi-scale geophysical, geological, geochemical, and geochronological data. The project envisions public-private partnerships for the collection of precompetitive base data sets across Europe, enabling companies to de-risk their exploration programmes.
Objective
Recent EU initiatives for a circular 'Net Zero' economy highlight the need for increased raw materials, especially critical mineral resources (CRMs). Traditional exploration methods are limited in scale and depth, often missing large CRM deposits under thick cover (500-1000 m). UNDERCOVER aims to transform deep CRM exploration, introducing a paradigm shift by extending the mineral systems concept, currently underutilised in quantitative exploration, to exploration relevant spatial scales. UNDERCOVER integrates key technologies developed by EU academia and companies:
- Low-cost lithosphere-scale surveys (e.g. MT and passive seismic) in full 3D target prospective regions.
- Regional scale mapping using innovative airborne techniques for identifying exploration targets beyond 1 km depth.
- Improved cost efficiency for high-resolution, deeply penetrating seismic and EM methods (e.g. compressive sensing or drones) for deposit study and environmental exploitation planning.
- Application of AI and joint inversion methods to integrate multi-scale, multi-method, geological, geochemical, and geochronological data, resulting in a 4D multi-scale mineral systems model.
- Incorporation of ESG studies to increase social acceptance and the adoption of our technologies.
- Introduction of UNFC guidelines, integral in our novel exploration strategy as part of the Value of Information.
UNDERCOVER’s strategy envisions public-private partnerships collecting precompetitive regional and lithospheric data across Europe. Companies can leverage this data to de-risk exploration programs and enhance funding prospects. The anticipated impacts are substantial – a systematic and reliable approach to deep exploration could double the EU CRM potential, achieved at a lower cost than conventional methods. Case studies in Finland, Portugal, and Namibia demonstrate the strategy by identifying several new deep exploration targets and helping a known deposit to become a sustainable mining project.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics autonomous robots drones
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.4.4 - Advanced Materials
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL4-2024-RESILIENCE-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
02151 Espoo
Finland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.