Any device used in our society requires material extracted either from our surrounding natural environment or from re-use of material in existing objects . The flow of materials through society increases as human wealth and population increases. Even in a circular economy, primary complements secondary raw materials and constitutes a fundamental basis for our material well-being. Of course, the extraction of primary raw materials, the need for more effective recycling, and the management of waste material which cannot effectively be used or recycled confront our society with major and complex challenges.
On the other hand, the high demand for raw materials in our post-industrial societies contrasts the increasing difficulties to find new mineral deposits. In Europe, accessible and high-grade deposits are mostly exhausted or currently mined. Hence, future exploration must focus on the remaining, more remote locations or penetrate much deeper into the Earth’s crust. In the past, innovations that lead to a better understanding of the geological targets of exploration, technical developments that allowed to access new regions and depths, or the performance of the exploration techniques promoted periods of significant raw materials discovery. Therefore, based on past experience, sustaining innovating activities in Europe would theoretically allow the development of key technologies but also sustainable and ethical production of technological metals required for a successful industry 4.0 and an efficient use of renewable energy. Oddly, this not the case in Europe and three fundamental and seemingly contradictory considerations need to be taken into account.
Firstly, while the need to extract raw materials in Europe is ethically, strategically and economically pertinent, exploration activities are quasi-inexistent and largely limited to remote areas. Secondly, Europe is at the forefront of the technological and industrial developments in the exploration sector. Lastly, none of the major players in the mining sector have shown a strong interest in developing their activities in Europe. This paradoxical situation where the demand is high, the resource at disposal and the technology available is an European idiosyncrasy and originates mainly from societal and political reluctance. The motto here is “not in my garden”. Traditional exploration activities are regarded as destructive and unsustainable.
To unlock this unfavourable status quo the Innovative, Non-invasive and Fully ACcepted exploration Technologies "INFACT" project will interweave technical and social actions to reduce barriers to exploration and drive more effective, more sustainable and more acceptable exploration technologies and practices.
The specific objectives of this project are:
- demonstrate that innovative and non-invasive exploration technologies allow a sustainable and acceptable exploration and, at the same time increase its performance.Leading exploration companies steers the design of a suite of state-of-the-art surveys to be undertaken at each of the sites that will form highly credible reference benchmarks in terms of quality, cost-effectiveness and relevance.
- increase societal acceptance by integrating (1) procedures intended to increase the reliability, performance, acceptance and quality (“best practice”) in regions where exploration activities are frequent and extensive and (2) specific requirements of European local communities. Representatives of civil society, EU States, research, technology development, services and exploration & mining companies will be work together to improve the current public and industry perceptions of the exploration and mining industry, its practices and the operational conditions the industry experiences.
- establish long term facilities (in the south, centre and north of the EU) at sites that represent a range of “real-life” social, physical and technical challenges where the efficiency of non invasive and environmentally friendly technologies can be evaluated, benchmarked and certified. New innovative and socially acceptable technologies will be trialed at the sites and their performances in resolving the geology will be compared with the performances of the state-of-the art reference techniques.
