Raw materials are now more than ever essential for the sustainable functioning of modern societies. Access to and affordability of mineral raw materials is crucial for the functioning of the EU's economy. In that context, it is the duty of a federal Geological Survey to maintain, enhance and promote the expertise in what Europe defines as metallic minerals and construction materials as well from primary sources (ore bodies, quarries) and secondary sources (scrap recycling), but also to participate in the development of a performing mineralogy laboratory with modern facilities.
During the next 6 years fundamental and applied research projects will focus on the following topics:
Meeting the growing need in Critical Raw Materials (CRM) is one of the greatest challenges for the next decades in EU and beyond. Highly flexible, rapid and reliable measurement techniques are needed to enhance our capacity of pollutant-free CRM exploration, exploitation and recycling in various environments.
