M.P. Semenenko Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Ore Formation of NAS of Ukraine

Critical raw materials: cooperation of geologists-scientists of the Institute of Geological Survey of the NAS of Ukraine within the framework of European initiatives and the Horizon Europe program

From April 1 to 4, 2025, joint meetings of MREG - Mineral Resources Export Group (https://eurogeosurveys.org/research/our-experts/mineral-resources/) and project partners GSEU - Geological Service for Europe (https://www.geologicalservice.eu/) were held in Granada (Spain).

The event was organized by the Geological Service of Spain (IGMECSIC - Spanish Geological Institute). Participants represented the geological services of the EU countries, Ukraine, Australia, as well as the MREG-NEP, EGS and EGDI coordination centers.

Participants of the MREG-GSEU joint meetings on April 2, 2025, Granada, Spain

Ukraine was represented by the Head of the Department of the M.P. Semenenko Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Ore Formation of the NAS of Ukraine (IGMR NAS of Ukraine), Senior Researcher, Doctor of Geological Sciences Sukach Vitaliy Vasylyovych.

Schedule and content of the events:

April 1 - meetings of the MREG Mineral Resources Expert Group. The group's activities were discussed, strategic plans were reviewed, and current maps of critical raw materials (CRM) in Europe were reviewed. The meetings were held at the Carmen de la Victoria University residence. After the welcoming remarks, the agenda and results of the previous meeting in Lisbon were approved. The following speakers delivered reports at the meeting: Steven Micklethwaite (Australia), who presented the Queensland geodata digital twin project; Guillaume Bertrand reported on the MREG activities; Julie Hollis (EGS) presented the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Europe (SRIA) for 2025-2034; Eoin McGrath reported on the activities of the MREG group on National Exploration Programs (NEP) and presented plans for future actions. In the afternoon, the reports of national geological research programs with a focus on critical raw materials (CRM) were discussed, as well as the coordination of CRM maps within the EGDI platform (report by Jorgen Tulstrup).

Eoin McGrath reports on the activities of the MREG-NEP group

April 2 - GSEU WP2 working meeting. The sessions were held at the Science Park (Parque de las Ciencias). The opening session was a general session led by WP2 leader Guillaume Bertrand, after which the participants split into three parallel sessions dedicated to critical minerals on land, on the shelf and SRM/UNFC (European International Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Resource Management / United Nations Framework Classification) data standardization. At the evening meeting, the work continued in the same directions and ended with a general discussion on key challenges and future actions.

In the photo: left - head of WP2 GSEU Guillaume Bertrand (Geological Survey of France), right - Vitaly Sukach (IGMR NAS of Ukraine)

April 3 - cultural program: excursion to the Alhambra and evening flamenco show - acquaintance with the spirit of Andalusia. The Alhambra is an architectural and park ensemble and museum, a monument of Moorish architecture and Islamic art of the 13th-14th centuries, the former residence of the emirs of the Nasrid dynasty, the rulers of the Emirate of Granada. Consists of a palace, a mosque and a fortress.

The Alhambra is a historical and cultural pearl of Andalusia and Spain

View of the medieval quarters of Granada from the Alhambra fortress

April 4 - joint workshop of MREG and GSEU in Science Park on the same site as on April 2. The principles of the MIN4EU and EGDI data model were considered, i.e. how data is organized and interacted in the database at the national and European levels. Speakers Capucine Albert, Jorgen Tulstrup and Lazlo Sores presented the database structure - with classifications for minerals, deposit types, mine status, etc. The seminar participants, in groups of 3 participants, performed technical exercises on processing and entering data on individual real deposits into the MIN4EU database. The list also included the Burshtyn graphite deposit, located in the Khmelnytsky region.

MIN4EU conceptual data model

EGDI (European Geological Data Infrastructure) operating scheme

The scientific team of the IGMR of the NAS of Ukraine continues to actively integrate into the European geological community, is increasing its presence in European geological organizations, actively participating in the preparation of proposals for competitive European grant programs, in particular "Horizon Europe", "Innovate Ukraine 2025", etc.

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