Unified Novel Deep ExploRation for Critical Ore discovery (UNDERCOVER)

Introduction

Recent EU initiatives to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, as well as the ambitious goals set out in the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and the European Green Deal, are increasing the demand for mineral raw materials, especially critical mineral resources (CRM). Traditional exploration methods are limited in scale and depth, often missing large CRM deposits under thick cover (500-1000 m).

Research project UNDERCOVER aims to transform deep CRM exploration, introducing a paradigm shift by extending the mineral systems concept, currently underutilized 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.

Overall, UNDERCOVER’s approach enables a more innovative, efficient, and socially and environmentally responsible exploration strategy.
New integrated exploration strategy developed in UNDERCOVER envisions public-private partnerships collecting precompetitive regional and lithospheric data across Europe. Companies can leverage this new 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’s critical raw materials potential, achieving this at a lower cost and with less environmental impact than conventional methods.

Case studies in Kuusamo Schist Belt, Finland; Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portugal and Kalahari Copper Belt, Namibia demonstrate the strategy by identifying several new deep exploration targets.

Partners:
1. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF FINLAND (GTK), FI
2. BUREAU DE RECHERCHES GEOLOGIQUES ET MINIERES (BRGM), FR
3. UNIVERSITAT MUNSTER (UM), DE
4. GEOFYZIKALNI USTAV AV CR, V.V.I. (IG CAS), CZ
5. LGI SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION (LGI), FR
6. ASSOCIACAO CLUSTER PORTUGAL MINERAL RESOURCES (ACPMR), PT
7. UNIVERSIDADE DE EVORA (UDE) (Affiliated Entity), PT
8. ONGWE MINERALS (PTY) LTD (ONGWE), NA
9. SUPRACON AG (SUPRA), DE
10. LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUER PHOTONISCHE TECHNOLOGIEN E.V. (IPHT), DE
11. LATITUDE 66 COBALT OY (LAT66), FI
12. LABORATORIO NACIONAL DE ENERGIA E GEOLOGIA I.P. (LNEG), PT
13. TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT BERLIN (TUB), DE
14. SMART SEISMIC SOLUTIONS (S3), FR
15. REDCORP, LDA (REDCORP), PT
16. INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (INRS), CA

The coordinator of the project: Geological Survey of Finland (GTK)

Funding authority: European Commission – Horizon Europe Research & Innovation Programme

Contact persons: project manager Juha Kaija, deputy project manager Tuija Luhta

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