Project duration: 1 January 2018 – 31 March 2021

Objective

Rare earth elements (REE) are critical raw materials imported in large numbers for modern industrial applications but almost exclusively extracted out of Europe, thus leaving the continent completely dependent on imports.

Europe-based REE production shall cover a significant amount of the domestic need and reduce business hazard due to a volatile world market. Bauxite and bauxite residue have been for a long time considered a viable resource of REE. With a large number of bauxite deposits in the Eastern and South-Eastern European (ESEE) region and a long tradition of the aluminium processing industry, which has left also a significant amount of bauxite residue behind, there is a respectable perspective for development of a new REE resource for Europe once geological, mining and technological aspect are well elaborated.

The solution (technology)

By extensive collection of available and acquiring new representative data, the project consortium is to assess the potential of the bauxite deposits and bauxite residue left behind bauxite processing industry for the production of REE in the ESEE region for European needs.

Also targeting an increase of innovation capacity in regional bauxite resources management for future developments in REE production, the project consortium will involve students in the execution of the project tasks and offer several educational events for students and professionals from R&D and industrial sector.

Partnership

  • University of Zagreb – Faculty of Science (UNIZG – PMF), Croatia (Lead partner)
  • Croatian Geological Survey (HGI-CGS), Croatia
  • DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Germany
  • Eötvös Loránd University Budapest (ELTE), Hungary
  • Geological Survey of Montenegro (GSM), Montenegro
  • Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria
  • University of Miskolc, Hungary
  • University of Zagreb, Croatia
  • University of Zagreb – Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering (UNIZG-RGNF), Croatia
  • Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG), Slovenia

For more information, please visit the official website of the project.