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Project Philosophy 

The Earth provides mineral resources that are vital for human life. As global demand grows, especially for strategic metals and critical raw materials (CRM) crucial for low-carbon energy production and new technologies, there is a proportionate risk of increasing supply shortage for resources that are identified as critical to Europe's economy. A major element in Europe’s long term economic strategy is to ensure security of supply for these strategic metals as part of the Blue Growth Strategy developing sectors that have a high potential for sustainable jobs and growth as seabed mining (Fig 1).

MINDeSEA aims to contribute to a better understand of metallogenic seabed mineral deposits in all European seas. The Project will contribute to an integrative study through the participation of expert groups from across Europe and the United States with expertise pertaining to varying types of seabed mineral resources. Our vision is to provide knowledge and guidance for decision makers to systematically and effectively manage seabed mineral deposits across Europe. Results from legacy and ongoing projects such as Blue Mining and EMODnet-Geology will be integrated and updated where appropriate. Results of this project will be added to the European Union Raw Materials Knowledge Base (EURMKB).

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The methodology will include: procedures for submarine minerals exploration; mineral evaluation and seafloor minerals mapping; a web service that will disseminate procedures, maps and information to the general public, downstream users and decision makers.

 

The MINDeSEA project will take existing international collaborations and initiatives, EU programmes and projects, listed below, into account.

 

​European projects including the seabed mineral deposits (seafloor massive sulphides, ferromanganese crusts, phosphorites, marine placers and polymetallic nodules) in European Seas, are Minerals4EU, EMODNET III Geology (WP7 Marine Minerals, Fig. 2), The European MSP Platform, Blue Mining, Blue Nodules, MarineETech, MIDAS, International Seabed Authority (ISA), RMIS, EGDI, The INSPIRE “Geology and Mineral Resources“, Minventory, InterRidge and ASMWG & AORA.

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