
Photo: SGU
Mapping of innovation-critical metals and minerals
Sweden has potential for extraction of metals and minerals for new environmental and technology innovations. This is evident from a report submitted by SGU today to the government.
Sweden has potential for extraction of metals and minerals for new environmental and technology innovations. This is evident from a report submitted by SGU today to the government.
Sweden has geological potential for a variety of innovation-critical raw materials, as evidenced by the fact that there are several deposits with ore resource estimates in which these raw materials are included. This is concluded by SGU in the final report of the government assignment to "map the possibilities for extraction in Sweden of the metals and minerals required for production of new environmental and technology innovations".
In addition, SGU has identified several mining sites and exploration projects with critical raw materials, using new analyses of drill cores and mining waste. By linking the analytical results to other knowledge regarding the mining and exploration projects, such as amounts and grade of ore and mining waste, it is possible to get an understanding of the presence of critical raw materials in remaining ore and in mining waste sites.
The results show that the method of reconnaissance sampling and analysis of drill cores and mining waste is a rapid and cost-effective method to get an overview of the presence of critical raw materials as well as the main metals. The method is also applicable to identify and quantify the presence of potentially harmful substances.
Today there is no production of critical raw materials in any Swedish mine. Several of the deposits with ore resource estimates are not economically sustainable today. Others are stuck in the permit processes required to open mines in Sweden. For extraction to be possible, faster and more predictable permitting processes are required, permitting processes which are also accepted by society. Regarding mining of mining waste, it is unclear today if this falls under the Mineral Act.
Last reviewed 2018-12-07