Projects / Programmes
January 1, 2013
- December 31, 2017
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.06.07 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Geology |
Natural resources (mineral and energy raw materials, water) |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P430 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Mineral deposits, economic geology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.05 |
Natural Sciences |
Earth and related Environmental sciences |
Researchers (19)
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0215 |
Geological Survey of Slovenia |
Ljubljana |
5051410000 |
0 |
Abstract
Primary mission of the proposed program group "Mineral Resources" is to maintain continuity of research of mineral resources, to preserve of the gained knowledge and to gain new knowledge about mineral resources within a range of their possibility, to transfer the acquired knowledge into practice, to participate in international projects related to mineral materials and to participate in international associations in the field of mineral resources. The proposed program team sees the preservation of "fitness of research" that will be necessary for rapid action when the period of renewed bloom of exploration of minerals resources will come in the future as the particularly important aspect. This bloom can be very close according to current market conditions and geo-political situation in the world.
Program group notes that the knowledge of Slovenian ore deposits is deficient, as Slovenia has made almost no emphasis on exploring new raw materials in the last 20 years. Current state of knowledge even does not allow us to make at least estimations of the resources. Old, now already closed or abandoned metal ore deposits have been studied on the basis of old geological knowledge and very unreliable methods of chemical analysis. Therefore we have a huge knowledge gap regarding Slovenian metal and other ore deposits. An even greater mystery is the state of mineral potentials in depths greater than 300 meters. With the exception of few areas Slovenia did not make any new exploration boreholes in the last 20 years. Exploration of mineral resources with new geological knowledge and new methods of analysis, including accurate multielementary chemical analysis of ores and host rocks, the use of SEM/EDS and microprobe, is necessary in the future.
The group will give a special emphasis on research of coal, uranium and copper in the Gröden formation, research of the Middle Triassic (Ladinian) extensional tectonics and the associated mineralization with zinc, lead and mercury, research of clay formations, tuffs, and research of other non-metallic raw materials for construction and industry of construction materials. The group will explore mineral resources in their whole life cycle, researchers will also touch upon issues such as environmental, geotechnical problems in obtaining raw materials and their sustainable management, including recycling, and use of advanced mathematical methods for processing of geological data and modelling processes.
Significance for science
New geological, geochemical, tectonic, and other knowledge about Slovenian deposits of lead, zinc, antimony, copper, uranium, mercury, iron and barium, and their comparison with similar ore deposits in the surroundings and in the world, can bring new insights to ore mineralization processes. There are two geological areas where new development may be particularly important. The first is the area of ??the Gröden sandstone formation containing copper and uranium, on the north side of the Alps also cobalt. Their sedimentary and postsedimentary evolution in Slovenia will contribute to a deeper knowledge of wider area and important data for correlation with other sedimentary basins, which can gave new perspective on the formation of ore deposits of uranium and copper. The second area is the Middle Triassic extensional tectonics and related mercury and lead-zinc ore deposit. The same is true for coal research, since the question of the composition and structure of sediments in the Pannonian Basin in the depth remains still unknown. The research of these sediments on the surface, and correlation with adjacent areas, will contribute to the knowledge of the situation in depth, where oil, gas, coal and geothermal water appear.
Tertiary sedimentary rocks are also the main mineral and thermal waters holder. Their exploatation there is often accompanied by numerous problems, such as reducing the amount of hydrothermal fluid or changes in its chemical composition. Identification of possible reactions and processes during exploitation can be obtained by the research of older natural systems (Smrekovško Mountains and Castle in Goričko), which are currently inactive, but has passed several stages of cooling, changes in the composition of the reaction solution and the crystallizing phases of autigenic minerals. By examining these two systems we can help to solve problems in currently active systems, which are exploited for commercial purposes. There is abundant and in many respects a very unique paragenesis of clays and other autigenic minerals in Slovenian.
The studying of the diffusion of particles in the environment resulting from mineral raw materials extraction and related processing, will help to create dispersion models, which can be produced by using new ways of interpolations methods using nonlinear mathematical tools. This is certainly interesting to a wider global scientific community.
Scientific knowledge of the geological structure of Slovenia's territory is important for the wider international arena. Slovenia lies at the junction of three major geotectonic units: the Alps, Dinarides and Pannonian Basin. This unique geotectonic environment represents the margin of each of the aforementioned units, so the knowledge of Slovenian area is a key to understanding the relations and relationships between them. It is essential for the correlation with other formations within different sedimentary basins, which are farther away from the junctions.
Significance for the country
Mineral resources act an important role in many industrial activities in Slovenia. Several industrial areas are dependant on the steady supply of raw materials: construction materials, ceramic, chemical, glass-making industry, metallurgy and casting industry, environmental protection sector, water supply, oil and gas industry, food production, art and crafts. Energy sector can benefit from this research group, especially consumers of fossil fuels (especially coal consumers), and areas benefiting from geothermal energy (spas, greenhouses, heating).
The biggest potential socio-economic impact is foreseen within the research of ore-bearing layers of Permian age, so called Gröden formation. Up to date, only important mine in this formation was uranium mine in the lower section, where resources are estimated to 16.000 tons of U3O8, among it only 600 tons have been excavated. In the upper section copper deposits have been found, but they are smaller and economically unimportant. If the currently sedimentary model is correct more copper deposits can be predicted in the deeper sections of upper part of Gröden formation.
Researchers from program group are keepers and maintainers of data bases, related to mineral resources, as well as certified experts for court expertises and as responsible project designer and responsible technical leaders of montan-geological works, according to the mining law. Therefore the research programme will have an important role at supporting the mining and energy sector. As a stakeholder in a spatial planning process we are also involved in the field of preservation of areas for future exploitation of mineral resources. Therefore, there is plenty of opportunity to transfer acquired knowledge into practice.
The research programme have an important role in the restoration process of Slovenian architectural heritage and in restoration of statues. There will certainly be future demand for the authentic natural stone for the purpose of the restoration works. Sufficient supply does not have a straightforward solution, because many historical quarries where architects or sculptors got a stone for their masterpieces are depleted, abandoned or unknown (examples: Jurassic black limestone, very often used by Jožef Plečnik, cezlakit igneous rocks or "repentabor" limestone). Pottery and other handcrafts might also benefit in a similar way. On the area of natural heritage conservation the research group can contribute in the area of the preservation of rare fossil and minerals deposits in the sense of the Environmental conservation law. Its experts help at the preparation of different learning pathways, geoparks or similar. Acquired knowledge will help at the preparation of the promotional material for the abandoned metal mines, which serves for the touristic purposes now. A good example is past knowledge transfer to the Idrija mercury mine, which gained its place in the UNESCO world heritage list this year.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2013,
2014,
2015,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2013,
2014,
2015,
final report
