HiTech AlkCarb

The HiTech AlkCarb project was funded under the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme, to develop new geomodels and sustainable exploration methods for alkaline igneous rocks and carbonatites. It had four main objectives as listed below. The HiTech AlkCarb project finished in 2020, but this website will continue to be updated.

A brief project summary document.

• Develop new geomodels to explore for 'hi-tech' raw materials (such as the rare earth elements, scandium, niobium, tantalum, zirconium, hafnium and fluorspar) associated with alkaline rocks and carbonatites.
• Improve and develop interpretation of geophysical and downhole data in order to understand alkaline rock and carbonatite systems down to depths of approximately one kilometre.
• Build exploration expertise in hi-tech raw materials, and to ensure knowledge exchange between Europe and Africa.
• Assess environmental and socio-economic impacts of mining for these raw materials, and develop best practice.

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 689909).