The first GREENPEG field season came to completion at the Wolfsberg demonstration site (Austria) at the end of September with the application of regional geochemical sampling to the mineral quartz from lithium-bearing and associated barren pegmatites. The trace element signatures of the quartz samples and their prospect (<25 km2) to district-scale (25-500 km2) distribution will reveal regional chemical zoning of the pegmatite field (previously only possible by costly drilling or blasting of pegmatite bodies). Trace elements in quartz from pegmatites are indicative of the economic potential of the ore and allow for vectoring towards areas of highest ore potential. This geochemical exploration method was developed in 2015 by the GREENPEG coordinator (Müller, A., et al. 2015, Economic Geology 110, pp. 137-157). Quartz analysis via laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry will be performed over the winter season.
Tranøy, September 2020
The first GREENPEG field season was on the Tysfjord demonstration site, testing a set of helicopter-borne, drone-borne and ground based exploration techniques on high-purity-quartz-bearing pegmatite type occurrences. The testing revealed that for the Tysfjord area these type of raw material (RM) occurrences have specific gamma ray signature, which can be useful to delineate the lateral extension of near surface pegmatite. Complementary ground-borne georadar and geoelectric measurements were carried out to study potential signatures in the data, confining host rock and pegmatites. Drone-borne ortho photography was acquired to facilitate a high-resolution transfer of all data and interpretation in a 3D view. We also tested gravimetric and magnetic methods to investigate potential petrophysical contrasts between RM material and wall rock. Data processing and evaluation is ongoing.
Tranøy, August 2020
Although the GREENPEG kick off was still online GREENPEG partners united in a first physical meeting which took place in the far north of Norway at Tysfjord test site. Remote sensing and ground truth as well as sampling and visiting GREENPEG partner Quartz Corporation high purity quartz quarries were the bullet points on a dense agenda. Right at the eve of the launch of the European Commission, Critical Raw Materials for Strategic Technologies and Sectors in the EU foresight study, GREENPEG started contributing to a number of European agendas by developing and validation of new cost-effective exploration approaches to unlock domestic critical mineral resources. GREENPEG outcomes will contribute to both the Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials as part of the new EU Industrial Strategy, the European Green Deal, and the EU COVID-19 Recovery Plan for Europe ensuring resilience through a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials.