Working group on raw materials research of the German Mineralogical Society visits test facilities at G.E.O.S.

The discussion about critical raw materials is once again intensifying in Europe, Germany and Saxony. While the European Union is making a "Call for Evidence" for a law on critical raw materials, in which one can participate until 22 November 2022, the Saxon state government is working on the update of the Saxon Raw Materials Strategy.

The Working Group on Raw Materials Research of the German Mineralogical Society is involved in this process. One of its goals is to find solutions to questions of the raw materials policy. G.E.O.S. supports the working group and shares its practical experience.

On 14 and 15 October 2022, the working group met in Zinnwald and Freiberg. The excursions included visits to the facilities for the separation and immobilisation of radioactive substances and the bioleaching module on the premises of G.E.O.S. Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH. Dr Frank Haubrich and Karsten Helbig from the Department of Process Development/Biotechnology presented the technological implementation of the extraction of strategic raw materials in practice at pilot scale.

The "Geowissenschaftlichen Mitteilungen" (Geoscientific bulletin) reported