EUrare

NGU deltar i «EUrare», et EU-finansiert forskningsprosjekt som først og fremst skal øke kunnskapen om REE-forekomster i Europa, samt utvinning og produksjon av hitech-materialer med disse grunnstoffene.

- The main goal of the EURARE project is to set the basis for the development of a European Rare Earth Element (REE) industry. It will safeguard the uninterrupted supply of REE raw materials and products crucial for sectors of the EU economy (including automotive, electronics, machinery and chemicals) in a sustainable, economically viable and environmentally friendly way.

This goal will be achieved through:

• The mapping, characterization and technological and economic evaluation of the REE resources in Europe
• The development, optimization and demonstration of innovative technologies for the efficient exploitation of European REE resources with minimal impact on the environment. This will be done in compliance with the EU environmental legislation and in a manner acceptable to European citizens
  
• The establishment of the critical mass of scientists and engineers to support the REE exploitation, processing and manufacturing industry
  
• The development of an Integrated Knowledge Management System (IKMS) for EU REE resources, which will provide information on REE and build up the knowledge to be developed within the frame of the project.
  

EURARE scientific and technical objectives:

• Definition and assessment of exploitable REE mineral resources and REE demand in Europe
• Development of sustainable and efficient REE Ore Beneficiation Technologies, that will lead to the production of high grade REE concentrates and minimization of produced tailings
• Development of sustainable REE Extraction and Refining Technologies, to produce pure REE oxides, REE metals and REE alloys suitable for use in downstream industries
• The development of a strategy for safe REE mining and processing
• Field Demonstration of the novel EURARE REE exploitation technologies
• Identification of novel sustainable exploitation schema for Europe's REE deposits

Europe's rare earth element resource potential: An overview of REE metallogenetic provinces and their geodynamic setting.