Being able to characterize resources in 3D instead of the common 2D data would be a major breakthrough in minerals processing and metal extraction. We develop a new measuring routine and software which merge quantitative 2-dimensional data with 3-dimensional data. This allows for an unprecedented optimization of mineral reco­very and energy efficiency as well as the minimization of material residues.

Alte Bergbauhalden können eine wichtige Rohstoffquelle sein. Sie enthalten noch erhebliche Mengen an Wertstoffen, nur waren diese früher technisch nicht gewinnbar oder für die Industrie uninteressant. Alle Aktivitäten, die sich mit der Ressourcengewinnung aus und der Wiederaufarbei­tung von Bergbauhalden befassen, werden als „ReMining“ bezeichnet. ReMining ist ein For­schungs­schwerpunkt am HIF.

BioKollekt is a novel se­paration process that extracts metals from scrap, process waste or primary raw material mixtures using specially designed biological collectors. The method aims at enabling the cost- and energy-efficient recycling of complex mixtures, and more specifically fine particles.

GERRI is a cooperation between the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, RWTH Aachen, TU Clausthal and the Fraunhofer Project Group IWKS. It aims at gathering all national competencies, infrastructures, and strategies on raw materials in one virtual institute and at creating compatibility amongst them.

The EU INFACT project aims at contributing to raw materials security in the European Union by way of invigorating Europe as a destination for exploration. The project partners envisage to change raw material exploration in a way that it becomes socially accepted, environmentally-friendly and technologically advanced.

The Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology and the UVR-FIA GmbH are developing a new strategy for processing the Vietnamese “Nam Xe” rare earth ore deposits in an environmentally friendly and economical manner. Optical sensors are to be employed in this endeavor.

AFK aims at developing technical solutions for processing the different value minerals in complex ores simultaneously in an economic, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly way. In order to achieve this, new methods have to be developed, already existing ones have to be enhanced and the entire process chain from the crushing of the ore through to the production of a marketable mineral concentrate must be optimized.

Developing extensive models of the geological formation and distribution of mineral deposits, the HIF and its project partners aim to reassess raw materials potential here in Germany. The results will also serve as the foundation for the investigation of other raw material deposits. Additionally, the partners plan on establishing a graduate school to fos­ter junior scientists in geoscience.

Under the coordination of the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology experts from research and industry are testing if so-called calixarenes could be used as an alternative extraction agent in the industrial se­paration of rare earths. The organic macro molecules are expected to simplify the enrichment of these metals and significantly decrease the use of process chemicals.