The Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF), which is part of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, will receive a grant of approximately €900,000 o­ver the next three years to support the development of new ­techno­logies for the environmentally and socially sustainable as well as efficient exploration of natural resources. The EU funding will be made available by EIT RawMaterials, which is supported by the European Insitute of Innovation and Technology, and has already been earmarked for three new projects. The researchers are seeking to advance drone-based exploration and other innovative exploration methods.

Chile ist einer der wichtigsten Kupferlieferanten für Deutschland. Im Rahmen der Wissen­schaftlich-Technologischen Zusammenarbeit bei­der Län­der wird nun untersucht, wie sich chilenische Kupfererze umwelt­verträglicher aufbereiten lassen. Aus Bakterien gewonnene bioaktive Stoffe sollen Chemikalien ersetzen oder ­verringern. Ein weiteres Ziel ist es, die Metallausbeute zu steigern sowie schwer abtrennbare Metalle herauszulösen. Insbesondere das in den Erzen enthaltene Molybdän soll gewinnbar werden. Die Kooperation zwischen dem Helmholtz-Institut Freiberg für Res­sourcen­tech­no­logie (HIF), das zum HZDR gehört, und dem Advanced Mining and Technology Cen­ter an der Uni­versidad de Chile in Santiago de Chile begann im Februar.

The youngs­ters attending the Win­ter Business School (9th - 27th January 2017) come from Brazil, Colombia, China and India as well as many other parts of the world and have already graduated in subjects such as Geology, Mineral Engineering, Physics and Chemistry. They are united by a desire to identify solutions to the challenges faced by the raw materials industry and to obtain a European Master’s in Georesources Engineering. This includes a three-week win­ter school in Freiberg, Saxony. 18 students from the course are taking part.

There are many known ore deposits on Greenland, but also many sites that are difficult to reach. An innovative ‘toolbox’ based on drone-borne methods as well as specialised compu­ter software could soon make the exploration of raw materials significantly easier. Researchers from Freiberg are hereby collaborating with the Geological Research Institute of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS).