A new project with representatives from research and industry aims to advance the extraction of critical minerals.
The United Kingdom aims to boost its domestic mining industry and improve the supply of raw materials for green and digital technologies. With funding of roughly $6 million, a new Green Economy Centre at the University of Exeter is set to accelerate the extraction of minerals such as lithium, tin, and tungsten in the counties of Devon and Cornwall, according to a BBC report. The funds are being provided by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the national funding agency for science and research.
The joint project involves companies such as Cornwall Resources Limited (CRL), Petrolab, and Geolorn, as well as local government agencies. The project aligns with the UK’s critical minerals strategy and supports the responsible sourcing of raw materials, writes CRL’s parent company, Strategic Minerals plc. The center will focus on technical challenges related to emerging mineral deposits, as well as partnerships with local communities.
In April 2023, the British Geological Survey identified many promising areas for the extraction of critical minerals, some of which had already seen the extraction of raw materials in the past. However, the geologists emphasized that much more research is needed, as not every promising area will necessarily become a mine.
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