Mineral resources research

Ample supply of mineral resources has, for ages, been the basis for the economic and technological development of every society.

The economic geologists of the Czech Geological Survey (CGS) are engaged in many national and international science and applied programmes dealing with the study of mineral resources. Their research focuses on deposits and resources of critical raw materials and also of construction and energy minerals. An essential part of the work activities also includes legislative support for state authorities, specifically drafting the Czech Republic‘s raw materials policy on a regional level as well as dealing with mineral extraction issues involving land-use planning. Particular attention is paid to studying the impacts that mining and raw material processing have on the environment and human health. The development of new research methods concerning mineral deposits and mining heritage research play an important role. In addition to their minerals research activities, the CGS employees are also engaged in educating students and professionals.

Critical raw materials study

This area of research mainly includes the study of EU critical raw materials (CRMs) and national critical raw materials, which include ores and inductrial minerals that are (or may be), from a sustainable development perspective, of key importance for environmental improvement and social development. Research focuses on detailed study of known deposits as well as on identifying prognostic resources of minerals and their safeguarding. A great deal of emphasis is placed on examining technologies used to process these minerals, particularly according to circular economy principles.

Minerals and sustainable regional development

Research includes legislative support for the comprehensive use of mineral resources and their safeguarding as required by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of the Environment, or by other public authorities. CGS activities mainly focus on developing long-term land-use planning concepts regarding mineral resources use and on continuously elaborating on the principles and projects of the Czech Republic‘s raw materials policy on a regional level. This research area represents standardized procedures for developing and updating regional raw material concepts on a regular basis that comply with the conclusions of the national raw materials policy and other sectoral policies according to a universally applicable and certified method. The systematic research guarantees and enables a unified and modern approach to sustainable development of the mineral potential of individual regions of the Czech Republic. It also reflects the priorities of the European strategic framework on exploiting and protecting mineral resources (including critical raw materials for the economies of EU countries). In addition, it takes into account the goals of the European Commission‘s European Raw Materials Initiative and of the circular economy with regard to the priorities of climate protection, the environment and sustainable development. The regional raw material concepts are thus becoming an effective tool and strategic conceptual basis for regional governments for rational decision-making that emphasizes the protection and strategic use of minerals at regional and local levels during all phases of land-use planning. At the same time, they create conditions for meeting the long-term mineral needs of society while respecting sustainable development principles.

Minerals and the environment

The aim of the research is to evaluate the mining impacts on the components of the environment and on human health as a prerequisite for adopting effective measures to reduce environmental and health hazards.

Study of deposit-forming processes and prediction of mineral resources

As part of the geological service provided for the Czech Republic, this research area includes routine mineral research in the territory of the Czech Republic, aimed at obtaining, documenting and evaluating basic information on the principles regarding the formation, composition and structure of natural mineral accumulations, and at compiling and publishing thematic mineral maps and related publications. This research field includes the development and application of new mineralogical, geochemical and geophysical methods for exploring and predicting mineral deposits, the development of microanalytical methods, the construction of genetic models of the main deposit types using 3D/4D models, and analysis of remote sensing data and satellite geophysical data.

Mining history

Research focuses on studying the history of mining and mineral processing and on preserving anthropogenic landscape elements and technical monuments (mine workings) as part of the cultural heritage of a mining landscape.

Assessments

Regional economic geology specialists, who are appointed to provide the State Geological Service, represent the CGS at expert meetings in designated regions. In coordination with regional geologists, they perform assessments and services, communicate with public authorities and, last but not least, provide evaluations of all information, obtained from the above-mentioned research activities, as a basis for decision-making by state administration authorities at all levels in matters concerning the potential use and protection of non-renewable mineral resources, the state and public interest, and the maintenance of the ecological balance of the landscape and human activities (providing special-purpose studies and assessments). Expert assessments of mineral resources, for instance, usually involve applications for the approval or expansion of exploration areas, applications for the approval or extension of mining leases, issues concerning the siting of buildings in protected deposit areas, evaluations of mining projects with regard to land-use planning (particularly land-use planning principles and land-use analysis documents), and environmental impact assessments pursuant to Act No. 100/2001 Coll., as amended. The specialists also handle various requests made by state and local authorities, as well as courts, the police and state organisations.