High resolution Pleiades satellite image of a Nepalese valley affected by a high number of landslides. Pleiades © CNES 2015. Investigating rare earth mineralisation associated with alkaline magmatic rocks in Madagascar. tea estates in the Nandi Hills through Iten (famous for Kenyan runners) and down into the Rift Valley, as well in the area near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Detailed surveys of soil, water and crop samples have been carried out that will demonstrate a spatial understanding of the geochemistry of the differing climatic zones and food-production areas, and provide an indication of micronutrient composition or the presence of potentially harmful elements. The increased understanding of the soils and crops will improve baseline evidence for differing climatic zones and will inform future experimentation of agricultural methods, which could improve soil–crop transfer of micronutrients for onward health benefits. Mineral resources in Liberia Our Liberia project team continued their work at the Liberian Geological Survey (LGS) this year under a UK Government-supported programme assisting the LGS. The project aims to help the LGS to better fulfil its functions of compliance monitoring of mineral exploration companies, evaluating Liberia’s mineral potential and promoting the development of the mineral resources of the country. During the project, we are helping the LGS to ▪▪ develop a strategy to promote minerals investment ▪▪ establish a Liberian minerals information system and geological documentation centre ▪▪ establish a laboratory ▪▪ install the IT hardware and software needed to underpin these services ▪▪ provide training for LGS staff. Critical metals research A group of metals that are critical in delivering new digital and low-carbon energy technologies are the focus of concerns around supply security and environmental sustainability. The crustal distribution of these ‘critical metals’, such as rare earths, cobalt and tantalum, and their geological concentration processes, are poorly understood compared to ‘industrial metals’ such as iron, copper and aluminium. In collaboration with academic partners, we play a leading role in critical metal research in the UK. Our research Annual science review 23 focuses on critical metals in magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits and their links to global tectonic cycles. Last year, we were part of three consortia that were successful in winning major critical-metals-related research grants from NERC and the EU. 1. The SoS RARE project investigates sustainable development of deposits rich in ‘heavy’ rare earth elements. 2. HiTech AlkCarb considers new exploration models for critical metals in alkaline igneous rocks. 3. MarineE-tech aims to enhance understanding of critical-metal cycling and concentration in sea-floor ferromanganese deposits.
Annual Science Review 2015-2016
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