On October 14 and 15, the field workshop on current exploration activities for metallic raw materials in the Saxon Ore Mountains, organized by the Working Group on Raw Materials Research (AKR) of the Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft (DMG), took place. A total of 16 scientists and professionals from the raw materials sector representing German and Austrian universities, research institutes, and engineering companies followed the invitation of Deutsche Lithium GmbH, G.E.O.S. Freiberg Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, and Saxony Silver Exploration – SSE GmbH to present their activities aimed at securing the raw material supply of modern industrial societies. We were particularly pleased by the high proportion of early-career researchers, as their support is a key objective of the working group.
On Friday, visits to exploration sites at the “Tiefer Bünaustollen” in Zinnwald and to an active drilling site provided insight into current lithium exploration activities by Deutsche Lithium GmbH, focusing on this key battery raw material. Thomas Dittrich presented the results obtained so far and answered numerous questions from participants. The evening of the first day was spent in a pleasant atmosphere with excellent catering and lively professional discussions at the historic inn “Am alten Fernweg” in Niederbobritzsch near Freiberg. Many thanks to our hosts for preparing an outstanding meal.
The second day began with a visit to the pilot plant for processing and beneficiation tests at G.E.O.S. Freiberg in Freiberg/Halsbrücke. Here, Frank Haubrich introduced new process engineering developments for the treatment of radioactively contaminated waste materials and for the recovery of technologically critical metals from mining residues. The workshop concluded with a visit to Saxony Silver Exploration – SSE GmbH and its “Silver City” project in Freiberg. Jörg Neßler and Sebastian Haschke presented the project in detail. Participants then had the opportunity to examine drill cores from silver-rich mineralizations in Bräunsdorf, Großvoigtsberg, and other locations in the northern Freiberg area.
On behalf of all participants, we would like to thank the exploration companies and G.E.O.S. Freiberg for granting access to their sites and for the highly informative explanations. A further field workshop on mineral raw materials is planned for 2023 or 2024. All those interested in raw materials research are warmly invited to participate in the working group (contact via the DMG website).
Torsten Graupner and Max Frenzel (AKR coordinators)