Overview
Minerals are central to modern life. Our infrastructure, agriculture, and health depend on mineral products ranging from crushed stone to rare earth elements. Crushed stone is utilized in construction, but it may also help to sequester carbon. Rare earth elements are critical to the manufacturing of cell phones, electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines. Critical raw materials or energy critical elements, are generally produced in relatively small quantities, commonly as by-products, but are crucual for new energy, technology and commuicaitons technologies needed for decarbonisation.
Research activities are focussed on the following areas:
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Critical raw material potential of Ireland
- Exploring the potential for mining secondary raw materials from the Irish Zn-Pb sector and other Irish waste streams
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Development of phytoindicator approaches for energy critical elements
