Integrated Approaches to Mineral Resource Security: A view from Ireland

Ireland is one of the world's largest producers of zinc and lead but does not currently contribute any of the 27 minerals on the 2017 EU list of critical raw materials (CRMs), though it has historically been a major producer of barite, a current EU CRM. To address Ireland's and the EU's dependence on CRMs, Science Foundation Ireland, the national body for investing in scientific and engineering research, has supported a new research center, the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG), whose focus includes better understanding of the county's mineral potential to enable mineral discovery and possible development as well as research on the origin and potential location of CRM-bearing deposits throughout Europe. Because mineral resource security includes the ability to actually develop and mine mineral deposits, iCRAG is also undertaking social science research into Irish public perception of geoscience including attitudes concerning raw material importance and development. In addition to integrating traditional geoscience research with social science research, iCRAG is working with other groups on new means of recycling mineral materials. This coordinated, strategic approach will provide the tools required to successfully assure the EU's mineral resource security for the future and help meet the UN's sustainability goals.