Sustainable management of the natural resources in northern Finland Peter Johansson and Jouni Pihlaja, Geological Survey of Finland Brussels,13th March 2014
What is the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK)? GTK is an internationally oriented geoscience research agency operating under the Ministry of Employment and the Economy (TEM). GTK s statutory activities Survey and research of Earth s resources and their sustainable use Management and delivery of national geoscience data Provision of geoscience information for society and the business sector Promotion of regional development Specialist services for community and commercial customers Active collaboration in international projects
GTK s role in society GTK plays an active role in the mineral policy in Finland and the EU. The research strengthens national business activity and regional development within the minerals, energy and construction sectors. GTK s role in the mineral sector Exploration. Modeling of mineral potential and resources. New discoveries. Development of Green Mining. Exploration innovations, eco-efficient mining, enrichment processes. Promotion. Expert and data services, contribution to mineral policy. Expert Services. Exploration, enrichment processes, mining environment.
Mining in Finland: 52 mines (12 metal, 31 industrial minerals + carbonate rocks). Kittilä gold Kevitsa nickel Pahtavaara gold Mine investments 2008-2011 1.3 Bill.. Estimated investments 2012-2017 over 3 Bill.. Estimated turnover 2.5 Bill. and employeers 5000 in 2015, 6200 in 2018 (Ministry of Employment and the Economy) Finland is one of the leading mining technology providers (Metso, Outotec, Sandvik, Normet). Metals Industrial minerals Kemi chrome Data: ETLA 2011
Ongoing mine projects: Mine project Exploration Project Raw materials Company Sokli Phosphorus Yara Kolari Iron (copper, gold) Northland Reources Ab Suhanko Palladium (platinum) Gold Fields Mustavaara Vanadium (iron, titanium) Mustavaaran Kaivos Oy Taivaljärvi Silver (zinc) Sotkamo Silver Ab Länttä Lithium Keliber Oy There are currently more than 40 companies holding exploration licences and reservation areas.
Summary of Finland s success in mining Global demand for metals Ore potential of the Fennoscandian Shield Long mining tradition and knowhow Geological data and the services provided by GTK High level mining engineering skills A favourable and secure investment environment Significant potential for new discoveries Excellent infrastructure and good international connections Volume of metallic ores mined after Finland s Minerals Strategy Mining vision 2020
How to secure the resources in future? Known resources and reserves Infered resources Reserves Economic if discovered Potential resources Unknown resources and reserves
How to secure the resources in future? Known resources and reserves Increase of known resources and reserves Mining Industry: Reserves Infered resources Advancing mining, beneficiation and clean technologies Local geological data collection, modelling and interpretation Cost, material and energy efficiency of production Economic if discovered Potential resources Unknown resources and reserves
How to secure the resources in future? Known resources and reserves Infered resources Geological Survey: New types of needs Advancing exploration technologies and intelligence on geological processes New areas and deposit types Deep exploration and mining New discoveries Reserves Economic if discovered Potential resources Unknown resources and reserves
The government is supporting the research and development via Green Mining research program, which aims are listed here. The main goal is to earn the Social license to operate.
NovTecEx - Novel technologies for greenfield exploration User need: Arctic environment is vulnerable. Mineral exploration is challenged by thick glacial formations. Approach: Improve exploration concepts, new sampling techniques and deep penetrating exploration geophysics Benefits: Mineral exploration with minimum impact on environment Users: Mining and exploration companies and scientific community
UltraLIM - Ultra low-impact exploration methods in the subarctic User need: Practical knowledge and experimental results of exploration methods for environmentally sensitive subarctic areas. Approach: Use of upper parts of the mineral soils, organic layers, plants and snow as the sample media for exploration. Find the best practices for sampling and assaying samples. Benefits: New applications and knowledge for the mineral exploration with minimum impact on environment. Users: Mining and exploration companies and scientific community
ENVIMINE developing environmental and geodynamical safety related to mine closure in the Barents region Lead partner: Geological Survey of Finland, Northern Finland Office Partners: Mining Institute KSC/RAS, Russia Luleå University of Technology, Sweden The main result: is to develop innovative methodology by cross border cooperation, concerning environmentally safe mine closure under specific conditions in the Barents area.
SULKA - Sulphur compounds in mining operations environmental impact assessment, measurement and emission abatement Lead partner: University of Oulu, Process and environmental engineering, Mass and Heat Transfer Process Laboratory Partners: Geological Survey of Finland, Northern Finland Office, CEMIS OULU Sotkamo Unit, Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius, Lapland University of Applied Sciences The main result: is to generate new information about the environmental impact of sulphur emissions originating from mining industry, and to develop new methods to measure and monitor but also to minimize the sulphur containing emissions coming from mining industry.
ABCGheritage Arctic biological, cultural and geological heritage Lead partner: Metsähallitus, Natural Heritage Services Lapland Partners: Geological Survey of Finland, Northern Finland Office; Geological Institute KSC/RAS, Russia; Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Lapland; Lapland State Natural Biosphere Reserve, Russia; Pasvik State Nature Reserve, Russia; Bioforsk Soil and Environment, Norway; Fylkesmannen i Finnmark, Norway; Finnmark Fylkeskommune, Norway and Nordland Research Institute, Norway. The main result: is to raise awareness of the natural and geological heritage at schools, tourism companies and public. Increase geotourism by utilization of produced materials.
Golden Geopark of Lapland Applicant: Inari Municipal Business & Development Nordica Cooperation partners: Geological Survey of Finland / Northern Finland Office, Inari-Saariselkä Tourism Ltd, Metsähallitus, Natural Heritage Services Lapland, Gold Prospectors Association of Finnish Lapland The main result: is to join the Ivalojoki Lemmenjoki river valleys to international Geopark Network, to survey and protect the geodiversity of the placer gold region and surrounding areas and to utilize the geology and geological knowledge in recreation, education and nature tourism in ecologically, culturally and economically sustainable way.
Acid Discharge Reduction in Bothnian Arc area in 2012-2014 Lead partner: Agrifood Research Finland MTT Partners: Geological Survey of Finland, Northern Finland Office, Finnish Forest Research Institute METLA, and Lynet laboratory. The main objective: is to find the locations and features of acid sulfate soils causing acidity in the project area and to set action proposals for the prevention of the acid load. The aims are to create data base including distribution and risk classification of acid sulfate soils.
KORA - developing knowledge of soil structure and groundwater conditions in Kolpeneenharju, Rovaniemi Lead partner: Geological Survey of Finland, Northern Finland Office Funding: European Regional Development Fund and City of Rovaniemi The main result: is to produce new information for groundwater usage, protection and land use directions by creating more Detailed soil and groundwater model of the area.
Minerals4EU (http://www.minerals4eu.eu) Lead partner: Geological Survey of Finland Approach: Project is designed to meet the recommendations of the Raw Materials Initiative. The Consortium comprises 31 partners from 25 countries.
Thank You Peter Johansson, Geological Survey of Finland peter.johansson@gtk.fi