Groundbreaking developments are being presented on the promising potential to convert Europe’s vast, untapped vanadium-titanium (V-Ti) deposits into active mining operations. The focus is on low-grade, unexploited V-bearing titanomagnetite resources located across Finland, Sweden, Greenland, Norway, Poland, and Ukraine. While these deposits have long been considered uneconomical due to their complex “spiderweb-like” mineral assemblage, a new innovative approach may soon turn them into valuable sources of critical minerals.
At the forefront of this initiative is AVANTIS, a consortium dedicated to making these deposits economically viable. The challenge lies in the difficulty of extracting the valuable minerals, particularly titanium (Ti) and vanadium (V), from a matrix of titanomagnetite with high levels of complexity. Traditional methods have struggled to differentiate the titanium-rich ilmenite grains from the vanadium-bearing magnetite, making mining operations inefficient.
However, AVANTIS has developed a novel solution. By employing a bespoke #geometallurgy strategy, the consortium is pioneering a selective blasting technique that maximizes mineral liberation during excavation. This groundbreaking approach not only enhances mineral separation but also reduces energy demands during subsequent crushing and grinding stages. AVANTIS is also designing innovative pre-concentration technologies that are water-free or water-lean, enabling the production of two distinct pre-concentrates: a titanium-rich ilmenite concentrate and a vanadium-rich magnetite concentrate.
The AVANTIS consortium brings together top academic and industry experts from a range of leading institutions, including SIM2 KU Leuven, Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), University of Oulu, AGH University of Krakow, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Technical University of Crete, KRONOS Worldwide, Inc., Proxis, IMA Engineering, Otanmäki Mine, and Strategic Resources International Inc.
Key figures in the project include Tegist Chernet, José Angel Sanchidrián, Saija Luukkanen, Kostas Komnitsas, Anna Kritikaki, and Rabab Nasser leading the work packages, with Peter Tom Jones and Olivier Namur serving as coordinators. Together, they aim to revolutionize the extraction of vanadium and titanium in Europe and ensure these critical minerals are utilized for strategic and sustainable economic development.
With the world’s demand for critical materials rising, this project holds tremendous potential to unlock a new supply chain for two of the most crucial minerals for modern industry. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting journey toward transforming Europe’s mineral resources into a thriving and sustainable industry.
