A Geological Service for Europe (GSEU)

Publicações

Application of the Play-Based Exploration Pyramid Approach Adapted to Deep Geothermal Resource Mapping at the European Scale in the EU GSEU Project

Publication . Herms, Ignasi; Caldera, N.; Arnó, Georgina; Canteli, P.; García-Crespo, J.; Carrión, E.; Ramalho, Elsa; Carvalho, João; Nádor, A.; Steiner, C.; Janku, L.; Koevoets, M. J.

ABSTRACT: This work introduces version 1.0 of the Pan-European Atlas of Sustainable GeoEnergy Capacities (SGC), developed within the GSEU (Geological Service for Europe) project. The Atlas applies the Play-Based Exploration Pyramid (PBEP) approach to harmonize and standardize the assessment of deep geothermal resources across Europe. The methodology follows a multiscale structure—Levels 0 to 3—that refines geothermal understanding from regional geosystems to detailed local targets. Version 1.0 has been published in spring 2025 via the European Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI) and includes Levels 0 and 1. Level 0 provides public data from boreholes and thermal springs, serving as the base for Level 1, which maps favorable areas for geothermal exploration using Geothermal Play Typing (GPT). The release includes a catalogue of near 400 factsheets describing each GPT unit, along with a metadata report. Future versions (2.0 in 2025 and 3.0 in 2026) will introduce deeper layers of detail. Level 2 will identify potential geothermal reservoirs using 1D stochastic estimations of geothermal and heat storage potential. Level 3 will compile existing 2D/3D maps and models for detailed local-scale reservoir assessments. Altogether, the Atlas supports Europe's energy transition by enhancing knowledge and visibility of its deep geothermal potential.

2025-06Comunicação em conferência

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New Contributions to Mineralogical and Geochemical Knowledge of Old Preguiça Mine, Beja, Portugal

Publication . Silva, Teresa; Morais, Igor; Mesquita Soares, Sofia; Rodrigues, Ivo; de Oliveira, Daniel Pipa Soares; Mirao, Jose

ABSTRACT: Abandoned mining areas provide valuable opportunities to investigate ore-forming processes, supergene mineral transformations, and the geochemical behaviour of metals. In this sense, the old Preguiça mine (Beja, Portugal), exploited for Fe–Zn–Pb, was studied providing new mineralogical and geochemical data aimed at improving the understanding of the secondary mineral assemblages of this deposit. A total of 70 samples collected from three accessible underground levels (first, second and third) and mine waste, complemented by 16 samples from a deeper level (fourth) previously collected, were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) equipment. Mineralogical phases are dominated by a wide range of secondary oxides, carbonates, arsenates, vanadates, silicates, phosphates and sulphates, but remnants of primary sulphides were also found. The following minerals can be emphasised: goethite, hematite, calcite, dolomite, descloizite, willemite, mimetite, cerussite, smithsonite and fraipontite. The presence of massicot in the Preguiça mine, is described for the first time. Bulk geochemical analyses show high concentrations of Fe, Ca, Zn and Pb, consistent with the observed mineralogy. The presence of vanadium- and arsenic-bearing minerals highlights the occurrence of critical raw materials, supporting the importance of reassessing other abandoned mining areas in the context of sustainable resource management and strategic raw-material planning.

2026-03Artigo científico

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Entidade financiadora

UK Research and Innovation

Programa de financiamento

Horizon Europe Guarantee

Número da atribuição

10067926