Spain hunts hidden metals with $223M plan
Initiative aims to reduce uncertainty for companies seeking critical minerals as Europe boosts domestic supplies.
Spain is launching a $223 million project to conduct airborne mineral surveys over 100,000 square kilometers in western and southern regions. The investigation, spanning 2026-2030, will gather magnetic, radiometric, and gravity data. Susana Timón, a department director at the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain (IGME), explained that the program aims to enhance knowledge of the country's mineral resources and improve the prediction of geological models using artificial intelligence.
The initiative seeks to address uncertainty faced by companies searching for critical minerals as Europe strengthens domestic supplies. However, questions remain about the allocation of funds, participation of companies, and the timeliness of new knowledge becoming useful for explorers. The survey will cover three geological zones and focus on deposits, waste, and the identification of potential materials such as copper, tungsten, tin, niobium, tantalum, lithium, antimony, cobalt, copper, nickel, silver, lead, and zinc.
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