THE TELLUS PROGRAMME: AN IRISH SOLUTION TO A GLOBAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE (Invited Presentation)

As the world inexorably moves towards a lower carbon future, our use of raw materials will significantly shift from fossil fuels to the metals needed to power this green transition. Previously ignored deposits and prospects have acquired an enhanced level of criticality as society begins to reassess their value within this framework. Geological Survey Ireland is working on a Mineral Prospectivity Modelling (MPM) project examining previously underexplored areas to improve our knowledge of the occurrence of economically important metals. This is a key component in support of the ‘Just Transition’ in Ireland, which seeks to secure an economically and environmentally sustainable solution to the energy transition.

The initial phase of the project operated across the minerals and Tellus programmes within the survey and developed new geochemical and geophysical data layers across the northwest of the country, evaluating the potential for Irish Type base metal deposits. Subsequent phases will utilise modern Tellus data as well as historical data to produce regional, system-based mineral prospectivity assessments for key energy transition minerals, as well as producing value-added structural geology data from airborne geophysics, which will also support and de-risk deep geothermal energy exploration

Geological Survey Ireland's Tellus Programme is a national scale survey gathering geochemical and geophysical data across the island to support the sustainable use of Ireland's natural resources. It works across multiple themes of mineral prospectivity, smart agriculture, environment and health, climate action and education and is funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Geological Survey Ireland geologists work to develop products from this data that support internal and external research along with a greater understanding of the mineralising systems and prospectivity of underexplored areas. All data is made available free of charge online.