DIM-ESEE CONFERENCE 2025: DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATIONS IN MINERAL RESOURCING

SCHEDULE

09:00-13:00 - REGISTRATION

13:00-14:00 - OPENING CEREMONY

14:00-19:00 - CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

19:00 - WELCOME DINNER

09:00-19:00 - CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

09:00-14:00 - CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

14:00-15:00 - CLOSING CEREMONY

DIM-ESEE CONFERENCE 2025: DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATIONS IN MINERAL RESOURCING

STEERING COMMITEE

RepresentativeInstitutionAcronym
Sibila Borojević Šoštarić, Vječislav BohanekUniversity of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, CroatiaUNIZG-RGNF
Ferenc MadaiUniversity of Miskolc, HungaryUM
Eric PirardUniversity of Liege, BelgiumULiège
Hanno BertignollMontanuniversität Leoben, AustriaMUL
Katerina AdamNational Technical University of Athens, GreeceNTUA
Mateja KoširSlovenian National Building And Civil Engineering Institute, SloveniaZAG
Igor DuriskaTechnical University of Kosice, SlovakiaTUKE
Roman DychkovskyiDnipro University of Technology, UkraineDNIPRO
Katerina NikolovaUniversity of Mining and Geology “St. Ivan Rilski”, Sofia, BulgariaUMG ‘’St Ivan Rilski
Gabriela PaszkowskaWroclaw University of Science and TechnologyWUST

DIM-ESEE CONFERENCE 2025: DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATIONS IN MINERAL RESOURCING

CONFERENCE FIELDS & EDITORS

CONFERENCE FIELD EDITORS: 

Sibila Borojević Šoštarić

Ferenc Madai

FIELD DESCRIPTION: 

Raw materials prospection and discoveries encompass exploration, identification, and assessment of a natural resources. Targeted exploration efforts are focused to materials with growing demands for renewable energy and tech industries and next-generation energy storage:

  • Critical Raw Materials (CRM) in general – lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements…
  • Strategic Raw Materials (SRM) in general – copper, nickel, graphite, manganese…
  • CRMs that cannot be recycled – phosphates, choking coal

Additionally, large exploration efforts are focused on deep-see mining:

  • polymetallic nodules, sulfide deposits, and cobalt-rich crusts on the ocean floor  
  • hydrothermal deep-see sulphide vents 
  • lithium from geothermal brines

However, by far the largest raw material quantities are produced by European aggregate industry, that is facing specific challenges:

  • limited availability of high-quality aggregates near consumption centres increases costs (especially sands)
  • strict policies on land use, emissions, and biodiversity affect quarrying and production
  • large volume / low value aggregate industry is encountering strong economic pressure (rising energy and transportation costs)

Today, raw materials prospection had evolved in multiple subfields. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based approaches are used for mapping and analysing resource potential, integrating historical data, satellite imagery, and field data. Drones quipped with advanced sensors, provide cost-effective and detailed aerial surveys, especially in challenging terrains. Advanced geophysical and geochemical measurements, novel portable field equipment (pXRF or LIBS) and laboratory analytical techniques are used in detection and mapping of mineral signatures. Drillcore scanning with SWIR sensors add highly valuable information to explorers on hydrothermal alterations and ore mineralogy.

AI is being applied to analyse large geological datasets, predict mineral deposits, and optimize exploration strategies. Machine learning models are trained on vast datasets to identify patterns and anomalies that may indicate the presence of raw materials.

Raw materials prospection is developing advanced modelling tools to assess environmental impacts during exploration stages, promoting more sustainable practices. 

The focus of EU resource policy is on CRM, however an important fact is that most of CRM metals are byproducts of base or ferrous metals and extraction of CRMs is not possible without extraction of the latter ones. This should be considered during prospecting and exploration.

Dynamism of mineral exploration in several EU countries had dropped decades ago, therefore much geological information is still paper-based and includes only major metallic components while focus today is at least so much on minor elements.

Ethical considerations now prioritize local community engagement and minimizing disruptions.

This session invites insights, research, and case studies related to raw materials prospection and discoveries. Key topics of interest include:

  • Remote Sensing and Geospatial Technologies
  • Geophysical and Geochemical Innovations
  • Emerging Exploration Targets: CRM and battery metals
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Deep-Sea Exploration
  • Hydrothermal and Renewable-Based Prospecting
  • Sustainable and Ethical Prospection (Circular economy and Social licence to operate)
  • Any other topic related to raw materials prospection

SESSION TOPICS 2025: 

  • Innovative exploration methods
  • Critical Raw Materials in the ESEE region 
  • New discoveries within Western Tethyan belt
  • Challenges in aggregate production

INVITED LECTURE:

European Raw Materials sector and its` perspective (UNIZG, UM)

CONFERENCE FIELD EDITORS: 

Philipp Hartlieb

Vječislav Bohanek

Karolina Adach

FIELD DESCRIPTION: 

The choice of mining method significantly impacts operational efficiency, safety, sustainability, and overall success. It shapes key aspects such as extraction rates, material selectivity, mine-to-mill performance, and environmental factors like noise, dust, and vibrations. As the mining industry balances resource efficiency with environmental responsibility, integrating advanced technologies and innovative approaches is crucial.

Recent advancements in rock fragmentation techniques are revolutionizing traditional practices, complemented by cutting-edge innovations like IoT, AI, and ML. These technologies drive optimization in decision-making, process control, and resource utilization, unlocking new possibilities in modern mining. The alignment of extraction methods with mine design is equally vital. A strategic synergy between these elements enhances productivity, reduces costs, and minimizes environmental footprints, ensuring safety and sustainability.

This session invites insights, research, and case studies that advance mining methods and design. Key topics of interest include:

  • Environmental Sustainability in Modern Mining Practices
  • Innovative Rock Fragmentation Methods for Sustainable Mining
  • Numerical Modeling in Mine Design: Enhancing Safety and Productivity
  • Advancements in AI and IoT for Real-Time Mine Monitoring and Optimization

Together, we can redefine mining operations, achieving greater efficiency, safety, sustainability, and environmental responsiofbility. Join us in shaping the future of mining with transformative solutions and cutting-edge ideas.

SESSION TOPICS 2025: 

  • Environmental Sustainability in Modern Mining Practices
  • Innovative Rock Fragmentation Methods for Sustainable Mining
  • Numerical Modeling in Mine Design: Enhancing Safety and Productivity
  • Advancements in AI and IoT for Real-Time Mine Monitoring and Optimization

INVITED LECTURE:

Challenges of the European mining industry (MUL)

CONFERENCE FIELD EDITORS: 

Eric Pirard

FIELD DESCRIPTION: 

The optimisation of mine planning and mineral beneficiation requires a thorough understanding of the mineralogical and geological variability of ore deposits.

Geometallurgy, as the discipline bridging the gap between geology and mineral processing, benefits strongly from digitization and the development of a series of instruments providing automated mineral mapping at both macro (core-scanning) and micro (particle tracking) scale.

The intensive use of such technologies at exploration stage or for routine analysis of feeds and concentrates in mineral processing plants provides engineers with huge amounts of data that might be hard to turn into actionable intelligence.

This calls for the implementation of deep learning algorithms to contribute to the real time identification of minerals and rocks, but also to better predict the behaviour of complex mineral particles in unit operations.

This lecture will present several advanced sensing techniques and how the efficient implementation of artificial intelligence principles can support their adoption with the aim to achieve better informed decisions in the mining and mineral processing industries.

SESSION TOPICS 2025: 

TBD
Automated mineralogy
Liberation
Online particle sizing
Smart sorting technologies

INVITED LECTURE: 

Digitization and Deep Learning Challenges in the Mineral Industry (ULiege)

CONFERENCE FIELD EDITORS: 

Dr. Davor Kvočka (ZAG)

Dr. Alenka Mauko Pranjić (ZAG)

Dr. Primož Oprčkal (ZAG)

FIELD DESCRIPTION: 

Mining and construction sectors contribute together roughly 45% of global GHG, with significant opportunities to reduce environmental impact through recycling, reuse, and recovery of critical raw materials (CRMs). The sectoral reformation and restructuring would play a pivotal role towards reaching goals of Green deal, Critical Raw Materials Act and general sustainable development.

This session emphasizes innovative recycling, recovery and reuse technologies to transform these sectors towards sustainable future and  will bring together crucial stakeholders with the intention to facilitate the European CRMA goals on recycling and implementation in the region of Western Balkans.

This session invites insights, research, and case studies that advance recycling technologies and further promotes the circular economy. methods and design. Key topics of interest include:

  • CRM Recovery from Mining and Industrial Waste
  • Utilisation of Mining and Industrial Waste into valuable products, Industrial symbiosis
  • Environmental impacts assessment
  • Recycling and Reuse in Construction
  • Integrated Strategies with LCA

CRM Recovery from Mining and Industrial Waste

Critical raw materials (CRMs), such as rare earth elements, cobalt, and lithium, are essential for advanced technologies, renewable energy, and electronics. Mining and industrial processes often generate voluminous waste streams rich in recoverable CRMs. Through advanced recycling technologies like hydrometallurgy and bioleaching, CRMs can be efficiently extracted from tailings, slag, and industrial by-products.  The remaining materials can be through re-processing utilised in several side streams and turned into valuable products or re-used in other industrial sectors, integrating industrial symbiosis. 

By addressing the challenges of CRM extraction, recycling mining waste contributes to resource security, secured value chains and industrial resilience and supports business models of green and emerging technologies for electric vehicles (batteries, magnets) and solar panels. 

Integrated Strategies with LCA

LCA provides a systematic approach to evaluate environmental impacts across material lifecycles. For mining, it demonstrates the value of CRM recovery and tailings reuse, while in construction, it identifies high-impact recycling strategies. This session will discuss technological innovations, policy frameworks, and collaborative efforts that maximize CRM recovery and material reuse, driving sustainability in these critical sectors

SESSION TOPICS 2025: 

  • Life Cycle Assessment
  • Circular Economy
  • Recycling and Recovery of CRM
  • Industrial Symbiosis
  • Cascade Recycling
  • Sustainability

INVITED LECTURE:

European recycling challenges and opportunities (ZAG)