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Consequently, the European demand for critical raw materials (CRM) will skyrocket . <\/span><\/p>\n Europe is facing a major challenge: securing access to CRM by increasing the resilience of the supply chain and building a sustainable low-carbon economy. Indium (In), gallium (Ga) and germanium (Ge) are used in the production of solar panels and are essential to electronics and digital technologies (semiconductors, transistors, etc.). <\/span><\/p>\n We are on the cusp of a critical metal boom and therefore, we need to address urgently our approach to exploration and mining of CRM, otherwise the looming supply shortage in the coming decades will lead to a range of geopolitical, economic, and environmental issues. <\/span><\/p>\n The overarching aim of this project is to locate the new critical minerals resources vital for Europe<\/span>\u2019s future low carbon economy. As a successful and socially acceptable Energy Transition and Green Deal rely on responsible sourcing, we will focus on two objectives: <\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 O1: <\/span>find value in new CRM resources in known base ore deposits & mines by unravelling the secondary metamorphic and tectonic processes that play a key role in concentrating CRM<\/i><\/span> News<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anr-cmio.gm.umontpellier.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Logo_CMiO_400px-300x300-1-150x150.png\"){kind=logo}
As the world shifts away from fossil fuels and enters an energy and ecological transition associated to the expansion of digital technologies, Europe needs to produce enormous numbers of wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles, and batteries and to regain sufficient autonomy for a pervasive digitalization. <\/span><\/p>\n
<\/i>\u2022 O2: unlock CRM resources trapped in mine wastes and engage in the CRM circular economy<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
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\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anr-cmio.gm.umontpellier.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PHOTO-2026-02-16-20-50-24-150x150.jpg\")
<\/div>Coralie Si\u00e9gel visited the CMiO team and UMR Geoscience Montpellier in January 2026<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anr-cmio.gm.umontpellier.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/20260114_171728-150x150.jpg\")
<\/div>Valentine Blumstein is back from her first conference, just a few months after starting her PhD<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anr-cmio.gm.umontpellier.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/PHOTO-2026-01-30-11-13-01-150x150.jpg\")
<\/div>Deta Gasser and Hanne Paulsen visited U Montpellier thanks to our PHC Aurora funding<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anr-cmio.gm.umontpellier.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img-150x150.jpeg\")
<\/div>Lison Moynier started her Post-Doc in collaboration with the Massif Central project of the PEPR Sous Sol !<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anr-cmio.gm.umontpellier.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Capture-decran-2025-10-16-a-1.21.42\u202fPM-150x150.png\")
<\/div>Paper alert: How can we define Orogenic Critical Metals ?<\/a>
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