Critical Metals in Orogens (CMiO): How metamorphic and tectonic processes concentrate critical metals in the Earth’s crust – CMiO
Critical Metals in Orogens (CMiO)
How metamorphic and tectonic processes concentrate critical metals in the Earth’s crust
The overarching aim of this project is to locate the new critical minerals resources vital for Europe’s future low carbon economy.
The overarching aim of this project is to locate the new critical minerals resources vital for Europe’s 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: • O1: 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 • O2: unlock CRM resources trapped in mine wastes and engage in the CRM circular economy. This project aims to investigate the role of metamorphism and tectonics in determining the mobility of critical elements and their concentration in deposits of critical raw materials essential for building sustainable, low-carbon societies. This study will generate new knowledge in the fields of metamorphism, tectonics and economic geology. The expected results of this work include an innovative approach to locating new resources of critical raw materials in ores and their associated mining wastes. The project will optimize the exploration of deposits, their tailings and the mining environment, as well as its social acceptability. As a result, this project will strengthen Europe's ability to build the circular economy for critical raw materials. This will bring significant benefits to the mining industry and to European society. The project will be coordinated by Bénédicte Cenki, Maître de Conférences Hors Classe who has an Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) at the University of Montpellier. The consortium is built on the synergy of three French academic institutions (Université de Montpellier, Université Grenoble Alpes and the Laboratoire de Psychologie, Cognition, Comportement et Communication at Université de Rennes 2) with a public collaborator (Bureau des Recherches Géologiques et Minières), a French mining exploration consultancy (GexplOre) and international scientific collaborations with the Portuguese Geological Survey in Portugal and the University of Lulea in Sweden.
Coupled approach of hard sciences (fieldwork, structural geology, metamorphism, geochemistry, geochronology and numerical modelling) and humanities and social sciences (social psychology).
The review article presenting the fundamental concept tested by the project was published in 2025 in the journal Ore Geology Reviews (Cugerone, A. and Cenki, B., 2025. Remobilisation and concentration processes of critical metals in orogens: highlighting the role of deformation and metamorphic recrystallisation. Ore Geology Reviews, 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.106904).
Four one- to two-week field missions took place abroad (Portugal in April 2024 and 2025, Norway and Sweden in June 2024 and August 2025) as well as numerous field days in the Massif Central. Numerous samples and data were collected and are currently being analysed.
Three doctoral students were recruited: Valentine Blumstein at the University of Montpellier (2025-2028), Goddi Hadjar at the University of Rennes 2 (2025-2028) and Nicolas Afanassieff at the University of Grenoble Alpes (2024-2027). Lison Moynier was recruited as a post-doctoral researcher on a complementary project (PEPR Sous Sol) on the same historic mines in the Massif Central. In addition, 11 Master's students completed their research internships as part of the project, as did 12 Bachelor's students. Nine abstracts were submitted to national and international conferences. Finally, the participants met three times for annual meetings (Largentière in July 2024, Montpellier in June 2025 and Lyon in June 2026) and meet remotely for bi-monthly scientific meetings.
If the proof-of-concept designed in this project for historical and active Pb-Zn mines is successful, it could be extended to other chemical systems where other critical metals such as rare earth elements and platinum group elements are found in France and Europe. The coordinator and team plan to extend the ANR CMiO by submitting a follow-up project to the EU's MSCA doctoral network program, in order to train through research the future generation of the mining industry in a truly transdisciplinary way to make the critical metals supply chain resilient while respecting people and the planet.
This project aims to investigate the role of metamorphism and tectonics impacting the mobility of critical elements and their concentration into the ore-deposits of critical raw materials that are essential for building sustainable low-carbon societies. This study will generate novel knowledge in the area of metamorphism, tectonics and economic geology. Expected outcomes of this work include an innovative approach to locate new resource in critical raw materials in ores and their associated mine waste. This project is going to optimize the exploration of ore deposits, the ground and the mining environment as well as its social acceptance. Consequently, this project will enhance Europe’s capacity to build the circular economy for critical raw materials. This will provide significant benefits to the minerals industry and European society.
The project will be coordinated by Bénédicte Cenki, Maître de Conférences Hors Classe with an Habilitation to Supervise Research (HDR) at the University of Montpellier. The consortium is built on the synergy of three French academic institutions (University of Montpellier, University Grenoble Alpes and the Laboratory of Psychology, Cognition, Behavior and Communication at the University of Rennes 2) with one public collaborator (Bureau des Recherches Géologiques et Minières), a French mineral exploration consultancy company (GexplOre) and international scientific collaborations with the Portuguese Geological Survey in Portugal and the University of Lulea in Sweden.
Project coordination
Bénédicte CENKI (Géosciences Montpellier)
The author of this summary is the project coordinator, who is responsible for the content of this summary. The ANR declines any responsibility as for its contents.
Partnership
BRGM
GEXPLORE
LP3C Laboratoire de Psychologie : Cognition, Comportement, Communication
ISTERRE Institut des Sciences de la Terre
GM Géosciences Montpellier
Help of the ANR 751,529 euros
Beginning and duration of the scientific project:
February 2024
- 48 Months
