Geological Survey of Estonia

Unconsolidated rocks over 540 million years old? 🤯 Yes, in #Estonia these #Ediacaran (#Precambrian) sands and sandstones have never been buried deeply, and occur between 120 - 500 m below the surface on top of the crystalline basement. They contain over 30% porosity and several Darcies of permeability, excellent for shallow & mid-deep #geothermal #energy. 🕸 During the Soviet time, drilling techniques did not allow recovery of these siliciclastics, therefore, little was known. Fortunately, a recent drilling campaign by the Geological Survey of Estonia led to excellent core recovery rates and now gives us an exciting opportunity to study these sediments within the context of shallow #geothermal #energy and #heat #storage 🙌 ⚡  🤝 As part of the twinning project EGT-TWINN, six GEUS #geologists came to the beautiful Arbavere Research Centre for a core workshop with EGT geologists, and to draw #sedimentary logs of the cores and take samples for #biostratigraphy, U-Pb age dating, #provenance, and #porosity / #permeability measurements. This should help improve our geological understanding of these units, see their stratigraphic and spatial heterogeneity, and aid in de-risking possible open-loop #GSHPs. 😎 We will work through the data and publish the results on our project website, and in a peer-reviewed article. 🌍 Find out more about the EGT-TWINN project here: https://lnkd.in/eaE-k-3A

We are sure that there will soon be a winter, therefore we are looking for source of warmth... and as we are in love 💖with our amazing crystalline basement, we go deep😁.

Interesting developments in our Arbavere Research Center! The drilling of the 700-meter-deep borehole that will pave the way for advancements in low-temperature district heating and cooling (#5GDHC) has started.

We are thrilled to announce that the Estonian Geological Survey is joining an esteemed international consortium to tackle the pressing global challenge of water scarcity. Our collaboration aims to enhance groundwater resilience and forge innovative solutions for sustainable water management.   The consortium's study, titled "Groundwater Resilience Assessment through Integrated Data Exploration for Ukraine (GRANDE-U)," is a groundbreaking initiative jointly funded by several national and international bodies, including the U.S. National Science Foundation and the ETAG - Estonian Research Council. This two-year project brings together experts from the U.S., Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, with the San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego leading the charge.   The study aims to improve our understanding of groundwater dynamics by integrating hydrogeologic models with satellite and ground-based observations. This will enable us to deliver highly detailed and timely predictions of groundwater storage and flows, particularly in transboundary regions where water management is a complex challenge.   AI and data science are at the forefront of this research, offering new ways to overcome the limitations of traditional ground observation networks. By leveraging these technologies, we can accurately assess groundwater resources, ensuring their sustainability for future generations.   We are proud to be part of this international effort and look forward to contributing to the development of data-driven, innovative strategies for groundwater management. Only together, we can secure a more resilient future for our planet's vital water resources. https://lnkd.in/dG7gTMHS #groundwater, #hydrogeology

In Pune, India, the annual meeting of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) took place, attended by Johannes Vind from the Geological Survey of Estonia and Margus Raha from the Ministry of Climate. The principle of the drilling program is that participating countries (23 in total) contribute to a fund with an annual fee, and once a year, one or two geologically significant sites of great importance to global science are selected for funded drilling. The meeting reviewed last year's activities and decided on the plans for the upcoming year. In addition to the meetings, we also visited the famous Deccan Traps, which are volcanic basalt rocks covering a very large area (>500,000 km2) and are 65 million years old. In Karad, we visited the geophysical research laboratory for boreholes (BGRL), managed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. Many thanks to Dr. Sukanta Roy for the hospitality! Read more: https://lnkd.in/dqFv_KSx https://lnkd.in/dx9fSn4r

🔸 Keynote Speaker Announcement 🔸 We are at the Geological Survey of Estonia delighted to announce that Professor Erik Jonsson will be joining us as a keynote speaker at the Conference on Exploration and Exploitation of Critical Raw Materials: Focus on Northern Europe! His talk is scheduled for Session 1: CRMs in Fennoscandia 📅 Monday, 7th October Erik Jonsson is a senior geologist at the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU) and an adjunct professor of mineralogy at Uppsala University. He holds a PhD from Stockholm University and boasts over 30 years of experience working with minerals and bedrock geology, both in the field and laboratory. His work is particularly focused on the Swedish part of the Fennoscandian Shield. Currently, Erik is involved in various projects related to the characterization and origin of minerals and mineral resources, with a particular emphasis on critical metals and minerals. His extensive expertise makes him a leading authority in the field, offering invaluable insights into the geology and mineral potential of the Fennoscandian region. Don't miss Erik's comprehensive presentation on critical raw materials in Fennoscandia, where he will share his knowledge and experiences in the exploration and exploitation of these vital resources. 🌐 Learn more about Erik Jonsson: https://lnkd.in/ghzsmwGx 🌐 Conference Website: https://lnkd.in/dbXywBy7 This conference is organised as part of the Programme Horizon Europe financed EGT-TWINN project and is 👉 free of charge 👈 to participants (registration required). The conference is organised in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) / Geologian tutkimuskeskus (GTK), British Geological Survey, GEUS, and Oulu Mining School. #Geology #CriticalRawMaterials #FennoscandianShield #MineralResources #Conference2024

Here's an exciting update regarding our upcoming fall conference!

Estonian Geological Survey is a partner in the international critical metals exploration project DEXPLORE. The main goal of this research and development project is to develop innovative methods for exploring mineral deposits located deeper than 300 meters below the surface. ⏺ The methods being developed include geophysical surveys, utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles, and geochemical analyses to create critical metal mineralization models in crystalline rocks. Additionally, the project aims to develop a platform for visualizing geological data. ⏺ In Estonia, the project will focus on studying the crystalline rocks of the Jõhvi and Alutaguse zones, primarily using geophysical methods. Geochemical studies will also be conducted on existing drill cores. The Estonian Geological Survey is responsible for a key subfield of the project, which involves validating field data and developing best practices for the complex application of emerging research technologies. “The activities of the DEXPLORE project are significant for Estonian geology, as the crystalline basement rocks of Estonia are still poorly explored but may contain substantial amounts of critical raw materials. The project promotes the use of advanced remote methods, geological knowledge, and new technologies, thereby contributing to the overall development of Estonian geosciences and the application of environmentally friendly methods,” explained Sirli Sipp Kulli, Director of the Estonian Geological Survey. ⏺ The international research and development project involves a total of 13 partners from various European countries. The lead partner is the Spanish Iberian Sustainable Mining Cluster. In addition to the Estonian Geological Survey, Tallinn University of Technology's Department of Geology is also participating from Estonia. The three-year research project is funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe program with a budget of €4.6 million. Photo: Evelin Sammel #Geology #Research #CriticalMetals #DEXPLORE #Innovation #HorizonEurope

🔹 Keynote Speaker Announcement 🔹 Today, we are thrilled to introduce Vesa Nykänen, who will be delivering a keynote on "Utilizing Machine Learning for Mineral Prospectivity Mapping and Target Generation of Critical Raw Materials" at the Conference on Exploration and Exploitation of Critical Raw Materials: Focus on Northern Europe. 📅 Session 3: New exploration techniques 🗓️ Tuesday, 8th October Vesa Nykänen, a Research Professor at the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), has been a pioneer in using GIS for bedrock mapping and mineral exploration since 1998. With a Ph.D. from the University of Oulu, his expertise lies in spatial data analysis and geological modelling. He leads numerous national and European projects and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Helsinki. Join us to learn about cutting-edge techniques in mineral exploration from one of the leading experts in geoinformatics! 🔗 Learn more about Vesa Nykänen: https://lnkd.in/ghzsmwGx 🔗 Conference Website: https://lnkd.in/ePuKY-Y9 #MineralExploration #Geoinformatics #MachineLearning #CriticalRawMaterials #Conference2024 #CRM #EGTTWINN

Challenges Ahead for European Geological Surveys: An Interview with Daniel de Oliveira, Chair of the EuroGeoSurveys Mineral Resources Expert Group. #CRMAct, #EuroGeoSurveys, #ArbavereResearchCenter, #CriticalRawMaterials