Kicking off another round of fieldwork in Zambia
This year's highlights from our work in Zambia include a university talk, geological exploration and geophysical surveys in incredibly picturesque areas
We've always felt incredibly honoured to have partners from Zambia in our consortium, as Zambia has a long tradition in mineral exploration (particularly copper and cobalt), and it's always a pleasure to discover more about this amazing country - both on a professional and personal level. Most recently, Marko Holma, the CEO of our partner Muon Solutions and a researcher at the University of Oulu, has traveled to Lusaka, the Zambian capital, to deliver a talk at the University of Zambia about muography solutions, drawing from his experience in the industry.
Muography, or muon imaging, is only now becoming known as a potential key driver of responsible mining (what we are striving to promote in AGEMERA as well). Muography minimises environmental impact as it reduces the need for extensive drilling and improves the efficiency of extraction. It acts as a sort of X-ray imaging into the ore bodies, identifying deposits of critical raw materials. Students were interested in finding out more about the sustainability and safety benefits of muography and asked valuable questions. It's not surprising that younger generations are fascinated by new technologies, but it's rewarding to see that they take an interest in protecting the environment while understanding the need for ensuring a safe supply of critical raw materials.
And this is not all! During his stay in Zambia, Marko is also taking part in the field work with partners from the University of Zambia, with the aim of mapping out and estimating the potential for sourcing critical raw materials in the region, in previously untapped areas. As such, the team went to the country's southern region, close to the border with Zimbabwe, where they divided into two teams: the first team taking part in a hands-on geological exploration of lithium pegmatites, and the second team flying a fixed-wing drone to perform cutting-edge geophysical surveys around the wider region. Zambia's breathtaking nature, with its charming small villages, was just the perfect backdrop for this work.
