Location
The Lavrion Historic Mine Site is located in southeastern Greece, Attica region.
37°43′23″ N, 24°2′52″ E
Description
At the Lavrion pilot site, in situ Nature-based and Eco-friendly solutions for mining and metallurgical waste will be tested. These include phytoremediation and phytoextraction technologies, as well as bioleaching, with a focus on waste areas located within or near urban zones.
Metals such as As, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn are present in very high concentrations in these waste piles, mainly as sulfides and oxides. The project will evaluate both the remediation of contaminated soils and the potential for added economic value through the recovery of critical metals.
The site is ideal for testing phytomining using trees (LAMMC) for metal recovery. The use of basic iron sulfates to immobilize arsenic and other heavy metals will be evaluated through column experiments. Biomass resulting from phytoremediation will be analyzed chemically and mineralogically for bioavailability and reuse potential.
The pilot will also assess the environmental and social impacts of these remediation methods, aiming to support sustainable post-mining land use and involve local stakeholders in the transition process.
Objectives
The objectives of the Functional Requirements for these technologies are outlined as follows:
Extraction
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Biomining and precision mining
Enabling the extraction of previously discarded waste materials. Contribution to the decontamination of the environment and the recovery of usable materials through innovative extraction techniques. These approaches aim to minimize environmental impact while maximizing the efficient use of natural resources. -
Develop more environmentally friendly extractive methodologies
Bet on less polluting technologies and processes.
Processing
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Biomining and precision mining
Chemical extraction test of waste materials. Recovery of CRMs and reduction in the concentration of toxic materials by the use of sequential extraction test.
Use minerals as a secondary source of metals. Use of minerals (pyrite) for the unconventional recovery of CRM by applying mineral analysis. -
Water assessment and classification
High resolution geochemical mapping of mine waste rankings. Classification of the potential and mine waste rankings. -
Water and waste-water management
Use minerals as a secondary source of metals. Use of secondary minerals for the unconventional recovery of CRMs. Reduce and recycle waste water.
Waste Management
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Waste assessment and classification
Assess waste (chemical/mineralogical) properties. Identify the most appropriate and available waste management techniques using LiDAR-SLAM, RGB and hyperspectral cameras, advanced electromagnetic methods, and XRF system.
Detect the internal density distribution of the waste stockpile. Optimal characterisation of mining related waste stockpiles by using Muon borehole detection system performing muography to assess the density of the volume of interest.
Geometric and mechanical characterization of mining waste stockpiles. To have a greater knowledge of the enclave and plan possible ore recovery actions. It will be achieved by the use of LiDAR-SLAM, RGB and hyperspectral cameras, advanced electromagnetic methods and X-ray fluorescence system.
Correlate geological information from surface characterization with internal density of stockpiles and relate it to mineral content - Optimal characterization of mining-related waste stockpiles. Muon borehole detection system performing muography to assess the density of the volume of interest.
Identify subsurface structural singularities of interest - Facilitate structural characterization by increasing the level of detail of the deposit at the subsurface level. Multichannel emission and reception GPR. -
Digital technologies for energy efficient mining and reductions in GHG emissions
Define optimum management/remediation alternatives. Recovery of CRMs and reduction in the concentration of toxic materials, using LiDAR-SLAM, RGB and hyperspectral cameras, advanced electromagnetic methods and XRF system.
Available Data Layers
This pilot site provides access to multiple geospatial data layers, combining thematic WMS services with on-demand satellite imagery. These layers support analysis of environmental conditions, vegetation, water dynamics, and soil pollution.
WMS Layers
The platform includes Soil Pollution maps published by the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC). These layers highlight areas where key elements exceed toxicity thresholds in European topsoils.
| Layer | Threshold | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Excess | P(X > 45 mg kg⁻¹) > 5% |
ESDAC - Arsenic |
| Copper Excess | > 100 mg kg⁻¹ |
ESDAC - Copper |
| Mercury Excess | > 500 μg kg⁻¹ |
ESDAC - Mercury |
| Zinc Excess | > 100 mg kg⁻¹ |
ESDAC - Zinc |
| Cadmium Excess | > 1 mg kg⁻¹ |
ESDAC - Cadmium |
Satellite Products (via Calendar)
On-demand satellite imagery from Sentinel-2 (Level 2A) and Landsat 8 (Collection 2, Tier 1) can be explored using the calendar interface. These layers are generated dynamically and support the monitoring of vegetation, water, mining activity, and soil conditions.
| Product | Group | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ferric Iron | Mining Index | Present in iron-oxide minerals such as hematite and goethite. These minerals often result from the oxidation of transition metals on the surface of soils and rocks. Detects Fe³⁺ions in general. |
| Ferrous Iron | Mining Index | Commonly found in weathered surfaces and its lattice environment determines its specific spectral behavior. It is associated with ferrous silicates and is an indicator of specific oxidation states in mineralized zones. |
| Ferrous Silicates | Mining Index | This group includes minerals like biotite, chlorite, and amphibole. They are often associated with iron-oxide copper-gold (IOCG) alteration systems. |
| Alteration (Clays, Carbonate, Hydroxyl Minerals, Kaolinite, Epidote, Laterite) | Mining Index | A broad category representing mineral replacement by hydrothermal fluids or intense weathering. It includes: - Clays: Indicators of argillic or phyllic alteration. - Carbonate: Key components of limestones and reservoir rocks. - Hydroxyl Minerals: Secondary minerals containing OH groups, such as micas and clays. - Laterite: Iron and aluminum-rich soil formed by intense chemical weathering in tropical/arid environments. |
| Ferric Oxides | Mining Index | Similar to the Ferric Iron index but more focused on specific oxides with an emphasis on red. |
| Ferrous Oxides | Mining Index | Similar to the ferrous iron index, but with an emphasis on reduced oxides in general. |
| Iron Oxide Index | Mining Index | Includes minerals like hematite, goethite, and jarite. They are products of the oxidation of ferromagnesian minerals or the hydrothermal alteration of sulfides, forming a critical part of "red beds" and weathered surfaces. |
| Gossan | Mining Index | An iron-oxide and hydroxide-rich cap (such as limonite) that forms by the weathering and oxidation of underlying sulfide deposits. Its presence is a key surface indicator for locating volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits. |
| Chlorite | Mining Index | A phyllosilicate typical of low-sulfidation epithermal and propylitic alteration environments. It often replaces original mafic minerals in volcanic rocks. |
| NDVI | Vegetation Index | Normalized Difference Vegetation Index |
| SAVI | Vegetation Index | Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index |
| NDWI | Water Index | Normalized Difference Water Index |
| MNDWI | Water Index | Modified NDWI for better water detection |
| TI | Water Index | Turbidity Index |