Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Information => Outdoor News and Events => Topic started by: admin on January 05, 2015
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Geologists are exploring deposits of rare earth elements (REE) found in the Mourne mountains, County Down.
Also known as critical metals, they are sought-after materials for the production of high-tech electronics, as well as wind turbines and electric cars.
Scientists currently believe the finds are not commercially viable but say they are scientifically significant.
Plans to make the Mournes a National Park were shelved in 2012.
Dr Mark Cooper of the Geological Services of Northern Ireland (GSNI) said the finds first came to light following a survey of river water, sediments and soils throughout Northern Ireland.
Further research fieldwork is now being carried out in the Mournes by geologists from the Camborne School of Mines, based at the University of Exeter, in Devon.
The aim of the research is to improve the understanding of where REE deposits are found and how they are formed. This knowledge will be useful for geologists around the world searching for the critical metals.
It will also determine the concentration of deposits in the Mournes, which are currently estimated to be too small to be worth mining.
Read more:
http://www.geologyin.com/2015/01/rare-metals-found-in-mournes.html
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Found some gold myself, not tellin you where though 8)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd496/landyliam/P1000500Medium_zpsa22e3175.jpg)
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There's gold in them thar hills!
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Geologists are exploring deposits of rare earth elements (REE) found in the Mourne mountains, County Down.
Also known as critical metals, they are sought-after materials for the production of high-tech electronics, as well as wind turbines and electric cars.
Scientists currently believe the finds are not commercially viable but say they are scientifically significant.
Thank goodness they are not commercially viable. It would be a double whammy, if they dug the earth up to get the metals then used them to erect structures over the bits they haven't dug up yet!