Fluxes at divergent plate Boundary Environments Analyzed in Time and Space (FluxBEATS)

Basic data for this project

Description

Characterising fluxes at divergent plate boundaries since the Precambrian Metals are increasingly used globally in modern everyday technologies. Responsible exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in the terrestrial and potentially also in the marine realm are necessary to ensure the sustainable supply of these critical metals. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the FluxBEATS project will provide a fundamental view to this by creating a doctoral network in Earth sciences. Many of the mined metal deposits are related to divergent plate boundary environments of different ages, starting from the very early stages of our planet’s evolution to today. Leveraging integrated models of elemental fluxes at divergent plate boundaries, FluxBEATS seeks to understand the geological and environmental processes from the early Earth to the present. Objective FluxBEATS is a Doctoral Network in Earth sciences. It focusses on the material fluxes, magmatic, ore-forming and environmental processes at divergent plate boundaries and explores how these relate to processes since the Precambrian that formed the majority of the economic, mined global metal deposits. Comprehensive training in field, analytical, and modelling skills will involve 12 European academic and 5 non-academic partners and establish a unique training platform in interdisciplinary Earth Science research, involving Marine, Economic and Structural Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Biogeochemistry, Geobiology, Petrology, Geodynamics, and Hydromechanics. The programme includes 10 doctoral candidates in two scientific working packages from the Earth's mantle through the crust to the ocean. FluxBEATS targets geological and environmental processes from the present to the past and will investigate complementary processes in both submarine and subaerial environments. The DCs will acquire a unique interdisciplinary, intersectoral scientific and internationally transferable skillset, preparing them to become Europe's highly demanded future leaders for responsible exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in the submarine and subaerial environment in a world of increasing demand of critical metals. The DCs will develop novel, integrated models of elemental transport, ore-formation as well as evolution of ecosystem changes at divergent plate boundaries through time. Overall, FluxBEATS will therefore provide an academic and non-academic perspective on the fundamental processes that control the occurrence and quality of base and precious metal resources in high economic demand, and the evolution of ecosystems through time, and establish a basis for future responsible EU green-mining policies in the marine and terrestrial environment.