Ore Geology - At the epicenter of the fossil-free energy transition

Society is shifting from oil dependence to metal dependence as we turn to fossil-free alternatives in the energy and transport sectors. Today, many more metals from the periodic table are used in our daily lives than just a few decades ago, and many metals that previously had marginal uses are suddenly central to achieving climate goals. But where do these metals come from and how does it relate to geology?

About the course

In this course you will explore the basics of geology and understand how geology controls the location of critical metals in the Earth's crust. You will gain insight into what it takes to mine an ore and broaden your perspective on the risks and challenges we face in terms of resource supply that drives the fossil-free energy transition.

The course contains

This course addresses the role of ore geology in the transition to fossil-free energy and transportation systems, which means moving from oil dependence to metal dependence. Geological processes throughout Earth's history have created the current distribution of ore deposits. By understanding how ore-forming processes work, we can better explain why certain metals occur in mineable quantities and concentrations in one place while they are almost absent in another. To meet the global demand for metals needed in solar panels, wind turbines and batteries, for example, a basic understanding of how geological processes work is a cornerstone. In this course, you will be introduced to the amazing world of the underground that makes all the technologies you take for granted possible.

You will explore

• What critical metals are, where they are produced today, and what risks and challenges we face in terms of the raw material supply that drives the fossil-free energy transition.
• Basic geology - minerals, rocks, geological structures and why they matter
• What an ore is and the natural processes that accumulate metals in the Earth's crust.

Who is the course for?

This course is for those who want to learn about the role of geology in the transition to fossil-free energy systems. It is for those who want to know more about what critical metals are, how an ore is formed, and what risks and challenges exist regarding the supply of raw materials that drive the energy transition.

These include politicians and other authorities, teachers and students in primary and secondary schools who want to know more about topics critical to the energy transition, university students in social sciences, etc.

The course will also be useful for anyone in employment who wants to immerse themselves in societal challenges related to raw material supply and modern society's need for metals.

Registration for the course

• Register here External link, opens in new window.