Knowledge about raw materials
Where do raw materials occur, how are they discovered, where are they produced, and how are they traded? The Netherlands Materials Observatory (NMO) consolidates extensive knowledge to answer these questions and provide insight into the complexities of the global raw materials market, from extraction to final product.
Technical expertise
In collaboration with universities and other knowledge institutes, the NMO provides a platform to inform policymakers, industry, and society about the geological, technological, and economic aspects of critical raw materials and their trade flows.
Alongside knowledge on supply chains, vulnerabilities, trends in end-user technologies, criticality analysis, and circularity, the NMO also provides technical knowledge on raw materials, particularly on the following topics:
- Geology – Under what geological conditions are the minerals formed that host critical raw materials? Where in the world are they found?
- Mineralogy – What is the composition of the minerals from which critical raw materials are extracted? What are the chemical and physical properties of these minerals?
- Exploration – What do we need to know about geology and mineralogy to search for raw material deposits in the subsurface? What are the most appropriate exploration techniques?
- Economic feasibility – How can we determine the potential value of raw materials in the subsurface, and can the raw material be extracted?
- Extraction – How can raw materials be extracted? Which techniques are most appropriate? What innovations are taking place? Where in the world are raw materials extracted? How much is produced worldwide?
- Processing – How are raw materials processed into marketable products? What techniques are available for this purpose? Where in the world are raw materials processed and why?