Toni Eerola | Geological Survey of Finland / Åbo Akademi University (original) (raw)

Peer review papers by Toni Eerola

Earth Science, Systems and Society, 2024

Disruptions to the global supply chains of critical raw materials (CRM) have the potential to del... more Disruptions to the global supply chains of critical raw materials (CRM) have the potential to delay or increase the cost of the renewable energy transition. However, for some CRM, the primary drivers of these supply chain disruptions are likely to be issues related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rather than geological scarcity. Herein we combine public geospatial data as mappable proxies for key ESG indicators (e.g., conservation, biodiversity, freshwater, energy, waste, land use, human development, health and safety, and governance) and a global dataset of news events to train and validate three models for predicting "conflict" events (e.g., disputes, protests, violence) that can negatively impact CRM supply chains: (1) a knowledgedriven fuzzy logic model that yields an area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operating characteristics plot of 0.72 for the entire model; (2) a naïve Bayes model that yields an AUC of 0.81 for the test set; and (3) a deep learning model comprising stacked autoencoders and a feed-forward artificial neural network that yields an AUC of 0.91 for the test set. The high AUC of the deep learning model demonstrates that public geospatial data can accurately predict natural resources conflicts, but we show that machine learning results are biased by proxies for population density and likely underestimate the potential for conflict in remote areas. Knowledge-driven methods are the least impacted by population bias and are used to calculate an ESG rating that is then applied to a global dataset of lithium occurrences as a case study. We demonstrate that giant lithium brine deposits (i.e., >10 Mt Li 2 O) are restricted to regions with higher spatially situated risks relative to a subset of smaller pegmatitehosted deposits that yield higher ESG ratings (i.e., lower risk). Our results reveal tradeoffs between the sources of lithium, resource size, and spatially situated risks. We suggest that this type of geospatial ESG rating is broadly applicable to other CRM and that mapping spatially situated risks prior to mineral exploration has the potential to improve ESG outcomes and government policies that strengthen supply chains.

Extractive Industries and Society, 2024

The evolution of the Finnish mining-sceptical movement (MSM) is described and situated within the... more The evolution of the Finnish mining-sceptical movement (MSM) is described and situated within the context of Finnish environmental protest waves (EPWs). This evolution occurred through the uranium debate (UD; since 2005) and mining debate (MD; 2010-ongoing). These stages are described and compared with the characteristics of the Finnish EPWs. The purpose is to determine whether the evolution of the MSM represents a new EPW in Finland.

Five EPWs are reported to have occurred in Finland. After the end of the last EPW at the beginning of 2000s, the Finnish environmental movement lost its impetus, followed by a swell/latency. However, the climate change debate returned nuclear energy to the agenda. Together with the rebirth of the Finnish mining industry resulting from activities carried out by foreign companies, uranium exploration restarted in Finland in 2005, which raised opposition. The UD revitalised the environmental movement and opened spaces for local resistance in the countryside. Even though uranium exploration ended in Finland, the UD continued as attention shifted towards other projects associated with uranium. The environmental problems of the Talvivaara mine increased opposition and directed the MD towards projects also focused on other commodities. Because of its duration, impacts, and importance, the evolution of the MSM is suggested to form the sixth Finnish EPW.

Materials Proceedings, 2023

This paper discusses the importance of the energy transition metals Ni, Co and Li in building Eur... more This paper discusses the importance of the energy transition metals Ni, Co and Li in building Europe’s clean technology value chains and meeting the 2050 climate-neutrality goal. Some emerging metal extraction technologies, investigated in the framework of the Horizon Europe projects ENICON and EXCEED, in order to decrease the carbon footprint of the production of energy transition metals, are also discussed.

Materials Proceedings , 2023

Lithium, that is now exclusively produced outside the European Union (EU), is needed urgently for... more Lithium, that is now exclusively produced outside the European Union (EU), is needed urgently for the green energy transition. The EU has promising lithium projects; however, the social license to operate (SLO) is important for their long-term viability. In this paper, four lithium projects are preliminary assessed using data from the literature and media regarding their SLO. The projects that aim for hard rock lithium production are (i) the Rapasaari project owned by Sibanye-Stillwater Keliber Oy in Kaustinen, western Finland, (ii) the Mina do Barroso project, owned by Savannah
Resources, in northern Portugal, (iii) the St. Austell project, owned by Cornish Lithium plc, in Cornwall, UK, and (iv) the Emili project, owned by Imerys, in Beauvoir (Allier) in western France. The respective corporate websites were searched, regarding their languages while the companies’
SLO approaches and strategies were also analyzed.

Resources Policy, 2023

This study explores factors affecting local actors' and citizens' attitudes to mineral exploratio... more This study explores factors affecting local actors' and citizens' attitudes to mineral exploration, and how attitudes to exploration relates to those of mining. The concept Social License to Explore (SLE), originating from Social License to Operate (SLO), is used to address the relationship between exploration companies and affected local communities. The study focuses on attitudes in three municipalities in northern Sweden and Finland and combines qualitative and quantitative methods. The results show that local attitudes to mineral exploration and mining correlate strongly and are intimately linked. Perceptions of impacts, the permit process, and trust in government and company affect local attitudes, but company performance seems to be most important where trust was not established. We argue that values about nature, economy, and value-based development preferences, are central as they shape local attitudes and perceptions of impacts and process. While company conduct and community engagement are within the control of companies, local values and development preferences are largely outside of their control. However, insights about contextual conditions shaping attitudes and values can be generalized and help companies make more informed decisions. Responsible target selection is a strategy within the control of the company which can help avoid intractable and costly conflicts.

Resources, 2022

Geosystem services produced by geological processes are the abiotic equivalents of ecosystem serv... more Geosystem services produced by geological processes are the abiotic equivalents of ecosystem services. Geosystems also contribute to satisfying human needs and produce welfare in the form of, e.g., mineral deposits, landscapes for recreation and tourism, and habitats for rare species that require protection. Geosystems are inherently linked to ecosystems, which causes overlap between provided services. This overlap may in turn cause conflicts over land-use needs and interests. Such controversies can be manifested as mining and mineral exploration disputes (MMEDs). Six MMEDs from Finland were selected for a closer examination. The MMEDs are described and spatially analyzed from the geosystem services perspective. The main causes for the examined MMEDs are land-use issues, i.e., the location of a project in a sensitive context (a protected area (PA), tourism destination, reindeer herding area, or lake area with vacation homes), and/or association with uranium. There have been attempts to block some of the projects through land-use planning by expanding PAs or excluding mining from the municipality. Conversely, one of the projects is an example of the safeguarding of mineral deposits by province-level land-use planning. A more comprehensive consideration of geosystem services by land-use planning may help to accommodate and reconciliate diverse interests and alleviate disputes.

Mineral Economics, 2022

Mineral exploration is an industry of uncertainties. Only 0,1% of exploration projects become min... more Mineral exploration is an industry of uncertainties. Only 0,1% of exploration projects become mines, as the volume, content, and quality of a deposit all must be economically justifiable to find funding in the global financial market. However, the business risk of mineral exploration is not limited to geotechnical and financial risks, as social aspects are now considered the biggest risk facing the industry. Here, we identify three social aspects of business risk that may challenge the industry: political, reputational, and local acceptability. Political risk arises when sectoral authorities and the related legislation come into conflict, such as mineral versus environmental legislation. Reputational risk lies in the relationship between a company's past and current operations in combination with the legitimacy of the entire industry. Local acceptability risk parallels the social license to operate, with poor corporate conduct, competition with other livelihoods, intrusion into culturally sensitive areas, and local values critical of mining all potentially evoking resistance. Companies must be aware not only of the nuances of each social aspect but also of the interplay between them to understand the full scale and scope of the business risks associated with exploration.

Resources Policy, 2022

The Finnish mining and mineral exploration disputes (MMEDs) of the 2000s started with the uranium... more The Finnish mining and mineral exploration disputes (MMEDs) of the 2000s started with the uranium dispute (2006-2008), when the global mining industry rushed into Finland. The Finnish mining skeptical movement originated by focusing on projects associated with uranium. One of these projects, the Talvivaara polymetallic mine, became the key event of the following mining dispute because of its gypsy pond leakage in 2012. Many disputes have persisted for years, while others have ended, and new ones have appeared. Twenty ongoing disputes were identified in Finland. Fourteen of the cases are related to mineral exploration, four to mine projects, and two to mines. The long-term disputes are mostly focused on mines and mine projects in northern Finland, whereas the most recent disputes are mostly related to mineral exploration in southeastern Finland. The main reasons for disputes are the conflicting use of land (indigenous Sámi homeland, lake regions with holiday homes, nature conservation, reindeer herding, and tourism), an association with uranium, poor corporate conduct (lack of communication and stakeholder engagement) and/or reputation. The identification, mapping and monitoring of MMEDs in Finland will support future studies regarding the analysis of their causes, dynamics, evolution, actors, and possible solutions. Their investigation can help to understand and avoid disputes, conciliate diverse interests, and solve disagreements.

Cleaner Environmental Systems, 2021

The websites of companies practicing mineral exploration in Finland (CPMEF) were surveyed for ref... more The websites of companies practicing mineral exploration in Finland (CPMEF) were surveyed for references to new low-impact mineral exploration technologies (NLIMET) and the social license to explore (SLE), i.e., acceptance/approval of mineral exploration by the local community. The purpose was to examine which NLIMET are used by the companies and how they understand the SLE, how these two topics are communicated on their websites, whether they are interlinked, and what may be the motivation for communicating these topics. Twenty companies were found to refer to SLE-related issues on their websites. However, most of these websites do not directly mention the SLE as a term, but instead address it under terms such as acceptance, stakeholder engagement or the company-community relationship. Nine companies report the use of NLIMET. Coincidently, the same companies mostly also refer to the SLE. The operational contexts of companies mentioning NLIMET were examined, and most of them were found to be exploring in sensitive areas and/or deposits associated with uranium and facing opposition. Indeed, such contexts may challenge the acquisition the SLE in Finland, even if the companies apply and communicate the use of NLIMET.

Resources, 2021

Major benefits and constraints related to mineral extraction within the EU have been identified o... more Major benefits and constraints related to mineral extraction within the EU have been identified on the examples of selected critical raw materials’ deposits. Analyzed case studies include the following ore deposits: Myszków Mo-W-Cu (Poland), Juomasuo Au-Co (Finland), S. Pedro das
Águias W-Sn (Portugal), Penouta Nb-Ta-Sn (Spain), Norra Kärr REEs (Sweden) and Trælen graphite (Norway). They represent different stages of development, from the early/grassroot exploration stage, through advanced exploration and active mining, up to reopening of abandoned mines, and refer to different problems and constraints related to the possibility of exploitation commencement.

The multi-criteria analysis of the cases has included geological and economic factors as well as environmental, land use, social acceptance and infrastructure factors. These factors, in terms of cost and benefit analysis, have been considered at three levels: local, country and EU levels. The analyzed cases indicated the major obstacles that occur in different stages of deposit development and need to be overcome in order to enable a new deposit exploitation commencement. These are environmental (Juomasuo and Myszków), spatial (Juomasuo) as well as social constraints (Norra Kärr, Juomasuo). In the analyzed cases, the most important constraints related to future deposit extraction occur
primarily at a local level, while some important benefits are identified mainly at the country and the EU levels. These major benefits are related to securing long-term supplies for the national industries
and strategically important EU industry sectors.

Kaivos Koettuna, 2018

Artikkeli kertoo Kestävän kaivostoiminnan verkostossa kehitetystä sidosryhmätoiminnan mallista ma... more Artikkeli kertoo Kestävän kaivostoiminnan verkostossa kehitetystä sidosryhmätoiminnan mallista malminetsintään Suomessa.

Geological Survey of Finland Special Paper 31, 2001

Describes results of the Hyvinkää-Mäntsälä Ore Project at the region of Mäntälä, Southern Finland... more Describes results of the Hyvinkää-Mäntsälä Ore Project at the region of Mäntälä, Southern Finland. The main insight was the observation of a widespread mafic-felsic magma interaction at the region characerized by 1.87 Ga lauyered orogenic gabbros, and peridotites.

Geological Survey of Finland Special Paper 20, 1995

The paper describes investigations of the author at the Lavras do Sul region, southernmost Brazil... more The paper describes investigations of the author at the Lavras do Sul region, southernmost Brazil, where the presence of Neoproterozoic glacial deposit was suggested for the first time based on diamictites, and supposed dropstones.

GTK Report of Investigation, 2017

A number of foreign companies are operating in northern and eastern Finland, which has caused opp... more A number of foreign companies are operating in northern and eastern Finland, which has caused opposition. This initially regarded uranium exploration, but following the leakage of the gypsum pond at the Talvivaara nickel mine, the resistance has also concerned other commodities. For this reason, the government, research institutions and universities have launched a number of projects to promote and investigate the social license to operate (SLO) and corporate social
responsibility (CSR) of the mining industry in Finland. Among other initiatives, the Geological Survey of Finland has contributed to these efforts by leading the Mining Academy and participating within the Sustainable Acceptable Mining (SAM) projects and activities of the network of Sustainable Mining. While the majority of similar projects have focused on mines and mining companies, the Mining Academy, SAM and Network for Sustainable Mining have also contributed to understanding of the social aspects of mineral exploration.

This report is a contribution to the discussion on SLO and CSR in mineral exploration in Finland. It begins by describing the Mining Academy and SAM projects and defines the concepts of SLO and CSR, also considering the differences and challenges in SLO and CSR in industrialized and developing countries. Several methods have been developed by the industry for stakeholder engagement since
the 1990s, when opposition to mining and mineral exploration started to grow internationally. However, most of these methods have been created for developing countries and/or to deal with aboriginal people. Because the conditions in industrialized to post-industrialized countries are very different from these, the methods should be adapted to industrialized countries like Finland.

The report defines and describes mineral exploration. The views and wishes of stakeholders and mineral exploration companies concerning the sustainability of mineral exploration are presented in the form of results from a survey conducted through interviews and a seminar workshop carried out by the Mining Academy. The survey produced a series of best practices that are listed in this report. Communication and stakeholder engagement are the main issues of CSR and SLO
in mineral exploration in Finland. Contacting and informing local communities about mineral exploration at the very beginning helps companies to establish a good relationship with them, earning a local social license to operate. Tailored approaches to contacting and informing the stakeholder groups are described. After this first and crucial contact, other elements of stakeholder engagement should
be built up in order to have multi-stage and integrated interaction between the company and community. This report describes a model for stakeholder engagement developed for mineral exploration in Finland within companies, the Mining Academy, the SAM project and the Network for Sustainable Mining.

Terra, 2006

Julkaisu kuvailee Brasiliassa kehitetyn kokeilun, jossa sovellettiin situationistien psykomaantie... more Julkaisu kuvailee Brasiliassa kehitetyn kokeilun, jossa sovellettiin situationistien psykomaantiedettä geologian opetukseen. Maantieteen opiskelijoiden harjoituksen kohteena olivat kauppakeskusten sisustuskivet.

GTK Tutkimusraportti, 2017

A number of foreign companies are operating in northern and eastern Finland, which has caused opp... more A number of foreign companies are operating in northern and eastern Finland, which has caused opposition. This initially regarded uranium exploration, but following the leakage of the gypsum pond at the Talvivaara nickel mine, the resistance has also concerned other commodities. For this reason, the government, research institutions and universities have launched a number of projects to promote and investigate the social license to operate (SLO) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the mining industry in Finland. Among other initiatives, the Geological Survey of Finland has contributed to these efforts by leading the Mining Academy and participating within the Sustainable Acceptable Mining (SAM) projects and activities of the network of Sustainable Mining. While the majority of similar projects have focused on mines and mining companies, the Mining Academy, SAM and Network for Sustainable Mining have contributed to understanding of the social aspects of mineral exploration.

This report is a contribution to the discussion on SLO and CSR in mineral exploration in Finland. It begins by describing the Mining Academy and SAM projects and defines the concepts of SLO and CSR, also considering the differences and challenges in SLO and CSR in industrialized and developing countries. Several methods have been developed by the industry for stakeholder engagement since the 1990s, when opposition to mining and mineral exploration started to grow internationally. However, most of these methods have been created for developing countries and/or to deal with aboriginal people. Because the conditions in industrialized to post-industrialized countries are very different from these, the methods should be adapted to industrialized countries like Finland.

The report describes what is mineral exploration. The views and wishes of stakeholders and mineral exploration companies concerning the sustainability of mineral exploration are presented in the form of results from a survey conducted through interviews and a seminar workshop carried out by the Mining Academy. The survey produced a series of best practices that are listed in this report.

Communication and stakeholder engagement are the main issues of CSR and SLO in mineral exploration in Finland. Contacting and informing local communities about mineral exploration at the very beginning helps companies to establish a good relationship with them, earning a local social license to operate. Tailored approaches to contacting and informing the stakeholder groups are described. After this first and crucial contact, other elements of stakeholder engagement should be built up in order to have multi-stage and integrated interaction between the company and community, which are described. This report describes a model for stakeholder engagement developed for mineral exploration in Finland within companies, the Mining Academy, the SAM project and the Network for Sustainable Mining.

During the the 2014 New Performance Turku Festival, Finland, a Walkapolis geological city walk wa... more During the the 2014 New Performance Turku Festival, Finland, a Walkapolis geological city walk was arranged. The walk was guided by 12 urban geological sites selected from a published geological city walk guide (www.kivikierros.com).

The aim of the geological city walk was to disseminate geology through the geo-aesthetics of dimension stones in a constructed milieu. During the walk, rocks were investigated and their role in building, architecture and art was analyzed. Geology provided the content for the walk and thus an interaction between humans, nature and the city was formed.
Observing rocks in public spaces can be considered as a performance. A collective study of rocks in a bank’s columns, stairs and walls, and “cleaning” of granite’s structures on a mall’s floor caused disturbance which attracted by-passers to become spectators of a geological performances. Some spectators asked what was happening, producing encounters in which they were informed on surrounding geology.
The walk also included geo-rhythmic exercises where Earth's processes were simulated by participants’ groups, bodies and their movements. These exercises were considered funny and informative by the participants.
The geological city walk managed to reach out to the participants by making them aware of the surrounding geology and its applying in urban environment. During the walk, the experience of singular geological processes lead to a deeper understanding on how our Earth works, thus giving a positive mental image of geology, dimension stones as a natural resource, their application in construction and the learned topics.
After the walk, a discussion was arranged, where positive feedback was received. Applying this cross-disciplinary and artistic approach, the image of the city and its environment can be seen from a new perspective.

Earth Science, Systems and Society, 2024

Extractive Industries and Society, 2024

Materials Proceedings, 2023

Materials Proceedings , 2023

Resources Policy, 2023

Resources, 2022

Mineral Economics, 2022

Resources Policy, 2022

Cleaner Environmental Systems, 2021

Resources, 2021

Kaivos Koettuna, 2018

Geological Survey of Finland Special Paper 31, 2001

Geological Survey of Finland Special Paper 20, 1995

GTK Report of Investigation, 2017

Terra, 2006

GTK Tutkimusraportti, 2017

A number of foreign companies are operating in northern and eastern Finland, which has caused opp... more A number of foreign companies are operating in northern and eastern Finland, which has caused opposition. This initially regarded uranium exploration, but following the leakage of the gypsum pond at the Talvivaara nickel mine, the resistance has also concerned other commodities. For this reason, the government, research institutions and universities have launched a number of projects to promote and investigate the social license to operate (SLO) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the mining industry in Finland. Among other initiatives, the Geological Survey of Finland has contributed to these efforts by leading the Mining Academy and participating within the Sustainable Acceptable Mining (SAM) projects and activities of the network of Sustainable Mining. While the majority of similar projects have focused on mines and mining companies, the Mining Academy, SAM and Network for Sustainable Mining have contributed to understanding of the social aspects of mineral exploration.

This report is a contribution to the discussion on SLO and CSR in mineral exploration in Finland. It begins by describing the Mining Academy and SAM projects and defines the concepts of SLO and CSR, also considering the differences and challenges in SLO and CSR in industrialized and developing countries. Several methods have been developed by the industry for stakeholder engagement since the 1990s, when opposition to mining and mineral exploration started to grow internationally. However, most of these methods have been created for developing countries and/or to deal with aboriginal people. Because the conditions in industrialized to post-industrialized countries are very different from these, the methods should be adapted to industrialized countries like Finland.

Materia, May 2017

Arvio Veli-Pekka Lehtolan Saamelaiskiista. Sortaako Suomi alkuperäiskansaansa? -kirjasta.

Arvio kuudesta tiedeviestintää käsittelevästä kirjasta: Julkinen tiede, Kuka oikein tietää?, Mait... more Arvio kuudesta tiedeviestintää käsittelevästä kirjasta: Julkinen tiede, Kuka oikein tietää?, Maito tappaa ja muita outoja tiedeuutisia, Julkaise tai tuhoudu!, Opas tieteen yleistajuistamiseen ja Tajuaako kukaan?

Geologi

Kirja-arvio: -Elina Grundströmin Malminetsijät. Kertomus kahdesta työttömästä geologista jotka ... more Kirja-arvio:

-Elina Grundströmin Malminetsijät. Kertomus kahdesta työttömästä geologista jotka iskivät kultasuoneen ja
-Tuija Monosen ja Leena Suopajärven toimittama Kaivos suomalaisessa yhteiskunnassa.

Katsaus Talvivaaran ja kaivoskeskustelun inspiroimaan taiteeseen: kirjoja, elokuvia, dokumenttifi... more Katsaus Talvivaaran ja kaivoskeskustelun inspiroimaan taiteeseen: kirjoja, elokuvia, dokumenttifilmejä, tanssia, teatteria, maalauksia.

Kirjoittaminen on taiteenlaji. Kirjailijan työ on vielä haastavampaa. Erityisen haastavaa voi oll... more Kirjoittaminen on taiteenlaji. Kirjailijan työ on vielä haastavampaa. Erityisen haastavaa voi olla yhteensovittaa perinteinen toimintatrilleri viher-utopioihin. Mutta kun ilmasto-, energia-ja ympäristökeskustelu käy kuumana, olisi vaikea kuvitella, etteivätkö best-seller-kirjailijatkin puuttuisi siihen.

Geologi-lehti 1/67 (2015), 2014

Talvivaara on lyhyen historiansa aikana saanut poikkeuksellisen paljon mediahuomiota niin hyvässä... more Talvivaara on lyhyen historiansa aikana saanut poikkeuksellisen paljon mediahuomiota niin hyvässä kuin pahassakin. Alun hypetyksestä monimetallikaivos muuttui moniongelmaiseksi sylkykupiksi. Siitä on muodostunut median ja kansalaisaktivismin taistelutanner. Talvivaarasta on ehditty kirjoittaa kirjojakin. Esittelin tässä lehdessä Mika ja Lasse Flöjtin Kysymyksiä Talvivaarasta -teoksen (Eerola 2013). Nyt entinen Talouselämälehden taloustoimittaja, nykyinen vapaa toimittaja, kirjailija ja sijoittaja Marko Erola laati kattavan esityksen Talvivaaran historiasta kirjassaan Kirottu kaivos -Totuuden jäljillä Talvivaarassa, keskittyen etenkin media-analyysiin. Media-analyysi onkin kirjan herkullisin osa.

Geologi-lehti 1/67 (2015), 2014

Geologi-lehti 66/2014, 2013

Materia-lehti 3/2014, s. 72-73 , 2014

Materia 5/2013, s. 68-69, 2013

GTK Open File Research Report , 2024

Titanium, a critical raw material (CRM), holds significant importance for the European Union’s (E... more Titanium, a critical raw material (CRM), holds significant importance for the European Union’s (EU) economy and self-sufficiency. The circular economy and especially the remining of old tailings may have importance for its supply. The United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) has been applied to a tailings remining project located in Otanmäki, which is an old Fe–V mine in Finland that produced ilmenite (FeTiO3) as a side product. Application of the UNFC to resource estimation enhances data transparency and comparability related to the resources and facilitates sustainable development by encouraging responsible resource utilization and management practices. In this report, particular emphasis is placed on social and environmental aspects, which are integral components of the UNFC’s E-axis. Social aspects and risks were evaluated based on a protest event analysis (PEA) to detect any controversies or disputes regarding the Otanmäki project. No indications of any dispute were found, but concerns have been presented regarding potential environmental impacts on a pond of importance for birds and water quality in Lake Oulujärvi.

GTK:n tutkimustyöraportti 62/2021, 2021

Itä-Lapin kuntayhtymän alueella toteutettiin vuosina 2019–2021 Euroopan aluekehitysrahaston raho... more Itä-Lapin kuntayhtymän alueella toteutettiin vuosina 2019–2021 Euroopan aluekehitysrahaston rahoittama ILPO-hanke (Malminetsinnän aluetaloudelliset vaikutukset ja niiden hyödyntäminen ItäLapin elinkeinoelämässä, A75306). Hankkeen toteuttajina olivat Geologian tutkimuskeskus (GTK), Lapin yliopisto ja Itä-Lapin kuntayhtymä. Tämän hankkeen tavoitteena oli tuoda esiin näkökulmia
malminetsinnästä ja siihen liittyvistä kysymyksistä sekä selvittää Itä-Lapin malmipotentiaalia. Lisäksi arvioitiin malminetsinnän aluetaloudellisia vaikutuksia Itä-Lapissa sekä tunnistettiin ja selvitettiin
malminetsinnän tarjoamia mahdollisuuksia alueen elinkeinoelämälle.
Malminetsintä on toimintaa, jonka avulla pyritään paikantamaan uusia mineraalisia raaka-ainevaroja. Tämä on välttämätöntä esimerkiksi nykyisen elintason ylläpitämiseksi ja vihreän siirtymän
toteutuksessa. Samalla tämä työ tuottaa suuria määriä geologista tutkimustietoa maankamarasta.
Suomessa malminetsintää suorittavat pääosin ulkomaiset malminetsintä- ja kaivosyhtiöt. Suomen kaivoslakia ollaan uudistamassa, mutta tällä hetkellä malminetsintää voidaan suorittaa Turvallisuusja kemikaaliviraston (TUKES) myöntämien kaivoslakiin perustuvien lupien turvin (esim. varaus- ja malminetsintälupa). Etsintätyötä voidaan myös toteuttaa maanomistajan luvalla. Tällä hetkellä malminetsinnällistä aktiivisuutta on useiden kuntien alueella, mikä on osoitus alueen houkuttelevuudesta.
Malminetsintä alkaa usein tiedusteluluonteisella tutkimusvaiheella, joka suoritetaan pääosin kirjoituspöydän takaa. Tästä edetään luvitukseen sekä maastossa tapahtuviin tutkimuksiin, jotka pitävät
sisällään kallioperäkartoitusta, lohkare-etsintää, geofysiikan mittausta, geokemiallisia tutkimuksia ja usein myös syväkairausta.
Keskustelu malminetsinnästä ja kaivostoiminnasta on ollut aktiivista viime vuosina. Pääpaino on ollut etenkin toiminnan aiheuttamissa haitoissa muille elinkeinoille sekä ulkomaisten yhtiöiden toiminnassa
ja ympäristöön kohdistuvissa mahdollisissa vaikutuksissa. Osa näistä on eskaloitunut kiistoiksi, ja ne ovat synnyttäneet kansalaisliikkeitä. Itä-Lapissa merkittävin kiista liittyy Soklin projektiin. Toisena
painona vaakakupissa ovat malminetsinnän ja kaivostoiminnan tarjoamat työpaikat syrjäisille seuduille kuin myös kiistaton tarve mineraalisille raaka-ainevaroille, joiden etsintä ja hyödyntäminen
ovat globaaleja kysymyksiä.
Itä-Lapin kallioperä edustaa kattavaa leikkausta Pohjois-Suomen geologisesta historiasta. Alueen vanhimmat kivilajit ovat 3 500 miljoonan vuoden ikäisiä, mutta nuorimmat kivilajit ovat vain 365
miljoonaa vuotta vanhoja. Pitkä geologinen aika mahdollistaa sen, että Itä-Lapin kallioperä on potentiaalinen erilaisissa geologisissa prosesseissa syntyneiden malmi- ja mineraaliesiintymien olemassaololle (esim. Ni-Cu-Co-PGE ja Ti-V-Fe-Cr, Au-Cu-Co, Au ja Fe-Cu-Au malmit). GTK:n geologisen tuntemuksen, löytymättömien mineraalivarojen arvioinnin ja myös prospektiivisuusmallinnuksen
perusteella alue omaa selkeää mineraalipotentiaalia. Löytymättömät mineraalivarat ovat hypoteettisia ja spekulatiivisia, mutta niiden arvio perustuu asiantuntija-arvioon sekä olemassa olevaan tietoon
ja näiden yhdistämiseen. Prospektiivisuusmallinnus puolestaan perustuu moninaisen geologisen paikkatietoaineiston yhdistämiseen metallikohtaisiksi prospektiivisuusmalleiksi.
Malminetsintä on aluetalouden perinteistä päätöksentekoa haastava teema, sillä malmipotentiaali ei noudata hallinnollisia rajoja ja kiinnostus myös yhteiskunnan eri sektoreiden raja-aitoja. Siksi tutkijoiden, paikallishallinnon edustajien ja kaivosteollisuuden yhteistyö on hedelmällistä.
Alueellista taloudellista analyysia voidaan käyttää näyttöön perustuvassa päätöksenteossa ottaen huomioon suorat taloudelliset vaikutukset, jotka muodostuvat tunnistettavasta taloudellisesta hyödystä. Suorien vaikutusten olisi oltava malminetsintäyhtiöiden osuus taloudellisesta volyymista. Näiden lisäksi on perusteltua pohtia kumulatiivisia vaikutuksia, jotka luovat edellytykset infrastruktuurin
rakentamiselle tai luovat mahdollisuuksia aivan eri alalla. Suorat vaikutukset aluetalouteen ovat maanomistajille kohdentuvat luvitukseen liittyvät korvaukset, ostot, työvoimapalkat, verotulot sekä
majoitus- ja ylläpitomaksut. Kumulatiiviset vaikutukset vaikuttavat infrastruktuurin rakentumisen edellytyksiin, ja infografiikkatiedoista johdetut kertoimet muodostuvat niiden taloudellisen arvon
määrittämisen.
Malminetsinnän aluetaloudellisiin vaikutuksiin sisältyy arvioita sen suorista ja epäsuorista vaikutuksista. Epäsuorissa vaikutuksissa kyse on esimerkiksi hankinta-arvoina tai tuotantokustannuksina ja
näkökulman muodostamisesta, missä ajassa sen hyödyt ja haitat tulisi arvioida.
Itä-Lapissa malminetsinnässä on tällä hetkellä kyse suorien aluetaloudellisten vaikutusten osalta lähtökohtaisesti vuositasolla tarkasteltuna pienen taloudellisen volyymin toiminnasta, mutta malminetsintähankkeet voivat muodostua pitkäkestoisiksi tai alueeseen voi kohdistua useiden yritysten hankkeita, jolloin hankkeiden aluetalouden vaikutukset ovat merkittävämpiä. Pienetkin muutokset
suorissa vaikutuksissa voivat saada aikaan epäsuoria vaikutuksia taloudellisessa toiminnassa, mutta intressiryhmillä on erilaisia näkemyksiä siitä, miten epäsuoria vaikutuksia tulisi ottaa huomioon. On
myös tahoja, jotka katsovat, että malminetsintä vaikeuttaa muiden elinkeinojen toimintaa tai vaikutukset ympäristölle ovat epäedullisia. Heidän asiantuntemuksensa ja tiedonhankintansa on myös
resurssi, joka voidaan kohdentaa alalle. Paikallisesti muutoksenhakuprosesseilla ja niihin liittyvillä oikeusprosesseilla voi olla vahva rooli prosessien asiantuntemuksessa ja oikeudellisten palvelujen
ylläpidossa. Oleellista on tunnistaa, määrittää ja arvioida malminetsinnän suorien ja epäsuorien taloudellisten
toimintojen merkitys aluetaloudelle. Näin määritettynä voidaan tuottaa tietoa eri toimijoille siitä, miten heidän arvostustensa perusteella malminetsinnän aluetaloudellinen vaikutus rakentuu ja mikä
on sen aiheuttama taloudellinen volyymi.
Kasautuvien taloudellisten vaikutusten osalta on välttämätöntä tunnistaa keskeiset toimijat, toiminnot ja niiden tuottamat positiiviset ja negatiiviset vaikutukset. Kun palveluyritykset käyttävät paikallisia
palveluita, tekevät ostoksia tai harjoittavat alihankintaa, suorien vaikutusten lisäksi voidaan osoittaa myös kasautuvia taloudellisia vaikutuksia. Nämä voivat olla esimerkiksi investointeja, joita ei syntyisi
ilman alihankintasopimuksia. Jos yrityksiä perustetaan palveluita varten, sillä on sekä kasautuvia taloudellisia että yhteiskunnallisia vaikutuksia. Uuden yrityksen perustaminen on kuitenkin harvinaista, ja yleensä kyse on yritysten laajentumisesta tai monipuolistumisesta.
Tarkasteluvuonna 2020 suuri osa malminetsintäluvista sijoittui Posion alueelle. Laajin yksittäinen lupa oli kuitenkin Sallan ja Savukosken alueella, ja se kattoi noin kolmasosan kaikista vuonna 2020 ItäLapissa voimassa olleiden malminetsintäalueiden pinta-alasta. Voimassa olleiden malminetsintälupien kokonaispinta-ala oli yli 18 000 hehtaaria. Investoinnit, liikenteen järjestäminen ja malminetsinnän
tutkittu ja arkistoitu tietopohja tuovat edellytyksiä malminetsinnän toteutuksille. Myös säädöspohja on todettu sekä malminetsintää rajaavaksi että mahdollisuuksia avaavaksi tekijäksi. Julkisrahoitteiset
palvelut kuten kaavoitus, koulutus ja terveydenhuolto tuovat malminetsinnälle edellytyksiä. Prosessitekijöillä on suora yhteys malminetsinnän toteutukseen. Näitä ovat eri työvaiheiden kokemusta
ja taitoa omaavan työvoiman saanti sekä työmaiden saatavilla olevat palvelut, kuten elintarvike- ja rautakaupat sekä huolto- ja majoituspalvelut.
Arvioimme malminetsinnän aluetaloudellisten suorien vaikutusten Itä-Lapissa referenssivuonna 2020 olleen 616 500 euroa. Määrä on oleellinen, jos tähän sisältyy pitkäkestoisia projekteja. Malminetsinnän
merkitys on aluetaloudelle myös välillinen, jolloin pitkäkestoiset projektit voivat tuottaa työpaikkoja ja uutta yritystoimintaa. Malminetsintävaiheen työt tarjoavat alueella toimiville yrityksille monenlaisia liiketoimintapotentiaaleja, ja etenkin pitkäkestoisissa projekteissa vaikutukset alueen elinkeinoelämälle voivat olla taloudellisesti merkittäviä. Malminetsintä luo yksinään harvoin uutta yritystoimintaa, mutta se tarjoaa mahdollisuuksia lisätuloille jo toimiville yrityksille. Oleellista alueen elinkeinoelämän palvelupotentiaalin kehittämisen kannalta on tunnistaa paikallisesti tarvittavat tukipalvelut, niiden saatavuus ja
saavutettavuus sekä laatuvaatimukset ja -odotukset. Toimialan paikallisesti tarvitsemat tukipalvelut löytyvätkin pääsääntöisesti Itä-Lapista jo muun kysynnän myötä. Useat itälappilaiset yritykset ovat jo
tehneet yhteistyötä malminetsintäyritysten kanssa, mutta selkeästi syvempää ymmärrystä toimialasta ja sen erityispiirteistä tarvitaan, jotta kohderyhmää pystytään palvelemaan kokonaisvaltaisemmin.
Malminetsintäyritykset hyödyntävät paikallisia ja alueellisia palveluntarjoajia mahdollisuuksien mukaan. Palveluntarjoajan valinnassa etenkin laatu ja vastuullisuus ovat tärkeitä tekijöitä tutkimuksen sosiaalisen toimiluvan kannalta, sillä tukipalveluita tarjoavan toimijan työn jälki rinnastetaan suoraan malminetsintäyrityksen toimintaan. Malminetsinnän sosiaalinen toimilupa kärsii herkästi, ja ympäristön sekä turvallisuuden huomioiminen ovat edellytys alalla toimiville palveluntarjoajille.
Palveluntarjoajien nykytilanteen kartoituksen myötä muodostettiin alueen erityispiirteet huomioon ottaen kehittämistoimia, joissa keskeisiksi teemoiksi nousivat ymmärrys toimialasta, osaamisen
kehittäminen, vähähiilisyys ja alueellinen verkostoituminen.

Malminetsintäopas, 2021

Malminetsintäopas kokoaa yhteen alan hyvät käytännöt sekä lainsäädännön vaikutukset etsintään. Ma... more Malminetsintäopas kokoaa yhteen alan hyvät käytännöt sekä lainsäädännön vaikutukset etsintään. Malminetsintäopas antaa hyödyllistä tietoa yritysten lisäksi kaikille malminetsinnän sidosryhmille kuten viranomaisille, medialle ja aiheesta kiinnostuneelle kansalaiselle.

GTK:n tutkimustyöraportti 53/2021, 2021

Raportti käsittelee digitalisaatiossa tarvittavia mineraaliluonnonvaroja. Digitaalisten sovellust... more Raportti käsittelee digitalisaatiossa tarvittavia mineraaliluonnonvaroja. Digitaalisten sovellusten ja digitaalisten laitteiden käyttö lisääntyy jatkuvasti, ja yhä uutta tietoa muunnetaan digitaaliseen muotoon. Aiempi tutkimus digitalisaatiosta vastuullisuuden näkökulmasta on painottunut energiankulutukseen ja päästöihin. Koska ICT-laitteiden kysyntä useissa
nyky-yhteiskunnan käyttökohteissa kuitenkin kasvaa jatkuvasti, digitaalisten laitteiden raaka-ainevaatimuksista on tullut vastuullisuuden kannalta ratkaiseva kysymys. Siksi tässä raportissa syvennytäänkin digitalisaation raaka-ainekulutukseen. Keskitymme seuraaviin
haasteisiin ja aiheisiin:
• Digitalisaation raaka-aineiden lähteet, tuotanto, saatavuus ja vastuullisuus
• ICT-sektorin raaka-aineiden kulutus, painopisteenä valikoidut keskeiset loppukäyttäjä-
laitteet: älypuhelin ja älytelevisio
• Keskeiset näkökulmat ICT-alan arvoketjuun
• Keskeiset näkökulmat ICT-alan kuluttajiin ja loppukäyttäjiin
• Mahdolliset ratkaisut, joilla digitaalisten laitteiden vastuullisuutta voidaan tukea niiden
elinkaaren aikana
• Keskeiset poliittiset näkökulmat sekä suositukset

GTK Open File Research Report 50/2021, 2021

The report focuses on the mineral natural resources needed for digitalization. The use of digital... more The report focuses on the mineral natural resources needed for digitalization. The use of digital applications and digital devices continues to grow and increasing amounts of information are being converted into a digital format. Prior research on digitalization in the context of sustainability has focused mainly on energy consumption and emissions. However, with the increasing demand for ICT hardware in numerous applications in modern society, the raw materials requirement of digital devices has become a crucial sustainability issue. Therefore,
this report delves deeper into the topic of the raw materials consumption of digitalization.

We focus on the following challenges and topics:
• Sources, production, availability and sustainability of digitalization raw materials
• ICT sector’s raw materials consumption, with a specific focus on selected key
end-user devices: smartphones and smart TVs
• Key aspects of the ICT value chain
• Key ICT consumer and end-user aspects
• Possible solutions to support the sustainability of digital devices throughout their life cycle
• Key policy aspects and recommendations

SLO Good Practices and Recent Disputes. Illustrative Examples Across Europe. Report of the Mining and Metallurgical Regions of Europe (MIREU) Project, 2021

The chapter describes recent and ongoing mining and mineral exploration dispute cases in Finland.

Lapin kaiku-hankkeen erillisraportti, Gelogian tutkimuskeskuksen Työraportti 65/2019, 2019

Euroopan aluekehitysrahaston rahoittama Lapin kaivoskeskittymän kumulatiivisten ympäristövaikutus... more Euroopan aluekehitysrahaston rahoittama Lapin kaivoskeskittymän kumulatiivisten ympäristövaikutusten arviointi ja hallinta (Lapin Kaiku) -hanke käsitteli alkuaineiden alueellista esiintymistä Lapin maakunnan alueella moreenissa sekä pinta- ja pohjavesissä. Tämä on Lapin Kaiku -hankkeen erillisraportti, joka käsittelee uraanin, toriumin ja kaliumin esiintymistä, siihen liittyvää maankäyttöä Lapissa ja geofysiikan käyttöä ympäristötutkimuksissa. Uraanin esiintymistä Lapin maaperässä käsiteltiin geokemiallisen moreeniaineiston perusteella (kuningasvesiliuotus, raekoko <2 mm, näyte C-horisontista). Aineisto käsiteltiin ArcGISpaikkatieto-ohjelmalla moreenin uraanipitoisuuksien kartoittamiseksi. Tuloksia analysoitiin Lapin kallioperän suurrakenteiden mukaisesti. Lapin uraanin esiintymistä, esiintymiä ja etsintää käsiteltiin myös erilaisten maankäyttömuotojen (luonnonsuojelu, matkailu ja poronhoito) valossa erityisesti Länsi-Lapin ja Soklin suhteen. Merkittävässä roolissa uraanin ja maankäytön suhteen on Kolari-Kittilän uraaniprovinssi, joka kuuluu myös Länsi-Lapin rautaoksidi-kuparikulta-esiintymätyypin vyöhykkeeseen. Vaikka uraania ei luultavasti alueella tulla lähitulevaisuudessa etsimään tai hyödyntämään, alueen muut mahdolliset kaivannaiset houkuttelevat malminetsintään ja mahdolliseen kaivostoimintaan. Kolari-Kittilän alue on kuitenkin suurelta osin luonnonsuojelu-, matkailu- ja poronhoitoaluetta, mikä aiheuttaa haasteita malminetsinnälle ja kaivostoiminnalle ja eri intressien yhteensovittamiselle. Dialogi eri toimijoiden kanssa on tällöin tarpeen.

Raportissa esitetään myös uraanin, toriumin ja kaliumin pitoisuus Lapissa Geologian tutkimuskeskuksen lentomittausten mukaan. Radiometrisessä mittauksessa mitataan maan luonnollista radioaktiivista säteilyä, jonka avulla saadaan määriteltyä em. alkuaineiden pitoisuus maan pintaosassa n. 0-30 sentin syvyydellä. Radiometristä mittausta käytetään mm. soiden ja lumen vesipitoisuuden määrittämi-sessä, malminetsinnässä ja geologisen kartoituksen apuna. Raportti sisältää Lapin radiometriset kartat eli uraanin, kaliumin ja toriumin pitoisuuskartat, kokonaissäteilyn ja kaksi pitoisuuksien suhteita esittävää karttaa. Esimerkiksi Keski-Lapin granitoidikompleksi ja Sokli erottuvat kartoista. Geofysiikkaa käytetään ympäristötutkimuksissa esimerkiksi pohjavesialueiden kartoitukseen ja mallinnukseen, kaivosaltaiden ja muiden patojen pitävyyden tutkimiseen, saasteiden leviämisen havaitsemiseen ja räjähtämättömien ammusten etsintään erityisesti vesialueille rakennettaessa. Tyypillisiä geofysiikan avulla selvitettäviä asioita ympäristötutkimuksissa ovat esimerkiksi maapeitteen paksuus, peruskallion rikkonaisuus ja maan sähkönjohtavuus, joka liittyy mm. veteen ja siihen mahdollisesti liuenneisiin kemikaaleihin. Raportissa käydään läpi geofysiikan tutkimusmenetelmiä ja niiden käyttöä ympäristötutkimuksissa.

Maailmman kuvalehti, 2010

Geologi, 2000

Artikkeli kuvailee Leppävaaraan suunnitellun luontopolun.

Geologi, 2017

3rd Finnish National Colloquium of Geosciences, Espoo, 15–16 March 2017 The recently held Finni... more 3rd Finnish National Colloquium of Geosciences, Espoo, 15–16 March 2017

The recently held Finnish National Colloquium of Geosciences was the third colloquium organized by the university geoscience departments in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK). Since 2001, the Finnish Graduate
School in Geology has been a nationwide post-graduate programme based on close co-operation between all universities training geologists in Finland. An important activity has been the annual geological colloquiums (tutkijapäivät
in Finnish), which have been organized for the last 17 years. In order to maintain and further develop cooperation within the Finnish geoscience community, it was decided that the tradition of the annual seminars will be continued by the Third
Finnish National Colloquium of Geosciences on 15–16 March 2017 at the GTK in Otaniemi, Espoo. The Colloquium provided an opportunity to present the results of current scientific research and innovation projects in geosciences. Contributions
from doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers were particularly encouraged.
Both oral and poster presentations on all sub-disciplines of geosciences were invited to be submitted to the Colloquium. The language of the abstracts and presentations was English. The focus areas of the 2017 Colloquium were economic and bedrock geology, marine geology and global change, geochemistry, geophysics, environmental geology, physical geography and sedimentology.

Young scientists, guided by their professors and teachers, were in a key role, presenting their PhD projects, and new research themes and results from
postdoctoral research. Senior scientists introduced new research methods and innovations. Among the recent new results, discoveries of orogenic gold from Central Lapland, flake graphite from Southern Savo and a massive sulphide
mineralization at Sakatti, Sodankylä, were described. The presentations covered geology and geography from the Precambrian supercontinents to the depth of the Fennoscandian plate and the deep breath of life, the deep exploration of ores
and the present carbon flux in the tundra. New methods in remote sensing to be adapted for various geological and geographical applications were shown. New laser-induced analytical methods, isotope geochemistry and leaching tests for metals
were elucidated. Sedimentological studies from China and new findings relevant to the Pleistocene stratigraphy and the last glacial cycle were described. Holocene climate change, marine geological changes and the developments in the
Baltic Sea were reported. Environmental challenges and the study of acid sulphate soils were presented in several papers.

The Colloquium’s Abstract book (Hölttä et al. 2017: http://tupa.gtk.fi/julkaisu/opas/op_063.pdf) contains 61 abstracts, of which 31 were oral presentations and 30 presented as posters within the 8 sessions of the Colloquium. The 9th session was a panel discussion on geosciences and
employment, and careers in the future society and industry.

The spectrum of geoscientific topics and their practical applications is promising, as in principle, geology and geography are applied sciences. Therefore, the future perspectives of the Finnish geological research and its applications are
optimistic.

Stakeholder engagement practiced by the Geological Survey of Finland in its mineral potential map... more Stakeholder engagement practiced by the Geological Survey of Finland in its mineral potential mapping in Southern Finland
A good company-community relationship is important in earning a social license to operate (SLO) in mining. In this sense, it is crucial and a part of the social corporate responsibility (CSR) to start communication and stakeholder engagement already at the very beginning of mineral
exploration. Here we present a methodology of stakeholder engagement that has been used by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) in mineral potential mapping in Southern Finland.

The stakeholder groups of local communities that are taken into account by the GTK’s stakeholder engagement in Southern Finland are local landowners, residents, media, schools and the
municipality representatives. Direct contacts in the field, press releases, and conferences, as well as open and public meetings and lectures are the approaches to engage with these groups. Before the start of the activities, leaflets informing about the upcoming field work and associated contact information are
delivered to local mailboxes. The stakeholder engagement is performed by geologists working at the region. It has been
practiced and developed since the early 2000s. So far the stakeholder engagement has not been a systematic or standardized activity, but largely a polite and respectful approach towards the local communities. However, since the new mining act requires informing the landowners, and because public resistance towards mining activities is
growing in Finland, such approaches and methodologies should be surveyed, developed, systematized and standardized while updating the GTK’s mineral potential mapping strategy. This should be made by reflecting the local conditions and stakeholder groups in different regions.

Several ongoing social science projects that study, develop, and promote CSR of mining offer possibilities for cross-disciplinary cooperation between geologists and sociologists. Cooperation could involve studying the impact of GTK’s
stakeholder engagement in order to receive feedback for developing and improving the social performance of field activities. Nevertheless, the GTK’s stakeholder engagement has until now been a very productive and effective activity in Southern Finland, resulting in SLO.

A survey on mineral exploration company websites and sustainability reporting and strategies in F... more A survey on mineral exploration company websites and sustainability reporting and strategies in Finland: Preliminary results

This short review provides the preliminary results of a survey on the websites and sustainability reporting of 51 mineral
exploration companies with applied or valid claims and claim reservations in Finland, listed by the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes). Both foreign and domestic industrial and metallic mineral exploration companies
were considered in the survey.

Most of the company websites are written in English, based abroad and mainly focused on international investors. There are short descriptions of the companies’ projects in Finland,
focusing on geology, mineralization and its exploration, with nice pictures of nature, winter and landscapes. Only few of the
websites are written in Finnish. Complete sustainability disclosure according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is found on the websites of the major foreign and Finnish
companies, whereas the minor ones may not even have their own website at all, or this information may only be provided by the parent company. In some cases, only the company’s contact information is provided on the website. Some large and small companies have their websites in both Finnish and English. Small companies do not present sustainability reporting at all if they are not listed on the stock market. Some of the websites may only provide sparse, generalized and positive comments on the company’s values and its
community relations. When found, the stakeholder engagement activities that are described, generally consist of regular meetings with communities, hiring of local people and
purchasing of local goods and services as much as possible, sponsorship of local sports and cultural associations and events, as well as the offering of scholarships for local students to study geology or mining engineering in universities.

The existence of a website written in Finnish is recommended by the MiningAcademy’s model for stakeholder engagement
in mineral exploration. It is important to provide information on a company and its operations in the form of transparent
communication and public relations, complementing the proactive encounters with the local stakeholder groups that already occur at the reconnaissance stage. For instance, the
lack of a website, as in the case of some of the analyzed companies here, causes mistrust, which is not appropriate for construction of a good company-community relationship.

Materials Proceedings, 2024

The Rompas–Prajapat (Au-Co) and Sakatti (Ni-Cu-PGE) mineral deposits are among the only important... more The Rompas–Prajapat (Au-Co) and Sakatti (Ni-Cu-PGE) mineral deposits are among the only important discoveries of the last few decades in Finland. Both are partially located in Natura 2000 areas, which are among the most sensitive land use contexts in which mining and mineral
disputes have emerged in Finland. Consequently, the project holders apply low-impact mineral exploration technologies and practice active stakeholder engagement and communication. In fact, projects seem to be mostly favored by local populations. However, because of their association with protected areas (and uranium in the case of Rompas), projects are opposed by non-governmental organizations, as well as by reindeer herders in the case of Sakatti. Project holders perform feasibility
studies and environmental impact assessments. Mining licenses are applied under a new Finnish mining act and the European Union’s Raw Materials acts.

Materials Proceedings, 2023

Critical Arctic Studies Symposium 2023 Post-Human Dialogues: Rethinking human-nature relations in and through the Arctic, Abstract book, 2023

Geosystem services produced by geological processes are the abiotic equivalents of ecosystem serv... more Geosystem services produced by geological processes are the abiotic equivalents of ecosystem services. Geosystems also contribute to satisfying human needs and produce welfare in the form of, e.g., water, soils, mineral deposits, landscapes for recreation and tourism, and habitats for rare species that require protection. Geosystems are inherently linked to ecosystems, which causes overlap between provided services. This overlap may in turn cause conflicts over land-use needs and interests. Such controversies can be manifested as mining and mineral exploration disputes (MMEDs). Some MMEDs from Finland were selected for a closer examination. The MMEDs are described and spatially analyzed from the geosystem services perspective. The main causes for the examined MMEDs are land-use issues, i.e., the location of a project in a sensitive context (a protected area, tourism destination, reindeer herding area, Sámi homeland, or lake with vacation homes), and/or association with uranium and poor corporate conduct and reputation. A more comprehensive consideration of geosystem services by land-use planning may help to accommodate and reconciliate diverse interests and alleviate disputes.

57th Finnish Geography Days 2023, Abstract book, 2023

Not in my backyard’ (NIMBY) is a well-known phenomenon related to opposition against any proposed... more Not in my backyard’ (NIMBY) is a well-known phenomenon related to opposition against any proposed project by residents. Parallel to that, Finland has seen the development of a new phenomenon that is related to tourism and second homes (cottages) alleged to be threaten by any proposed project, called as ‘not in my leisure area’ (NIMLA). NIMLA was initially mentioned regarding wind farms, mining, and mineral exploration projects in regions of tourism destinations and cottages, such as Kuusamo and Kolari in northern Finland, but the green energy transition with its battery minerals boom has expanded it recently to Saimaa Lake region with cottages of southeastern Finland. Within this context, the cottage owners have become as an influential stakeholder group. They are mostly from the Uusimaa Province, where opposition for mining is strongest even without mines. They represent several liberal professions and spread their influence on local mining debate in rural municipalities all over Finland through the cottage culture. The paper defines the NIMLA and describes it through concrete cases related to mining and mineral exploration disputes in the mentioned contexts in Finland. The phenomenon will be spatially observed from the geosystem services perspective, which is an abiotic correspondent of ecosystem services. During billions of years of Earth history, geosystem services have generated mineral deposits, lithologies, reliefs, soils, water systems, landscapes, and habitats for endangered species. Such products of geosystem services are focus of diverse interests which may conflict when they overlap in a certain area. Such situations may cause disputes between social and economic interests. Better and responsible consideration of diverse products of geosystem services by a comprehensive land use planning may avoid and alleviate such controversies. Companies are recommended to take associated land use and sensitive contexts in account when planning activities and applying for licenses for mineral exploration and mining. Similarly, property and real estate purchasers, and tourism entrepreneurs are recommended to consult open online geological maps on mineral deposits and mineral potential to be aware of such features close by and to not be surprised by potential mineral exploration and mining projects close by in the future.

3rd International Conference for SustainableResource Society, Conference proceedings and abstract collection , 2023

The Finnish mining and mineral exploration disputes (MMEDs) are related to project location assoc... more The Finnish mining and mineral exploration disputes (MMEDs) are related to project location associated with tourism destination, protected area (PA), indigenous Sámi homeland, reindeer herding, lake area with second homes (cottages), and uranium. Issues may overlap and several MMEDs are associated to water systems, tourism, and cottages. They are called as the ‘not in my leisure area’ (NIMLA) phenomenon. NIMLA is characterized by allegations presented by tourists, tourist entrepreneurs, cottage owners and non-governmental organizations (NGO) on negative social, and economic impact on tourism and cottages caused by any project. Usually, moral panic is associated. The oldest mining-related NIMLA cases are the Hannukainen iron-copper-cobalt-gold, and Juomasuo gold-cobalt mine projects in Kolari and Kuusamo, northern Finland. Both are close to rivers that are feared to be polluted by the future mines’ effluents and in regions with nature-based tourism and PAs. Juomasuo is also associated with uranium. Disputes were inherited from former project holders. Most of the NIMLA cases have been in the lake region of southeastern Finland. The disputes in this area started in 2018, when a company was exploring for graphite in the Heinävesi area. This was followed by other cases in 2020, when companies applied for exploration permits along the lake areas due to battery minerals boom. Several mining-skeptical groups emerged. The most recent NIMLA cases are in Koli, and Pyhä-Luosto in eastern and northern Finland, respectively. While the disputes of Hannukainen and Juomasuo are long-standing, many of the most recent ones have been ephemeral. Exploration does not necessarily continue, and even less leads to a mine; the area is abandoned by a company and opposition is dissolved. However, abandon has also happened because of resistance. NIMLA brings a new regional dimension of attachment to a place for local MMEDs and a challenge for social license to operate in Finland.

Nordic Innovation Report, 2024

The article deals with ESG issues of four Finnish case studies of the Nordic Sustainable Minerals... more The article deals with ESG issues of four Finnish case studies of the Nordic Sustainable Minerals project: Aijala, Kaustinen, Otanmäki and Talvivaara. Aijala and Otanmäki are old closed mine sites where tailings are intended to be remined. Kaustinen is a lithium project and Talvivaara is a polymetallic mine. Their aspects of public acceptance were of a special attention.

Nordic Innovation Report, 2024

Traceability, when fully functional, is considered imperative for ensuring the transparency, acco... more Traceability, when fully functional, is considered imperative for ensuring the transparency, accountability and sustainability of intertwined global supply chains of minerals and metals. The ability to trace and track the flow and transformation of these mineral raw materials requires full documentation and transmission of information relevant to the material flow. Equally important, if not more so, is to have a holistic understanding of the minerals and their metals and all their derivative products with respect to their geological, mineralogical, geochemical and isotopic characteristics. The former, known as document- or paper-based traceability, has been under active investigation by many research initiatives, while the latter, known as geo-based traceability, is the focal point of this research, supported by the Nordic Sustainable Minerals (NSM) project.

Taking rare earth minerals and their contained metals as a main example,
this study explored the concept of geo-based traceability by using a tailored methodology that delves into three pivotal cornerstones of the technique. These include precise knowledge of the ore deposits in terms of their mineralogical and geochemical homogeneity, the magnitude of alteration of the geo-signatures due to mineral processing, and the uniqueness of the geo-signatures as compared to other deposits worldwide. A pilot study on four rare earth element (REE) targets in the Nordic region suggests that mineral association, micro-texture, trace element and isotope compositions are variably homogeneous in space and time, depending on the deposit type. Alkaline intrusion-related deposits (Kringlerne in Greenland and Norra Kärr in Sweden) are relatively more likely to have homogeneous and unique geo-signatures compared to carbonatite-related deposits (Fen in Norway and Sokli in Finland). This difference is caused by the distinctive mechanisms and evolution of ore formation and deposit modification. It is noted, however, that geochemically similar elemental pairs, such as Zr/Hf and REE ratios, are the most homogeneous geo-signatures due to their similar geochemical properties, and they are thus relatively insensitive to variations in external conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure). In addition, geo-signatures in carbonatite systems may vary significantly on a deposit scale, but they may be distinctive and unique compared to other deposit worldwide. These sub-deposit-scale signatures might also be important for differentiating a given deposit.

A lab-scale replication of mineral processing from REE ores to individual metals, which we termed a conservativity test, unsurprisingly revealed dramatic loss of geo-signatures at different stages, from mineral beneficiation (producing mineral concentrates) through hydrometallurgical leaching and separation (producing mixed and individual REE compounds) to molten salt electrolysis (producing individual metals). Rock textures and almost entire mineral associations and textures may be completely obliterated due to crushing, grinding and concentration (e.g., by magnetic separation). In some cases, major gangue minerals might survive, such as the nepheline–arfvedsonite–sodalite–aenigmatite residues in the eudialyte concentrates of Kringlerne. Element and isotope compositions are expected to survive, since mineral beneficiation does not involve high temperatures and strong chemical treatment, which can alter and redistribute elements in the minerals. Subsequent hydrometallurgical
treatment, by contrast, considerably alters the elemental composition, as the process involves leaching and sometimes dissolution of the mineral by acid. Nevertheless, the ratios between REEs (e.g., Sm/Nd) remain largely the same due to the very similar chemical properties of rare earth elements. These REE ratios, however, would be completely altered in the succeeding stage of REE separation, which selectively enriches Nd and Nd–Pr over other REEs for making Nd magnets.

The only geo-signatures that survive the entire refining and manufacturing process are perhaps the isotope compositions. Isotope analyses of REE oxalate produced by hydrometallurgical treatment (leaching with green chemistry) from the Kringlerne eudialyte concentrates revealed nearly identical 143Nd/144Nd ratios compared to those of original eudialytes. This observation is further verified by our magnet pilot study, the Nd isotope analyses of which revealed the man-made magnets had “natural” Nd isotopic ratios, for instance 146Nd/145Nd, meaning that the metal refining, alloying and magnet-making process did not change the isotope compositions. Even though mostly conservative, the ratios between stable isotopes are not very useful for tracing, since their ratios remain largely the same across different natural reservoirs. 143Nd, which is the only radiogenic isotope amongst all seven long-lived Nd isotopes, changes in response to the radioactive decay of 147Sm, and thus the ratio 143Nd/144Nd varies according to the age and material source of the REE deposits. It is also notable that most trace element compositions in the original minerals are very probably changed in downstream processing, as mentioned above, and new elements might be introduced due to the use of chemicals (e.g., acids used for leaching and precipitation, substituent and dopant elements used in the making of Nd magnets to improve magnet performance). The addition of other elements, however, may well serve as a forensic tool for fingerprinting the origin of magnets and rare earth metals, as evidenced by the clear discrimination of Nd magnets produced in different years and thus presumably originated from different ore deposits. Given this, the availability of the recipe of processing agents and particular substituent and doping elements is important for traceability. A wild speculation is that the substituting and doping process may provide an excellent opportunity for tagging certain end products, such as Nd magnets, and this may therefore offer a complementary means of traceability.

We conclude that the development of geo-based traceability of minerals and metals is a very complicated and challenging task, as is the task of developing a document-based approach, and it will most likely require long-term and most importantly in-depth research to identify homogeneous, conservative and unique geo-signatures, in addition to building a comprehensive database of these traceability signatures. The ideas and results obtained in this project are by no means conclusive, and at best represent a proof of concept that validates the use of mineralogical and geochemical signatures to discriminate and identify the source of minerals and derivative metals, analogous to the use of biological features (e.g., fingerprints, DNA) for identifying a person.

Nordic Innovation Report, 2024

The management and classification of secondary resources represents an important step forward in ... more The management and classification of secondary resources represents an important step forward in promoting enhanced circularity. The reduction of knowledge gaps in mining waste characterisation, its inventorying and the development of appropriate waste classification schemes are treated in this contribution. These actions support circularity in mining practice. The objective is to provide a research tool/portfolio for the advancement and conceptualisation of the more sustainable handling of natural resources in the Nordic countries. This includes investigating attitudes and community perceptions regarding the potential exploitation of mining waste as a secondary resource.

A better understanding of the geographic distribution of mining waste, its characterisation and the definition of critical raw materials (CRMs) budgets, connected with the green energy transition, can contribute to the dissemination of information pertaining to mining and industrial waste, and its potential re-mining or reuse. Another overarching objective is to guide future policy and decision making, enabling the responsible and sustainable use of natural resources. Decision makers require up-to-date knowledge and the ability to rapidly filter and understand where relevant information is stored.

According to the European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA, EU Commission 2023a), critical raw materials (CRMs) include those that are essential for the economy and have a high supply risk. Strategic raw materials (SRMs) are identified within this broader category and are crucial for strategic sectors and technologies such as green and digital transitions, defence and aerospace. Given this definition, this report uses the abbreviation CRM to include both non-strategic CRMs and CRMs that are considered SRMs. Thus, in this report, to simplify the reference to any CRM, we consider the abbreviations CRM and CSRM (critical and strategic raw materials) equivalent.

This report considers new methodological frameworks for the evaluation of the economic potential of CRMs in waste rock, tailings and other industrial processing waste (sludge and fly ash) in the Nordic countries. Multiple methodological approaches are documented throughout, from country-scale appraisals that capture mineral resources data into a database dedicated to Nordic mining waste to a series of case studies that focused on geochemical and geophysical investigations of secondary resources derived from mining and energy waste streams. Some of the results obtained, for instance at Grängesberg, Løkken and other sites in Sweden and Norway, respectively illustrate the importance of integrating geochemical and geophysical surveys to interpret the complexity of tailings ponds, improving the evaluation of mass and grade estimates of CRMs that were revealed to be significant. Additionally, environmental, social and governance issues were examined in four Finnish case studies, with public acceptance of tailings’ re-mining assessed in two of them. Further to this, industrial mineral–metal processing facilities were investigated in Denmark and Iceland, providing a more comprehensive outlook of the CRM potential in the Nordics. These case studies, somewhat detached from mining waste, are still rich in secondary resources and could become the main sources of CRMs with more in depth understanding of their value chains.

In addition, the UNFC classification system was applied to the Otanmäki tailings in Finland and the Grängesberg and Yxsjöberg mining wastes in Sweden. Other results of the database compilation showcase the need for more advanced geoinformation tools that should be capable of connecting the numerous dimensions of data gathered on primary and secondary mineral resources. These more advanced data representations can enhance the way we look at information, providing tools to filter and select information for decision making. They would also facilitate the interconnection with advanced analytics, emerging from applications that leverage artificial intelligence (AI)-based data classification and the more recent advancement of generative AI.

The Nordic PostgreSQL Database and its implementation resulted in a system that allows the rapid analysis of mineral deposit and (available) mining waste data. The use of criticality measures and heuristic methods and the extension of economic valuations based on the metal equivalent methodology provided filtered lists of primary ore and secondary resources, ordered by their importance as potential suppliers of CRMs. The classification workflow based on complex SQL queries demonstrated the advantage derived from the coupling of an SQL-capable platform with simple criticality and economic valuation systems. The level of data processing required in a web browser is minimal, facilitating decision-making processes.

Valtioneuvoston julkaisuja , 2024

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli lisätä ymmärrystä kiertotalouden potentiaalista vaikuttaa Suomen luon... more Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli lisätä ymmärrystä kiertotalouden potentiaalista vaikuttaa Suomen luonnonvarojen käyttöön ja niistä aiheutuviin ympäristö- ja talousvaikutuksiin. Viimeaikaisen kehityksen lisäksi arvioitiin kolmea luonnonvarojen käytön skenaariota
vuodelle 2035. Niihin lisättiin kiertotaloustoimenpiteitä vaiheittain siten, että kunniahimoisin skenaario pyrki saavuttamaan Suomen kiertotalouden strategisen ohjelman luonnonvaratavoitteiden lisäksi myös Suomen hiilineutraalisuustavoitteen. Tulosten perusteella kiertotalouden strategisessa ohjelmassa asetut luonnonvaratavoitteet ovat osin saavutettavissa. Tällöin Suomen raaka-aineiden kokonaiskulutus vuonna 2035 ei ylitä vuoden 2015 tasoa, ja materiaalien kiertotalousaste kaksinkertaistuu vuodesta 2015. Myös hiilineutraalisuus voidaan
saavuttaa vuoteen 2035 mennessä työssä hahmoteltujen oletuksien ja lisätoimien toteutuessa. Puhdas energiasiirtymä vähentää Suomen päästöjä ja luonnonvarojen käyttöä merkittävästi jo nykyisten päätösten toteutuessa perusskenaariossa. Kiertotaloustoimenpiteet edistävät edelleen päästöjen laskua ja vahvistavat nieluja. Suomen raaka-aineiden kulutus asukasta kohden säilyy kiertotaloustoimenpiteistä
huolimatta globaalisti erittäin korkealla tasolla ja resurssituottavuudessa jäädään kauas EU-maiden keskiarvosta. Kiertotalouden toteutukseen tarvitaan lisää kunnianhimoa ja toimintaa tukevia ohjauskeinoja

Tieteessä tapahtuu, 2024

Vastuullisen kaivostoiminnan kehittäminen on yhteinen poikki tieteellinen oppimisprosessi. Geoeti... more Vastuullisen kaivostoiminnan kehittäminen on yhteinen poikki tieteellinen oppimisprosessi. Geoetiikalla, estetiikalla, filosofialla ja sosiogeologialla on kaivoskeskusteluun paljon annettavaa, mutta niitä ovat käsitelleet lähinnä filosofit, maantieteilijät ja yhteiskuntatieteilijät. Geologit pitäisi saada keskusteluun mukaan. Grand Canyon.

Materia, 2023

Social media has become a powerful tool for corporate communication but also for environmental mo... more Social media has become a powerful tool for corporate communication but also for environmental movement that uses it in its campaign against the mining industry. The escalation of the Talvivaara polymetallic
mine’s environmental problems was the first moment when the mining-skeptical social media campaign was felt in Finland. The ongoing green energy transition has raised a number of new local mining-skeptical
movements with their social media groups in the country. They have targeted researchers, decision makers and even mining-related EU
research projects with appeals as a part of their campaign. Observation of such social media groups and participation in their discussions and research of mining disputes are a challenging but a needed task. In this article the author reports his own experiences with such mining-skeptical social media groups. The article deals also with the current mining debate, research, and activities of the mining-skeptical movement in Finland.

Geologi, 2006

... Aika-kauteen liittyvässä keskustelussa on sekä jäätik-köfriikkejä, jotka näkevat “tilliittejä... more ... Aika-kauteen liittyvässä keskustelussa on sekä jäätik-köfriikkejä, jotka näkevat “tilliittejä” joka puo-lella, että kriittisempiä ... väitöskirjaani “Myöhäisproterotsoois-kambrikau-den ilmastonmuutokset Etelä-Brasiliassa” jota valmistelen Helsingin yliopiston Geologian lai-tokselle, prof ...

After a years' gap, the Finnish bedrock's mineral resources have re-attracted attention, ... more After a years' gap, the Finnish bedrock's mineral resources have re-attracted attention, especially for the metals (Fe, U, Cu, Au and Ni). In the last years, a number of foreign companies have rushed to explore and exploit minerals. However, inadequate integration to the local context might yield problems with local communities. From the company perspective, local but nationally and internationally intertwined stakeholder engagement is part of the corporate social responsibility framework. Within this framework, deficient stakeholder engagement in mineral exploration might endanger the company's social license to operate, whereas it might cause an atmosphere of fear for the community. Stakeholder engagement in mineral exploration has been studied in Finland only in terms of communication in uranium exploration conflicts but hardly regarding other minerals, which until recent years have not seemed to intrigue major company-community conflicts. Hence, this study serves for...

Geologi-lehti, 2022

Twenty companies were found to refer to SLE-related issues on their websites. However, most of these websites do not directly mention
the SLE as a term, but instead address it under terms such as acceptance, stakeholder engagement or the company–community relationship. Nine companies report the use of NLIMET. Coincidently, the same companies
mostly also refer to the SLE. The operational contexts of companies mentioning NLIMET were examined, and most of them were found to be exploring in sensitive areas and/or deposits associated with uranium and
facing opposition. Indeed, such contexts may challenge the acquisition the SLE in Finland, even if the companies apply and communicate
the use of NLIMET. More detailed results of the investigation are found in Eerola (2021).

Geologi -lehti, 2022

Pääkirjoitus

GTK Open File Research Report 20/2022, 2022

Current trends in transport electrification and mobile technologies have created an increasing de... more Current trends in transport electrification and mobile technologies have created an increasing demand for raw materials needed for battery production. The supply chains involved are global, complex, non-transparent and sometimes associated with unsustainable production practices. To improve on the current situation, it is essential to trace battery raw materials back to their origins to verify the conditions in which they were produced. This demand for increased transparency has triggered actions in European Union legislation and among companies operating within battery supply chains.

In this report, we review the current landscape for the application of traceability methods to battery supply chains. The report begins with a global overview of selected battery metals and minerals and their related sustainability issues. As sustainability is an integral goal for traceability, sustainability reporting systems for mining are reviewed from the perspective of traceability. Existing traceability methods and case studies in battery supply chains are reviewed, including the geo-based fingerprinting method (laboratory technology) that is being developed in the BATTRACE research project. We also discuss the business potential of the geo-based fingerprinting method.

Several drivers are identified for traceability. The main driver comes from regulatory development, such as the EU’s battery directives. Customer awareness of sustainability issues is also beginning to influence manufacturers (OEMs) to invest in the transparency of their battery metal supply chains. In addition, the producers of sustainable and low emission raw materials have identified the commercial benefit of tracing the greenhouse gas emissions of their products along the supply chain. Current sustainability and reporting systems used within the mining industry are inadequate to comply with the increased traceability needs, as their focus is limited to the beginning of the supply chain.

The traceability pilots that are currently in use are still limited in scope. For traceability to become commonplace in mining supply chains, OEMs will need to recognize the overall commercial benefits of traceability. Ethical questions dominate in the sustainability considerations on cobalt production, and there are indications that the cobalt market may be separating into traceable and certified cobalt, and bulk cobalt. For lithium and graphite production, the dominating sustainability considerations relate to water and energy consumption and dust. Lithium and graphite are not currently communicated to be included in any digital traceability solution under preparation, but they have been included in BATTRACE research for the geo-based fingerprinting method. Geo-based fingerprinting has considerable commercial potential as a traceability method and a verification tool. As the geological and elemental characteristics of a sample cannot be falsified, the method has unique potential as a stand-alone traceability technology, or as a complementary verification method with any other traceability system. The method could also serve as a verification tool in the “Metals from Finland” certificate, which could sharpen the marketing of sustainable and traceable battery metals production from Finland.