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22/09/2017

Explore the world of minerals during European Minerals Day 2017!

Explore the world of minerals during European Minerals Day 2017!

Brussels, 20 September 2017. On 22-24 September, during European Minerals Day 2017, more than 130 quarries and plants in 27 countries open their doors to the public. This unique pan-European event happening only once every two years, attracts around 30.000 people eager to find out what goes on behind the gates of a quarry, mine or plant, and have the opportunity to explore the world of minerals through the offered entertaining and educational experience. Typical activities include school visits, guided tours, workshops, exhibitions, biodiversity projects, and many more.

Participating countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Estonia,

Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, Slovenia,

Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine, as well as North America, Brazil, Malaysia and South Africa. To find an event nearby, visit www.mineralsday.eu(link is external).

European Launch Event – 21 & 22 September, Estonia  

The 2017 European Minerals Day – and 10th Anniversary event – are officially launched on 21 & 22 September 2017 by the European Commission and the Estonian EU Presidency at the Nordkalk Kurevere dolomite operations and the Kunda Nordic Tsement operations in Estonia. The Launch events will tell the story of the minerals industry’s contribution to sustainable regions and well-being of the local communities – while also making the link to the EU jobs and growth Agenda and the EU Biodiversity Strategy. The programme includes visits to the quarries, processing facilities and Kunda port, the local birds and orchids biodiversity case studies and a blasting. For more information: http://www.mineralsday.eu/opening-event/(link is external)

The minerals sector contributes to sustainable regions

The majority of quarries, mines and manufacturing plants represented under the umbrella of the European Minerals Day are currently located in Europe. The sector provides direct employment to around 1 million people across 30,000 active mines, quarries and plants in Europe. Its annual turnover is more than €150 billion. The minerals sector forms an integral part of the European value chain with 70% of EU manufacturing depending on the minerals, metals and raw materials mined. Hence the importance to the EU jobs and growth agenda. The EU has one of the most stringent environmental legislations in the world; this alongside the multiple voluntary initiatives by the minerals sector that go beyond what is legally required, ensure sustainable mining and processing, offering win-win-win solutions for the environment, people and the economy.

Essential, Smart and Beneficial Minerals – our world is made of them

Minerals are crucial for the development of modern, environmentally-friendly technologies and downstream products as well as energy-efficient housing and infrastructure. Minerals are essential raw materials in most manufacturing sectors, including paint, electronics, appliances, metal casting and foundry, paper, plastics, glass, ceramics, detergents, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, construction materials and agriculture. They are also used as processing aids or supplements in the food and feed industries, and have an increasingly important role to play in environmental engineering such as water treatment and filtration, in gas treatment, and in renewable energies, such as photovoltaic solar cells, wind turbines, electric cars, and so on.

 

A family house contains up to 150 tons of minerals – A car contains up to 250kg of minerals

Up to 50% of paint and paper are made up of minerals – Ceramics and glass are 100% made out of minerals

Multiple stakeholders joining forces to boost awareness on mineral raw materials

The European Minerals Day (EMD) brings together the mineral raw materials producers and stakeholder organisations in an attempt to enhance public awareness, acceptance and trust. Since 2014, the EMD is a commitment under the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials(link is external).

The EMD is currently led by a consortium of 10 European partners: IMA-Europe, CEMBUREAU, EuSalt, EuroGypsum, Eurométaux, Euromines, EuroGeoSurveys, the European Technology Platform on Sustainable Minerals Resources, UEPG with the support of IndustriAll and the European Federation of Geologists – representing the European industrial minerals, cement, salt, gypsum, aggregates, metals and mining sectors as well as the European geological surveys and trade unions.

 

 

Follow us on Twitter @MineralsDay and Facebook.

 

For more information, please contact the EMD Secretariat in Brussels:

Ms Amina Langedijk, Lead Coordinator European Minerals Day

Tel +32 2 210 44 12 – a.langedijk@ima-europe.eu(link sends e-mail) – http://www.mineralsday.eu/(link is external)

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