In this ever-changing world, we are more and more confronted with major economic and environmental challenges related to the accelerating global population growth. As a consequence, there is an ever-growing global demand for mineral resources. In addition, some of the elements present in these minerals play a vital role in the development of our global networks and in the technologies necessary to facilitate a low-carbon economy (eg. Li-Nb-Ta). It is evident that geological knowledge of these critical natural resources is a strategic topic.

The aim of this project is to determine the geology and evolution of granitic magma and associated melts and fluids in the genesis of Nb-Ta-Sn-W-Li mineralization, and the distribution and behaviour of these critical metals. The study will mainly be performed in the Karagwe–Ankole and Kibara belts in Central Africa. These belts contain type cases of rare metal mineralization associated with granitic intrusions and form since many years the area of research of the PI.