Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières

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Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières
Logo brgm english.jpg
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The BRGM's scientific and technical center in Orléans
Public company overview
Formed October 23, 1959 (1959-10-23)
Superseding agency
  • French ministry of Higher Education and Research, Ecology, and Industry (MESR)
Jurisdiction Government of France
Headquarters Scientific and technical center: 3, avenue Claude-Guillemin, Orléans
headquarters: 39 quai André-Citroën, Paris, France
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Motto Geoscience for a sustainable Earth
Employees 1,113 (2012)
Annual budget 140.67 M€ (2012)
Public company executives
  • Vincent Laflèche, Chairman
  • François Démarcq, General manager
Website www.brgm.eu

The Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières (BRGM) (literally: Geological and mining research bureau) is the French government geological survey[1] (administratively, a "public administration with industrial and commercial purpose") (EPIC) which aim is the management of resources, and surface and sub-surface risks.

It was established in 1959 as a research and consultancy agency[2] from the merging of the Bureau de recherches géologiques, géophysiques et minières and the Bureau minier de la France d'outre-mer. It is under the supervision of the fr (MESR) (Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, English: Ministry of Higher Education and Research).[3]

Its headquarters are located in central Paris and the scientific and technical center is at Orleans. The BRGM employs approximately 1,100 people in its scientific and technical center, including more than 700 engineers and researchers, in 32 regional branches in metropolitan France and overseas territories.[4] The agency is tasked with five functions: scientific research, support for public policies, international cooperation, mining safety, and Higher and continuing education.

History and origins

In 1959, the agency was established by a French decree.[5] The BRGM is a product of the union of:

  1. The fr (BRGG) (Bureau de recherches géologiques, géophysiques et minières, Eng: Geological, geophysical and mining research office). Established by Edmond Friedel and Pierre Pruvost in 1941, the BRGG was tasked with the mapping of French sub-surfaces, and
  2. The fr (BUMIFOM) (Bureau minier de la France d'outre-mer, Eng: French Overseas territories mining office).

After its merger with the French geological survey in 1968 which latter was established in 1868 by fr (Napoléon III), the BRGM was responsible for the surveying and publication of geologic maps of the French territory. The general public can freely consult the surveyed and published geological maps on the BRGM fr (InfoTerre) web portal,[6] and as from 12 April 2010,[7] on Android and iOS.[8]

In 2002, the BRGM undertook a deep reconsideration of its corporate identity. The field of geology, geophysics and mining seemed too narrow a scope for its operations.

In the same vein, while responding to greater environmental problems such as water pollution, post-mining activities, natural risks, atmospheric carbon dioxide sequestration, waste management, environmental remediation and developing a climate of measurement systems and information, the BRGM adopted the signature, Géosciences pour une Terre durable ("Geoscience for a sustainable Earth") on 14 January 2003.[9] Then, in 2004, the abbreviation, BRGM, became official.[10]

The BRGM undertakes an in-house development of its method of governance, its quality assurance controls (including quality edits and environmental responsibility) by shaping its tasks, skills and funding to the evolutions of the establishment.[11] This is also coordinated with its international scientific partners (81 projects carried out over the 2009-2012 period), including the promotion of international networks.[11]

Chairpersons and departments: 1941 to present

  • 1941 : fr (Edmond Friedel), Director (BRGG) ; Jean Goguel, Deputy Director.
  • 1953 à 1959 : Pierre Laffitte, CEO of the BRGGM
  • 1960 - 1964 : Roland Pré, Chairman; Michel Duhameaux, CEO (1960-1961); Henri Nicolas, CEO (1961-1964).
  • 1964 - 1972 : Pierre Signard, Chairman; Henri Nicolas, CEO (1964-1968); Claude Beaumont, CEO (1968-1972).
  • 1972 - 1979 : Yves Perrin, Chairman; Claude Beaumont, CEO (1972-1975); Paul-Henri Bourrelier, CEO (1975-1979).
  • 1979 - 1986 : Jean Audibert, Chairman; Paul-Henri Bourrelier, CEO (1975-1984); fr (Maurice Allègre), CEO (1984-1986).
  • 1986 - 1988 : fr (Gérard Renon), Chairman; Maurice Allègre, CEO (1986-1988).
  • 1988 - 1992 : fr (Maurice Allègre), Chairman; fr (Claude Mandil), CEO (1988-1990); Jean-Pierre Hugon, CEO (1990-1992).
  • 1992 - 1997 : fr (Claude Allègre), Chairman; fr (Jean Pierre Hugon), CEO (1992-1997).
  • 1997 - 2003 : Bernard Cabaret, Chairman; Yves Le Bars, CEO (1997-1999); Yves Caristan, CEO (1999-2003).
  • 2003 - 2009 : fr (Philippe Vesseron), Chairman/CEO; Yves Caristan, deputy CEO (2003-2004); fr (Didier Houssin), deputy CEO (2004-2007); François Démarcq, deputy CEO (2007-2009).
  • 2009 - 2013 : fr (Jean-François Rocchi), Chairman/CEO; François Démarcq, deputy CEO (2009-2013).
  • 2013 to the Present : Vincent Laflèche, Chairman/CEO (since July 3, 2013); François Démarcq, deputy CEO (2013-...).

Over the years, each of the BRGM chairmen have left their marks.[12] Mergers highlighted the Chairmanship of Roland Pré. These led to a re-organization of the BRGM. From 1960 to 1962, the BRGM assumed a large proportion of the employees of federal departments of mines and geology of French West Africa and French Equatorial Africa, and in 1961, a large part of the activities and personnel of the Department of Geological Surveys and Mines, French Guiana. Under the chairmanship of Pierre Signard, Roland Pré's successor, a technical and scientific center was established at fr (Orléans-la-Source) in 1965. This center was useful in unifying all the BRGM teams. He also continued the re-organization of the BRGM. In January 1968, the Geological Maps Office of France and in 1970, the Alsace-Lorraine Geological Survey (SGAL) came under the BRGM's umbrella. Under the management of Claude Beaumont, the term «Service géologique national» (SGN, en: National Geological Service) was introduced in the mining code. He appointed Claude Guillemin as Director of the SGN. It was also under his chairmanship that the BRGM took an international focus; notably the signing of a contract with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia in 1964 to undertake a geologic and mining reconnaissance of the country.

A Petroleum and mineral resources crisis arose in 1973 and under the chairmanship of Yves Perrin, the BRGM expanded significantly while carrying out its task of supplying energy and minerals to France. This development placed the BRGM amongst the leading global petrol and mineral explorers. The Geothermy department was then created as a response to the need for renewable energy. In 1977, the subsidiary COFRAMINE was created in order to consolidate mining companies with BRGM shareholdings. Jean Audibert's term of office was marked by the global crisis and the quite depressed market for minerals and metals. Due to its inability to obtain sufficient financing, most of the mining projects were slowed down or abandoned, many were often sold to international mining groups, notably, Portuguese Neves-Corvo's copper and tin deposit that was sold to RTZ.[nb 1] This field is one of the biggest in Europe. Geothermal energy was developed in conjunction with the fr (Agence française de la maîtrise de l'énergie) (AFME, English: Agency for Energy Management, France), an agency that was established in 1982. The fr (Compagnie française de géothermie) (CFG, English: French Geothermal energy company) was established in 1984. On the other hand, at the initiative of the Ministry of Research, especially of fr (Hubert Curien), a close acquaintance of Claude Guillemin, scientific activities were centered around a few big projects. Finally, in 1985, a department of research was created. Also, Gérard Renon placed more focus on the commercial services activities of the BRGM. When a department (named the "4S" in 1987) regrouping the teams working in both soil and sub-soil management was created, a better separation of tasks was established. Its main objective was to geographically redeploy the commercial activities of the BRGM.

The operational cost cutting crisis whereby it had to close several departments (geothermal energy, mineralogy, geotechnical department etcetera) came to an end in 1988 and was followed by a financial recovery. A policy of service activities development and labor cost cutting measures were introduced by Maurice Allègre. In 1990, its service activities became mature and thereby, eighty (80) persons were employed. On the other hand, mining activities were still on a stalemate. The chairmanship of fr (Claude Allègre) was notable for its strategic restructuring plan that was spearheaded by Jean-Pierre Hugon. The research and public-sector missions, along with the commercial and mining activities services, would eventually become subsidiaries. Engineering and consulting activities were handed over to the fr (Antea Group) in 1994. In the field of mining, the BRGM in association with Normandy, an Australian group, created the la Source Compagnie minière (SAS).[14] This subsidiary was concerned with a major part of BRGM's mining activities. It was in the midst of these events that the court case dubbed fr (affaire de la mine d'or de Yanacocha) (English: the Yanacocha gold mine case) sprang up. This gold mine was discovered in 1980 by BRGM but was being exploited by an association comprising both local industries, North American companies and the BRGM. A legal complication ensured and the BRGM's right to the mine was lost to its associates even when the reserves in the discovered mine were important. In some ways, the chairmanship of Bernard Cabaret which took off with a formalization of the policies of business reforms which were not different from his predecessors. In fact, a decree published in 1998 placed the BRGM under the dual auspices of the Ministry of Research and the Ministry of Industry. This brought mining investments by the BRGM to an end and thereafter, the la Source Compagnie minière (SAS) was dissolved. Later, when the fr (Antea Group) was sold in 2003, all service activities came to an end. Thereafter, the BRGM was confined to the singular task of "National Geological Service" and had to reorient its focus towards the environment and natural risks. Research on geological storage of CO2 was launched. With Yves Caristan as Executive Director, a forecasting department was opened in 2001 and its first defining contract was signed with the French state detailing a four-year mission and major policies. This practice was continued in 2005 and 2009. The BRGM acquired a new logo: Géosciences pour une Terre durable (English: Geosciences for a Sustainable Earth). The BRGM was now included amongst the industries that were under the jurisdiction of "page 187 of the fr (Loi organique relative aux lois de finances) (LOLF, English: organic laws relating to Finance laws)" of which the fr (Institut national de la recherche agronomique) (INRA, English: National Institute for Agronomic Research), the fr (Institut de recherche pour l'ingénierie de l'agriculture et de l'environnement) (CEMAGREF, English: National Institute for Research in Science and Technology related to Agriculture and the Environment), the fr (Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement) (CIRAD, English: Center for International Cooperation for Developmental Agronomic Research), the fr (Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer) (IFREMER, English: French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) and the fr (Institut de recherche pour le développement) (IRD, English: Institute for Developmental Research).

The appointment of Philippe Vesseron was marked, at the beginning of his tenure, by a modification of the decree formalizing new thematic directions of the BRGM by placing it under the supervision of the Ministry of Research, Industry and the Environment in 2004. Following the dissolution of the fr (Charbonnages de France), as well as other public-sector mining companies (Iron, Potassium, etc.), the BRGM inherited and managed their old mining sites, but it had lost its capacity of developing mines. Then arose another fuel crisis and the geothermal energy department was reopened, thereby ensuring that the missions, respectively, of the CFG and the Géothermie Bouillante[nb 2] were sorted out. At the end of the year 2009, at the commencement of Jean-François Rocchi's tenure as Chairman and Chief Executive, a new modification its establishing decree was concurrently carried out.[16] made the BRGM responsible for establishing a school for applied Geosciences, the fr (ENAG).[17] In 2010, the Ministry responsible for sustainable development, which supervision includes that of the "Environment" and "Mines" of the BRGM, announced a relaunch of the mining policy on strategic metals.

At the middle of the year 2012, Jean-François Rocchi, whose tenure was short, reorganized the scientific functions of the BRGM with the aim of improving the definition of its missions and greatly improving its effectiveness[18] by setting up six (6) operational departments (against the former ten (10)) along with a science and production directorate.

Objectives and missions

The objectives of the BRGM include understanding and identifying geological phenomena in order to develop adequate and responsive techniques to the environmental difficulties encountered in managing the soil, the subsoil, French mineral resources, post-mining safety, natural risks, soil pollution and climatic change.[19] It also provides higher education through its school of engineering, the ENAG.[20] Other principal objectives are to make scientific data publicly available, as well as methodologies and tools that will increase the understanding and management of the problems resulting from global warming and policies of territorial development.

Its activities and actions are determined by the fr (Comité national d'orientation du service public) (CNOSP, English: National Public Service Steering Committee), an umbrella body for various French ministerial departments. The outlines of this ministerial convergence were designed in 2001 through a quadrennial (4-year) program.[19] Co-funding is provided to BRGM from the French Regional Council as well as the European Union (EU). Agencies with similar objectives as the BRGM, such as the fr (Agence nationale de la recherche) (ANR, English: National Agency for Research) or the fr (Agence de l'environnement et de la maîtrise de l'énergie) (ADEME, English: Environment and Energy Management Agency) form partnerships with the BRGM. It is also one of the 33 members of the fr (Instituts Carnot).[21]

According to the last four-year program of the BRGM, its basic objectives are:[19]

The quadrennial program "Etat-BRGM 2009-2012" made the BRGM responsible for geological and mining sciences, institutional and collective expertise (with defined code of ethics) while providing answers to the challenges of mineral resources (securing supplies, training, etc.) and to sustainable development through improving responses to global changes (restoring and preserving groundwater, preventing geologic risks, securing the development of geological storage of CO2, development through geothermal diversification, identification of aquifer resources) of which 14 out of 20 surveys have been completed. During this period, the BRGM has notably finalised the first pilot exploitation of geothermal heating using a technology called EGS (Enhanced Geothermal System). It has also developed a unified method of evaluating seismic vulnerability and an issue tracking systems.[11] During 2009 to 2012, forty-eight percent (48%) of the activities of the regional offices was about water, but in certain areas, mining risks and/or industrial risks were the cause of concern, notably in the fr (Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur) (also known as PACA) regions where a platform for understanding major risks[22] was established on 4 July 2012 and also in French Guiana where a research on climate change in French Guiana for the years 2030 and 2050 was simulated with the fr (Direction régionale de l'environnement, de l'aménagement et du logement), (DREAL, English: Regional Directorate for Environment, Development and Housing) and fr (Agence de l'environnement et de la maîtrise de l'énergie) (ADEME, English: Environment and Energy Management Agency).

Monitoring and Forecasting

BRGM's mission statement is composed of three parts: monitoring, forecasting and economic intelligence.

It fulfils this responsibility by the publication of the following reviews for the benefit of its supervising ministry: the Ecomine (published since 1980); the fr (Annuaire statistique mondial des minerais et métaux) (AS3M) or also known as "World Mining and Metals Yearbook"[23] which first edition appeared eighty (80) years ago. This yearbook monitors eighteen (18) metals by country and is published in association with fr (Société de l'industrie minérale) (SIM, English: Mineral Industry Association)[nb 3] The BRGM is also a part of the fr (Comité pour les métaux stratégiques) (COMES, English: Strategic Metals Committee). The COMES was established by decree of 26 January 2011 and is focused on four (4) working groups which were formed in March 2011, namely for:

  1. The Identification and evaluation of the needs of French Industries.
  2. The Marine and Land natural resources that can be exploited.
  3. Development of savings in raw materials and recyclable products.
  4. Transnational aspects as regards strategic metals.

The BRGM serves as the vice-chairman of groups 1 and 2.

Therefore, it has signed an agreement with ERAMET and Renault.[11]

It also monitors the changes in the known and reported resources, including resources that have to be recycled like gallium, germanium, niobium, rare earth elements, beryllium, molybdenum, rhenium, selenium, tellurium, antimony, lithium, tantalum, graphite, and tungsten.

Parts of these reports have been published and publicly available.[25]

Plans for the future are carried out through forecasting exercises, namely "BRGM Vision 2030" and mapping the network of its partners.

Areas of Expertise

The areas of expertise of the BRGM is evident in ten (10) fields of activities[26]

Geology

As a "Service géologique national" (English: National geological service), the BRGM puts its expertise to work in improving geological knowledge concerning the soil and subsoils. It produces and disseminates geological information on the subsoil and surface features, through its research programs and geological and geophysical field studies for the benefit of governments, developers, manufacturers, and teachers, in France and globally.

It has established databases, paper-based and digital geological maps as well as 3D models, which are applicable in the management of water and mineral resources, for prevention of natural risks, in combating land pollution, for developing soil and subsoils, in the geological storage of CO2 gas, the valorisation of French geological heritage, as well as other uses.[27]

Geological Maps

The geological maps provides information to the general public on the nature of the rocks and geological faults which can be found in the subsoil of a region or a country.

Brief history: A need for a geological map of France goes back in time to a decree promulgated by Napoleon III, dated the First of October 1868, which established the "Service de la carte géologique de la France et des topographies souterraines" (English: The geologic map of France and groundwater topography service). The earliest geologic maps date back to 1664 (by fr (Louis Coulon)) and 1746 (by fr (Jean-Étienne Guettard)). Since 1794, the Corps des mines have been responsible for drawing up geological maps. Jean Baptiste Julien d'Omalius d'Halloy sketched the geology of the Parisian basin and it environs in 1816, scaling the map at 1/800 000. Ours-Pierre-Armand Petit-Dufrénoy and Jean-Baptiste Élie de Beaumont, who were both mining engineers, were charged with the task of drawing up the first French geological map in 1841, using a scale of 1 / 500 000.

The decree promulgated by Napoleon III on the First of October 1868 at Biarritz made it clear that the task of drawing up a French geological map would be done at the state's expense, thereby centralizing the task to the state, at least, where it concerns coordinating the surveyors and the publishing. Using its powers, the service undertook the work of bringing to light a geological map, using a scale of 1/80 000, which work was accomplished in 1925, about fifty (50) years later. It produced 268 maps. It continued until 1971 because it was publishing successive editions (about 600 sheets published). At the same time, another French geological surveying program, begun in 1913, was in place and it used a scale of 1/50 000. This mapping program produced 1060 maps of Metropolitan France. Its first sheets were published in 1925. In 1967, it released 148 maps when the decree of 22 December 1967 charged the BRGM with the task of drawing up the French geological map. Article 1 of the decree in fact mentions the geologic map: "In order to make knowledge of the subsoil available in a form that is adapted to the needs of users" and article 2 makes the BRGM responsible for: "facilitation, coordination and implementation of all necessary work for the establishment of the general geologic map", as well as: "publication, printing and distribution of these maps and all accompanying texts."

Current situation: This cartographic program also led to the publication of several works at the scale of 1/1 000 000 comprising several editions of the French map for the years 1889, 1905, 1933, 1955, 1968, 1996 and 2003 and at the scale of 1/250 000; these latter had incomplete coverage.

Since 2000, graphical images of scanned geological base maps using a scale of 1/50 000 has been a subject for national harmonization and is freely available to the public on the fr (Infoterre) site. This map can be seen as planar projections of intersection of geological formations with surface topography. The intersection geometry and the geological characteristics of the formations allow for an extrapolation of the volumes of rocks in three dimensions with depths that vary with the scale and density of the data, along with the degree of information. Pictures of the subsoil are often accompanied by very complex interpretations which rules took more than a century and a half to set: from the appearance of the first geological maps at the beginning of the nineteenth century, notably fr (Georges Cuvier) and fr (Alexandre Brongnniart)'s cartography of the tertiary basins of Paris.[28]

Currently available in more than 25 000 copies each year, the geological maps of France is an essential starting point on the geology of French territory and makes the management of risks, pollutions, water resources, and major developmental works possible. The traditional geologic maps are gradually enriched with data concerning surface and oil drilling, seismic data and also airborne geophysical data.

The 2011 geological map, the most current as of writing, is scaled at 1/50 000° and is made of 1060 collected maps and often contains old data. The last version took geologists sixty (60) years to complete. Along with the "banque de données du sous-sol" (BSS, literally: Subsoil database), this map is the defining point for mining and geologic know-how on France and is accessible on the iPhone through an app that can calculate ground profiles and do virtual drilling.

Development: Although this maps are heterogeneous, they are often incoherent. They can contain obsolete information derived almost exclusively from the surface, while industrialists and scientists are increasingly in need of constantly updated 3D numerical models describing, in depth, the geological layers and geological functions, hydrogeological, seismic, thermal and other functions.[29]

Already, the BRGM has released the initial 3D geometrical representation of the French subsoil which includes chemical and physical parameters. It plans to switch over to a 3D digital model of geological maps. Therefore, these are the days of the "French Geological system of reference."[29]

A "3D airborne" geophysical map for the overseas departments was begun at Mayotte,[30] in 2011. Also, a follow-up project for groundwater monitoring and detection of organic contaminants (projects ORIGAMI and REMANTAS and project TIC EuroGEOSS). Project IEED GOEODENERGIES deals with technology of the subsoil for carbon-free energy or PLAT’INN (démonstrateur-plateforme de tri et recyclage de déchets comme source d’approvisionnement en métaux stratégiques, English: platform for demonstration of sorting and recycling of waste as a source of strategic metals) or Greenerb@t whose subject matter is the construction of more ecological and smarter buildings. Also, the BRGM is a participant in the IEE "Intelligent Energy-Europe[31] program with the seventh PCERD along with geothermal energy development and other programs, such as: LABEX and EQUIPEX, the CARNOT (fr (Actions de recherche pour la technologie et la société), English: Research Program for Technology and Industries) program of which IRSTEA (fr (Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture), English: National Institute for Science and Technology Research for the Environment and Agriculture) is noteworthy, and the IFREMER-EDROME[32] program, as well the fr (Institut Carnot). The Carnot label was given it by the Ministry of Research in 2012, covers every institute which is concerned with research and development for economic development.[33] As of writing, there are thirty-four (34) institutes so labelled. Finally, the CVT (fr (Consortium de valorisation thématique), English: Thematic Enhancement Consortium)[34] by the Allenvi (fr (Alliance nationale de recherche pour l'environnement), English: National Alliance for Environmental Research) alliance.

The French Geological reference

New established geological references have been modernised through analytical methods and new information such as those from airborne geophysics that is based on radiometry and the earth's magnetism. These information are available on the Internet. They are supposed to incorporate thematic maps such as lithological maps, minerals, temporal maps etc. through principal geographic information systems (GIS) (e.g. ArcGIS, ArcGIS Server)

For this purpose, the RGF (Référentiel géologique de la France, English: French geological reference) program was launched in 2011. The development of this new reference work was meant to be collaborative, inter-university and eventually, multinational and should take several decades.

"InfoTerre" Catalogue

This catalogue has been publicly available on Infoterre.[35] Since 2011, a map of regolith,[36] a 3D diapir model of the Dax community in the Aquitaine region,[36] new French Guiana(BSS) data,[36] and the Upper Rhine Graben. These are maps of geothermal potential and temperature for areas which are interesting for the storage of CO2 gas.[36] Studies have also been conducted for the hazard mapping of asbestos at four (4) levels (1/125000 ° et 1/30 000° mappings) in the natural environment,[36] making complete every available data for Upper Corsica, Loire-Atlantique and Savoie.[36]

Mineral resources

The BRGM seeks the knowledge and control of mineral raw materials through:

  • Knowledge of mineralization and models of formation of deposits, deposits identification, and characterization of resources and reserves.
  • Economic and environmental impact of exploitations.
  • Materials life cycle analysis.
  • Knowledge of French mineral resources and current operations. In 2011, the database of material operations were more than 100 000 in Meteropolitan France, French overseas departments and overseas collectivities as was described by the materials observatory.[37] 4690 active quarries are listed of which 2745 produce aggregates. Since 2011, the "national mining inventory" is reviewed and updated in order to facilitate the identification of strategic mineral resources, the test area bordering the Cévennes region and its old mine at Pallières, La Croix[38] with zinc, lead and other minerals like germanium and also in the Gard region.
  • In Africa, the BRGM coordinates the Pan-African mapping of mineral resources, geothermal and ground water through the AEGOS ( African GeoResources European observation system) observatory which brings together 23 partners,[39] the GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems) project, in connection with various research programs such as MIRECA, GECO[40] and TRACE. Its aim is to develop local governance through taking a better account of the preservation of cultural heritage threatened by artisanal mining, enabling traceability of minerals by their mineralogical footprint (from the source to the factory) as well as throughout the commercial certification chain, notably coltan and diamonds. Strategic metals and minerals from uranium (Katanga, for example) have received enhanced research and mapping pressures.
  • Resources for historical monuments. The "Monumat" database[41] was constructed by the BRGM with the fr (Laboratoire de recherche des monuments historiques) (LRMH, English: Historical monuments research laboratory). It collects information on some monuments and by the end of 2011, on about 6900 different stones and quarries available for the restoration of historical monuments, both in France and Réunion.
  • Economic intelligence and mining expertise.

Worldwide deposits

Name of deposit[42][43] Country Material Type of deposit Material discovery partners Date
Large deposits. Class A
Ahafo Ghana Au Gold shear zone Gencor > Normandy-LaSource[44] 1994
Akonolinga Cameroun 1% TiO2 (rutile) Placer deposit
Hajar Guemassa Morocco 8% Zn; 2-3% Pb; 0.4-0.6% Cu; - 60 g/t Ag;

7% Zn; 2% Pb; 0.5% Cu

Sulphide deposits Moroccan geological service October 1984
Mabounié Gabon 24% P2O5; 1.8% Nb2O5; Ce; Zr, Ti Carbonatite 1950s
Mont Nimba Guinea 67% Fe Banded Iron Formation
Minas Conga Peru Au; Cu Porphyry
Neves Corvo Portugal 8% Cu - 1.4% Zn

13.6% Cu - 2.4% Sn - 1.3% Zn 5.5% Zn - 1% Pb - 0.5% Cu

Sulphide deposits 1977
Yanacocha District Peru 0.9 g/t Au Epithermal deposits Discovery and initial exploring, 1981. Gold deposit discovered in 1983.
Class B deposits
Akyem Ghana Au Shear gold zone Gencor > Normandy-LaSource[45] 1999
Bougrine Tunisia 9.8% Zn - 2.3% Pb

10.8% Zn - 2.2% Pb

Mississippi Valley type mineralization (MVT) Tunisian national office for mines Between 1979 and 1984
Chessy France 8.4% Zn - 2.7% Cu - 13% Ba Sulphide deposits
Couleuvre France Attapulgite
Fumade France 1.1% WO3 Skarn
Grevet Gonzague Langlois Canada 8.41% Zn - 0.46% Cu - 37 g/t Ag - 0.1 g/t Au Sulphide deposits 1989
Hassaï District d'Ariab Sudan 11.4 g/t Au - Cu, Zn

10.4 g/t Au

Sulphide deposits with supergene enrichment Geological Survey of Sudan, Total Compagnie Minière Between 1977 and 1980
Ity Côte d'Ivoire 16.3 g/t Au MVT 1957
Jabali Yemen 8.7% Zn - 1.2% Pb - 68 g/t Ag MVT YOMINCO 1980
Khnaiguiyah Saudi Arabia 15.1% Zn - 0.8% Cu

7.41% Zn - 0.82% Cu

Sulphide deposits
Kribi Cameroun 2 g/t Au Sulphide deposits Sefercam[46]
Lero-Fayalala Guinea 4 g/t Au
Loulo Mali 3.04 g/t Au
N'Gueredonke Guinea 10.5% TiO2
Salau France 1.21% WO3

2% WO3

Skarn
Noailhac - Saint-Salvy France 11.5% Zn - Ge, Ag Mesothermal deposits SMM Penarroya (SMMP) Between 1965 and 1968
Tambo Grande District 1 Peru 1.6% Cu - 1.1% Zn - 0.6 g/t Au - 27 g/t Ag Sulphide deposits
Tambo Grande District 3 Peru 1% Cu - 1.4% Zn - 0.8 g/t Au - 25 g/t Ag Sulphide deposits
Tasiast Mauritania 1.36 g/t Au
Yaou Dorlin French Guiana 2 g/t Au
Zalim Saudi Arabia 2 g/t Au Shear zone DMMR
Small deposits. Class C
Al Hajar Saudi Arabia 2.6 g/t Au - 38 g/t Ag Sulphide deposits with supergene enrichment
Angovia Côte d'Ivoire 4 g/t Au 1989
Ciawitali Indonesia
Dikulushi Zaire 11.48% Cu - 400 g/t Ag

8.59% Cu - 266 g/t Ag

Kupferschiefer type[47]
Jabal Sayid Saudi Arabia 2.3% Cu - 0.3 g/t Au - 10 g/t Ag Sulphide deposits 1970s
Le Bourneix France Au - Ag Gold vein Between 1961 and 1966
Les Brouzils France 6.7% Antimony (Sb) Vein
Mezos France Lignite
Shila Paula District Peru
Shila Mine Peru Au - Ag Epithermal
The very small deposits or indices. Class D
Mwabvi Malawi Coal Geological Survey Department Malawi

Notes

  1. The RTZ (Rio Tinto - Zinc Corporation) was before its merger with the Australian firm Consolidated Zinc called the Rio Tinto Company and it became RTZ after the merger. It is now known as the Rio Tinto Group. [13]
  2. Géothermie Bouillante is a subsidiary of the BRGM and fr (Électricité de France) (EDF, English: French Power Authority). The geothermal plant at Bouillante, Guadeloupe, fr (Centrale géothermique de Bouillante), which is used for providing electricity to France is operated by the Géothermie Bouillante.[15]
  3. The fr (Société de l'industrie minérale) (SIM, English: Mineral Industry Association) is an independent scholarly society that is under the Associations law of 1901 which is provided for voluntary and Non-governmental organizations.[24]

References

  1. BRGM website
  2. Decree 559-1205 of October 23, 1959, on the administrative and financial organization of the Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, JORF 247 du of October 23, 1959, p.10139–10141, on Légifrance website
  3. Decree No. 59-1205 of 23 October 1959 relating to the financial and administrative management of BRGM, current version, on fr (Légifrance).
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  5. Decree No. 59-1205 of 23 october 1959 relating to financial and administrative management of the Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, JORF No. 247 of 24 october 1959, pp. 10139–10141, on fr (Légifrance).
  6. BRGM's geographic information system
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. App available for Android, mobile phones and iOS
  9. Community Trade Mark No. 3007705 Search according to number, on the site fr (Institut national de la propriété industrielle); Search in CTM-ONLINE on the site fr (Office de l'harmonisation dans le marché intérieur).
  10. Article 2, decree No. 2004-991 of 20 September 2004 which modified the decree No. 59-1205 of 23 October 1959 relating to the financial and administrative management of the Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières, JORF No. 221 of 22 September 2004, p. 16400, text No. 3, fr (Système NOR) MENK0401779D, on Légifrance.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. Official website on BRGM
  16. (French text) Ordinance of 24 november, 2009 with respect to the fr (École nationale d’applications des géosciences), Official Journal of 02/12/2009
  17. ENAG official website
  18. (French text) Annual report of the BRGM. 2012.
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 Quadrennial contract BRGM 2009-2012, on its website. Septembre 2009.
  20. Ministerial order of November 24, 2009, on the Ecole nationale d'applications des géosciences (National School of Applied Geosciences), JORF on Légifrance website (in French).
  21. "Les instituts Carnot", on the website of the "Instituts Carnot".
  22. The term "Major risks" was defined on the site
  23. On the BRGM infoterre portal
  24. (French text)This page explains the Association law very well and the french concept of freedom of Association.
  25. For example The Econmine review
  26. (French text) The BRGM in brief., presentation of the activity domains of the BRGM.
  27. BRGM website, Geology section.
  28. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. 29.0 29.1 BRGM (2012), Activity report for 2011, p 31.
  30. Project GEOMAYOTTE; SIG La lettre (2010), Géomayotte - 14/10/2010: GéoMayotte, A mapping project from BRGM for the development of Mayotte
  31. [1]
  32. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. [2]
  34. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. [infoterre.brgm.fr The Infoterre portal]
  36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. Materials observatory
  38. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. AEGOS (African European georesources observation system)
  40. Task Force Mineral Resources in Central Africa (TF MIRECA) and Geology for an Economic Sustainable Development (GECO)
  41. National database for stones and quarries of historical monuments
  42. Mineralinfo.
  43. Activities are more and more skewed towards research, expertise, and technical assistance. On the BRGM website.
  44. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. BRGM, Wenchi, Obuasi, Ghana projects
  46. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. Lithostratigraphy and petrography of Dikulushi rocks

External links