Special Issue: Raw Materials - European Perspectives and Future Challenges

Special Issue Editors:
Antje Wittenberg, Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)
Prof. Dr. Jochen Kolb, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Applied Geosciences, Chair of Geochemistry and Economic Geology
Dr. Heinz-Gerd Röhling, German Geological Society, DGGV, Berlin

The availability and sustainable management of raw materials are critical for technological innovation, economic stability, and environmental responsibility. In light of growing global demand and strategic initiatives such as the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), this special issue seeks to advance scientific and policy-oriented discussions on raw materials across scales - from local to global.

Scope and Topic

The editors invite original research articles, reviews, and case studies on the following themes:

  1. Raw Material Policy
    • National and EU strategies for resource security
    • Global governance and trade implications
  2. CRMA Momentum
    • Development of potential maps and exploration programs
    • Strategic frameworks for critical raw materials
  3. Raw Materials - Germany, EU, Worldwide
    • Critical and non-critical raw materials
    • Focus on Copper (Cu), Lithium (Li), and metals essential for future technologies
    • Primary and secondary raw materials: extraction, recycling, and circular economy approaches
  4. Raw Material Projects
    • Onshore and offshore exploration and development
    • Innovative technologies for resource extraction and processing
  5. Raw Material Research
    • Advances in geoscience methods for resource identification
    • Sustainable supply chains and environmental impact assessments

Why Contribute?

This special issue aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among geoscientists, policymakers, and industry experts. Contributions will help shape strategies for resource security and technological resilience in Europe and beyond.

Manuscript submission:

Submission deadline for the "Raw Materials - European Perspectives and Future Challenges" Special Issue is June 30, 2026.

In order to submit your paper, please register as an author in the ZDGG manuscript submission system. Please select the "Raw Materials - European Perspectives and Future Challenges" section there in order to submit your paper
. Manuscript formatting guidelines are available in English and German.
All manuscripts are subject to rigorous peer-review.
Questions on, e.g., whether your manuscript fits? Please feel free to contact the Special Issue editors above.