Raw material relevant elements in Austrian Groundwater

The project REGÖ (BMF initiative) compiles hydrogeological data on groundwater in Austria for critical raw materials. It uses existing analyses (e.g., lithium, rare earths, nickel, uranium) from monographs and maps to create a geodatabase and report. The data aid in raw material survey and show geological correlations.

Project REGÖ is part of the Federal Ministry of Finance’s (BMF) exploration initiative, aiming to compile and interpret baseline data of the federal territory. It focuses on processing and analyzing hydrogeological chemical data of deep groundwater in Austria, particularly in relation to critical raw materials. Data from previous projects will be harmonized and evaluated for relevant elements, with the selection guided by the mining authority. The project’s outcomes include a geodatabase with processed data and a project report detailing the distribution of relevant water-soluble elements by geological zones.

The data originate from multiple projects of the Hydrogeology Competence Unit at GeoSphere Austria, including monographs on groundwater such as potable deep groundwaters, radionuclides in groundwaters, and thermal waters of Austria. The 2018 monograph of Austria’s mineral waters and medical springs contains chemical analyses of such waters, as well as ultratrace analytical results from 57 water samples representing diverse geological units. These analyses, conducted at the Institute of Analytical Chemistry of BOKU, cover nearly all elements of the periodic table in the nanogram per liter range—significantly more precise than standard drinking water analyses. Additionally, a manuscript for a new hydrogeological map of Austria has been drafted, incorporating hydrochemical data from deposit-related waters in the Molasse Zone, the Vienna Basin, and the Styrian Basin. These data will be evaluated within REGÖ for ore-relevant parameters.

The datasets highlight trace analyses linked to critical raw materials. For instance, groundwater in granitic regions shows elevated lithium levels, mirroring the distribution of rare earth elements as observed in rock analyses. Other metals like nickel, chromium, arsenic, antimony, uranium, and others are also detectable in water samples. The compilation of these data complements existing mineral resource information. However, it remains to be assessed whether elevated concentrations of lithium, boron, iodine, etc., in groundwater already warrant economic use. Thus, the project contributes to improving the data basis for raw material exploration and underscores the importance of hydrogeological analyses for strategic resource prospecting.