2nd Geoelectric Survey Completed at the Castiglioncello Magnesite Mine

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We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the second geoelectric survey by the OGS team at the Castiglioncello magnesite mine in Tuscany (Italy), a key step in our ongoing efforts to understand the dynamics of natural mineral carbonation for long-term CO₂ storage.

This new survey focused on a targeted transect across the mineralisation, building on previous work to deliver high-resolution imaging of the subsurface. The data will enable us to refine our understanding of the continuity and depth extent of the magnesite body and associated alteration zones.

This step is essential for enhancing our geophysical model of the deposit, supporting both scientific interpretation and potential future evaluation of the site as a natural analogue for carbon storage.

Stay tuned for further updates as we integrate these results with geochemical and mineralogical data from the 2025 field campaign!

Soil sampling campaign started at the Castiglioncello magnesite mine!

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We are excited to announce the start of our soil sampling campaign at the Castiglioncello magnesite mine, a crucial part of the STORECO2 project.

In the coming weeks, our team will collect soil samples from various locations around the mine to analyse mineral composition and geochemical properties. These samples will help us better understand the natural processes that led to magnesite formation and how the environment responds to this process. The Castiglioncello mine (Livorno, Italy) will serve as a key natural analogue for assessing potential environmental impact of large-scale carbon storage through mineral carbonation .

Stay tuned for updates on our findings!

STORECO2 in Dublin – our contribution to the European Mineralogical Society

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We are excited to announce our recent contribution at the European Mineralogical Society (EMC) conference. Our research team presented an abstract titled “Metal mobility during serpentinite carbonation: evaluating recovery potential and environmental impact” showcasing our latest findings in the field of mineral carbonation and critical raw materials.

This conference provided an invaluable platform to share our advancements with fellow researchers and experts, facilitating discussions on innovative methodologies and emerging trends in mineralogical research. Our presentation highlighted the mobility of potentially hazardous metals during mineral carbonation, contributing to the ongoing effort on the understanding how to upscale safely mineral carbonation techniques. Below you can see a compositional map of carbonated serpentinite, highlighting the distribution of chromium, iron and nickel. The small insert instead shows different XANES patterns for Cr species.

For more details on our research and future presentations, stay tuned to our project updates.

Seismic survey for the STORECO2 project

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We are excited to announce the successful completion of a seismic survey conducted as part of the STORECO2 project. This survey was carried out by the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS) and represents a significant milestone in our efforts to characterise the subsurface structures of the study area.

The seismic survey will provide detailed insights into the geological formations, helping us to map subsurface features critical for understanding the potential for CO2 storage and the processes of mineral carbonation. These findings are crucial for assessing the suitability of the site for secure and efficient CO2 sequestration.

This achievement marks an important step forward in the project, and we look forward to sharing more developments soon. Stay tuned for further updates on our progress!

Completion of Geoelectric survey!

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We are pleased to announce the successful completion of a series of a geoelectric survey at the Castiglioncello magnesite deposit (Li) as part of the geophysical analyses by National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS) team as part of the STORECO2 project.

The geophysical surveys allowed us to obtain a detailed three-dimensional representation of the geological structures, helping to identify optimal conditions for carbonation reactions and magnesite formation.

Stay tuned for more updates on our ongoing work!

Session on mineral carbonation at the EMC conference in Dublin!

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We’re excited to announce that we are organising a session at the upcoming EMC conference focused on the role of mafic and ultramafic rocks in carbon capture and storage. This session will be a fantastic opportunity to bring together experts and researchers to explore how rocks like serpentinites can help capture and store CO2 effectively.

We’ll dive into topics ranging from the geochemical processes of mineral carbonation to real-world applications and natural analogs. We aim to spark lively discussions and share innovative ideas on how these rocks can play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by securely storing CO2.

Join us at EMC to drive forward the conversation on how rocks can contribute to a more sustainable future!

STORECO2 project officially started!

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Introducing STORECO2: Advancing Serpentine Carbonation for Carbon Capture

We’re excited to share the launch of the STORECO2 project, a new initiative aimed at exploring the potential of serpentine carbonation as a method for safely storing CO2 emissions. This technology holds promise for contributing significantly to the global efforts in combating climate change.

Serpentine carbonation involves the natural process of turning CO2 into stable minerals, such as magnesite. While the potential benefits of this process are considerable, two major challenges stand in the way of its large-scale application: the need for cost reduction and the necessity of public acceptance.

The STORECO2 project aims to address these challenges by studying natural carbonation systems known for their high efficiency. Our focus is on understanding how these systems, which can be likened to “ancient natural pilot plants”, were able to sequester CO2 effectively millions of years ago. The Castiglioncello magnesite deposit in Tuscany (Italy) serves as our primary research site, where we will apply a range of geochemical and geophysical techniques to uncover the secrets of efficient serpentinite carbonation.

The insights gained from this research will be instrumental in developing the scientific foundation required to scale up mineral carbonation processes. By improving our understanding of natural carbonation, STORECO2 seeks to advance the integration of this technology into the broader Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) strategies, contributing to the EU’s ambition of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.