Critical Metals and their Deposits: State-of-the-art knowledge, Future Directions of Research and Exploration Insights

A three days’ Workshop Under the aegis of

Government of India, Ministry of Education

Scheme for Promotion of Academic Research Collaboration (SPARC)

Organized by

Department of Geology & Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, WB, India

in collaboration with

Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia

December 8 to 10, 2025

Venue: Gargi Auditorium, Ramanujan Complex, IIT Kharagpur

Final Circular

Background

The workshop is a part of an international collaborative project under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) between the Department of Geology & Geophysics, IIT Kharagpur and Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra. The SPARC project provides an appropriate platform for sharing knowledge and collaborative research. The current project was formulated to work on some key aspects of hydrothermal systems associated with felsic magmatism in India. Most critical metals (Cu, Mo, Sn, W, Nb, Ta and REEs) are associated with felsic magmatism (granitoids, alkaline and carbonatite complexes) and are the most sought after in the present scenario. Over the past five decades, there have been significant developments in the understanding of the genesis of deposits of these metals through field studies, laboratory investigations, experiments and theoretical modelling. The workshop is meant to take stock of the state-of-the-art knowledge, bring the existing gaps home to young participants and discuss possible future directions that will help understand these deposits better for gaining deeper insights to the exploration of these metals. The theme of the workshop is quite apt to the present scenario of increasing demand for the critical metals for hi-tech industries and the increased governmental initiatives to augment the resources of these metals. The workshop will have three components of knowledge sharing, hands-on training and discussions. Aspects of ore genesis synthesized from field, experiments, and theory will be the focus with emphasis on modern theoretical approaches of understanding metal partitioning in solid-melt-fluid systems, transport of these metals (including REEs) in aqueous medium predicted from atomistic simulations. Ore genetic models provide insights to explotration by identifying parameters for knowledge-driven prospectivity modelling. A large component of exploration is also based on empirical data-driven models and is widely adopted today. The workshop is designed to expose participants to modern approaches of prospectivity modelling for exploration of critical metal deposits, using knowledge- data-driven methodology using AI tools. The participants will get the opportunity of sharing knowledge with internationally acclaimed experts.

Outline

The tentative plans of the workshop are as follows:

Young researchers from academia (Research Scholars and young faculty engaged in teaching Ore Geology) and Industry (Scientists from GSI, AMD, and other organizations engaged in exploration of critical metals) are encouraged to participate in the workshop. The workshop is also open to students of M. Sc. and M. Tech. levels in Universities and Institutes in India.
Sessions would involve lectures covering key aspects of the genesis of critical metal deposits using data from field, experiments and various advanced analytical methods. Hands-on practical training for quantitative understanding of magmatic-hydrothermal systems using computer programs and available software will be imparted. Some sessions will be devoted to get participants acquainted with modern methodologies of mineral potential mapping / prospectivity modelling for critical metal deposits with particular reference to India. The details of programs for the duration of the workshop are under preparation and will be communicated shortly.
We plan to invite other resource persons from within India who are active researchers in the area to share their knowledge and experience with participants on this important topic. They are faculties who are actively involved in the study of deposits of critical metals and their exploration.
Some sessions will be reserved for oral presentation of selected participants who are actively researching on the problem and/or engaged in exploration to present their work as case studies. There will be poster sessions for participants who will not get a chance to present their work orally. Best oral presentation and best poster will be recognized with certificates.
All materials will be available to participants in the form of videos and soft copies to be kept on the Google Drive with access to all participants for downloading. No workshop proceedings in the form of a hard copy will be available.

The Convenors

Prof. John Mavrogenes

Prof. John A. Mavrogenes, of the Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, is a widely acclaimed expert in the field of Experimental Ore Geology. He has contributed extensively to metallogeny of copper (porphyry copper deposits), gold and REE deposits, integrating field and experiments. He is an international authority in the field, teaching and researching on ore deposits since 1994 at RSES, ANU, Canberra. Prof. Mavrogenes has in the past worked and is currently working on REE deposits across continents.

Prof. M.K. Panigrahi

M. K. Panigrahi, of the Department of Geology and Geophysics, IIT Kharagpur is an Ore Geologist who has contributed significantly to the understanding of copper (Malanjkhand), gold (Dharwar) and rare metal deposits (Bastar) in India. He uses quantitative techniques to understand the magmatic-hydrothermal systems and is an expert on Fluid Inclusions and many other analytical techniques. He also contributes to computerized mineral exploration. He has been teaching Economic Geology, Mineral Exploration and Computer modelling since 1995 at IIT Kharagpur.

Invited Speakers & Resource persons

Prof. Alok Porwal

Prof. Alok Porwal, Professor at the Centre of Studies in Resource Engineering is an authority in Mineral Exploration, especially various types of data and knowledge-driven techniques of mineral prospectivity modelling using state-of-the-art soft computing techniques using Machine Learning. He has been contributing extensively to exploration of Li, Cu, REEs and rare metals across continents for more than last two decades.

Confirmed Speakers (Special Session)

Dr. Michael Annenburg: Research Fellow, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia (To be available Online)

Dr Annenburg as a young researcher has already made a mark in the field of REE mineralization, especially the carbonatite hosted ones, both through experiments and field studies from diverse localities across the world. He will be conducting two sessions on genesis of carbonatites and on silica interactions.

Dr. Rajorshi Chattopadhyay: Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Munich, Germany (To be available online)

Dr. Chattopadhyay completed his Ph.D. from the University of Cologne in computational geochemistry, addressing outstanding problems of REE mobility in hydrothermal fields. He mainly specializes in Molecular Dynamics Simulation, a field which holds a lot of promise towards understanding and prediction of complex geochemical processes. He will speak on transportation of REEs in Cl-rich hydrothermal fluids, relevant to their mineralization.

Dr. Ross Chandler: Post-Doctoral Researcher, RSES, Australian National University, Canberra

Dr. Chandler has worked on carbonatites in Australia and critical metal mineralization associated with them. He will share his experience on critical metal potentials of carbonatites and alkaline complexes in the Australian continent.

Dr. Sourabh Bhattacharya: Assistant Professor, IISER, Mohali

Dr. Bhattacharya is essentially a specialist in hydrothermal mineral deposits. He has rich experience of working on the genetic aspects of W mineralization associated with alkaline complexes in the NW India. He will present a review of Sn-W deposits with reference to occurrences in NW India.

Dr. Satyabrata Behera: Assistant Professor, Ravenshaw University, Odisha

Dr Behera specializes in Mineral Prospectivity Modelling and will share some of the ‘tricks of the trade’ such as application of fractals and fuzzy logic methods. Currently, he is engaged in applying standard data and knowledge-driven methods as well as ML for exploration of critical metal deposits in parts of Odisha. He will be taking two sessions on application of soft computing tools (Fuzzy Logic, Fractals/Multifractals, Weights of Evidence) and integration on GIS with case studies.

Dr. Jitendra Kumar Roy, IISER, Mohali (ANRF PDF Awardee)

Dr Roy will demonstrate use of R-programming as applied to petrogenesis of magmatic suite of rocks with special emphasis to metal fractionation.

Arpita Poddar, Research Fellow, Chemistry, IIT Kharagpur (Tentative)

Arpita will introduce the participants on application of some theoretical aspects of metals and their applications to understanding transport of metals (Cu, Sn, Ta, Nb) in magmatic melts and fluids ultimately resulting in mineralization.

Mr Joydip Datta, Manager Presales, ESRI, India, Kolkata

Mr Datta will present the state-of-the-art GIS technology in Mineral Exploration through demonstration of latest features and case studies.

The Venue

Gargi Auditorium, Ramanujan Complex,

IIT Kharagpur

Participation Details

We can accommodate a maximum of 75 participants in this workshop under constraints of funds and logistic support. Participation will be allowed on a first-come first-served basis. Registration is free for all. Graduate and UG student participants from Institutes/Universities will be provided free accommodation in Students’ Halls of Residence in IIT Kharagpur campus on twin sharing basis, for which bookings have been made. No TA will be reimbursed. Participants may seek support for travel from their host Institutions.

Participants from Industry and Government Organizations (young faculty from Universities / Institutes, Geologists/Scientists from government agencies involved in the study of ore deposits and exploration) will be provided accommodation on a chargeable basis (@Rs500 per day in one of the Halls of Residence). No TA will be reimbursed to participants. All queries/ comments / suggestions related to the workshop may please be mailed to the contact email given below.

A Google form is being circulated to which participants may please respond in the given link.

For the Google form, please click here

Contact : mkp@gg.iitkgp.ac.in

Important

The Google form will be closed on 15th November, 2025, and all participants will be communicated with individually. The final list of participants will be displayed on this page. Participants may please make their travel plan and book return tickets well in advance. All relevant information (accommodation details, program of the workshop, etc) will be posted by 25th November, 2025. Any query related to the workshop may please be mailed to mkp@gg.iitkgp.ac.in with a copy to swarnendubhuyan555@gmail.com. Your mail should have the subject : "SPARC Workshop on Critical Metals"

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse