We focus on critical and strategic minerals, key to the green and digital transition and sustainable mineral management in line with European guidelines and legislation (Critical Raw Materials Act) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
We pursue the objectives of sustainable mineral management through our professional and scientific research activities, the evaluation of resources and reserves, the monitoring of production and use of mineral raw materials, and the operation of a public service for the mining of geological raw materials. In the extraction of mineral and energy raw materials, we support technologies that ensure as far as possible a green transition and minimise negative impacts on the environment.
In the field of non-metallic minerals, we work with industry to maximise self-reliance, public availability of data and the principles of open science in the publication of research results.
We study and maintain knowledge on metallic mineral resources. We monitor global trends in the supply of metallic mineral raw materials, in particular critical raw materials, which are now becoming crucial for their use in modern technologies. Using modern research methods and state-of-the-art analytical techniques, we examine the extent to which these elements may also be present in Slovenia and neighbouring countries.
In the field of energy raw materials, we are working to maintain and improve our comprehensive knowledge of the deposits of these raw materials. We are involved in the international exchange of information on such deposits and respond to the demand for our knowledge from active mining installations.
Strategic objectives
1. conducting fundamental and applied research in the field of mineral and energy raw materials, with a focus on critical (CRM) and strategic mineral raw materials (StRM) throughout their life cycle.
2. Implementing, maintaining and upgrading mineral and energy commodity inventories for sustainable management in the light of the Green Transition.
3. Establish a European Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Resource Management.
Activities
To achieve our strategic objectives, we are implementing the following activities:
- We maintain and improve our mineral-related core knowledge and regularly update our mineral-related maps.
- Updating the Continuous updating of the geological base map with information on mineral and energy resources, and updating and production of thematic maps of narrower and wider areas.
- We implement rresearch into the potential of different materials for use as secondary mineral raw materials - with a focus on secondary minerals from mining and ore processing and their CRM content.
- Introducing UNFC classification for natural resources in accordance with the Slovenian methodology.
- We operate a public mining service and manage Mining book in accordance with the Constitutive Act and the ZRud-1.
- We are working to obtain a national research programme in the field of minerals.
- We are involved in defining and deciding on the criticality of minerals at EU level and in transferring acceptable practices to strategic partners outside the EU.
- We are working to establish a European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Resource Management in the field of minerals, based at GeoZS.
Projects
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Read the latest news
GeoZS celebrates 80 years
Director Dr. Miloš Bavec's view of the past, present and future of the Geological Survey of Slovenia....
Introducing the PhD themes of our young researchers - Magdalena Mirt
Evaporation of mercury from contaminated soils under the influence of extreme weather events
Introducing the PhD themes of our young researchers - Karin Kure
Landslide dynamics - the influence of typology, lithology and extreme precipitation events with different return periods (software...
Beneath Our Feet Lies Europe’s Future
From the water we drink and the soil that feeds us, to the infrastructure we build,...
Announcement of the theme for the International Geoprospecting Day 2026, 24 March 2026
On 24 March, the themes of the International Geodiversity Day (IGD) were announced....
Lecture Protected areas and the protection of geological heritage in Slovenia, 18 March 2026
Online lecture by the Geoheritage Expert Group, an association of...
Opening of the second tube of the Karavanke tunnel, 18 March 2026
The knowledge and long-standing experience of GeoZS experts made a key contribution to the construction of the Eastern Road Tunnel...
Unveiling of the monument to geologist Prof. Dr. Stank Buser, 14 March 2026
This year's 13th Kocen Saturday at Ponikva in the municipality of Šentjur started with the unveiling...
European International Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Resource Management in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable use of minerals that are key to energy storage, power generation and the transition...
Lecture for local tourist guides in Gornji Radgona, 6 March 2026
Dr. Nina Rman, Associate Doctor, trained local tourist guides in the municipality of Gornja...
Events
Exhibition MicroWorld of Karst, Ljubljana, 20 April-24 May 2026
Joint management and sustainable development of the Classical Karst area
International Scientific Conference SEGH 2026 in Ljubljana, 13-17 July 2026
The 41st International Scientific Conference on Environmental Geochemistry and Health - SEGH2026 will take place in Ljubljana from 13 to 17 July 2026. The conference will address a wide range of current global challenges in the field of environmental geochemistry and health. The main conference themes are: inorganic and organic pollutants in the geosphere, geochemistry...
8th Regional Scientific Meeting on Quaternary Geology, Čatež ob Savi, 4-6 November 2026
The 8th Regional Scientific Meeting for Quaternary Geology - 8th RMQG will take place in Čatež ob Sava from 4 to 6 November 2026. The theme of the meeting, "Early Quaternary Records", will be the focus of invited lectures and excursions.The event is an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge, ideas and to strengthen cooperation between researchers....






