Survey for critical raw materials in Malawi East African Rift geothermal areas

DOI

In autumn 2023, an expedition to Malawi was undertaken within the framework of the research project “CRM-geothermal”. Within „CRM-geothermal“ we are looking for an environmentally friendly co-production of critical raw materials together with the provision of geothermal energy. In the East African Rift System (EARS), high levels of rare earth elements (REE), Sr, Ba and Mg are expected in waters and solids in areas with alkaline volcanic rocks, while other critical elements, including helium, have been sought in other localities. In particular, the eastern branch is the most juvenile sector and has increased geothermal potential related to hot fluids migrating along permeable faults. Malawi was traversed along the eastern arm of the EARS from north to south to collect gas, water, rock and sediment samples associated with natural hot springs. On site, physical and chemical parameters were measured in-situ and documented together with the geology, infrastructure and domestic use of the hot site. Detailed measurements were carried out in different labs in Potsdam and Bremen.

Identifier
DOI https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.DMJQ.2025.001
Related Identifier Cites https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136260
Related Identifier Cites https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(96)00127-6
Related Identifier Cites https://doi.org/10.1180/DHZ
Related Identifier Cites https://doi.org/10.1029/JB094iB11p15785
Related Identifier References http://georem.mpch-mainz.gwdg.de/
Related Identifier Cites https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2019.105215
Related Identifier Cites https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2016.08.040
Related Identifier Cites https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7037(97)00102-6
Related Identifier Cites https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.075
Related Identifier Cites https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00031a008
Related Identifier Cites https://doi.org/10.1029/2019TC005633
Metadata Access http://doidb.wdc-terra.org/oaip/oai?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=oai_datacite&identifier=oai:doidb.wdc-terra.org:8073
Provenance
Creator Wilke, Franziska D. H. ORCID logo; Gondwe, Kondwani ORCID logo; Regenspurg, Simona ORCID logo; Zimmer, Martin ORCID logo; Strauch, Bettina ORCID logo; Stammeier, Jessica ORCID logo; Klose, Lukas ORCID logo; Kreitsmann, Timmu ORCID logo; Bau, Michael ORCID logo; Niedermann, Samuel ORCID logo
Publisher GFZ Data Services
Contributor Wilke, Franziska D. H.; Gondwe, Kondwani; Regenspurg, Simona; Zimmer, Martin; Strauch, Bettina; Stammeier, Jessica; Klose, Lukas; Kreitsmann, Timmu; Bau, Michael; Niedermann, Samuel; Elements and Minerals of the Earth Laboratory (ElMiE Lab, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany); Microprobe Lab (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany); Gas Geochemistry Lab (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany); Noble Gas Lab (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany); Hydrochemical Analysis Lab (Constructor University, Bremen, Germany)
Publication Year 2025
Funding Reference Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam - Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ X-031-22-01 expedition fund
Rights CC BY 4.0; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
OpenAccess true
Contact Wilke, Franziska D. H. (GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany)
Representation
Resource Type Dataset
Discipline Economics; Social and Behavioural Sciences
Spatial Coverage (32.381W, -17.325S, 36.490E, -9.098N)