The Briefcase book of daily use minerals
“The Briefcase book of daily use minerals” is one of the products of the 3D Briefcase project and a teaching tool at the same time. It is intended to be used for teaching geoscience disciplines in schools as well as informing the public about the importance of mining and minerals in our daily lives. Our current lifestyle also depends on mineral resources. Minerals are everywhere around us. Read more in the newly published book!
Links to the language versions of the book:
Link to the app to watch the books in augmented reality (available for Androids only).
Virtual mine visit and 360 experience
Embark on an extraordinary virtual journey deep into the heart of the earth with our 3D Virtual Mine Visit and 360 Experience. This immersive experience invites you to explore the fascinating world of underground gold and copper mining from the comfort of your school, home or office.
Our 360-degree experience offers a comprehensive view of the mine's environment, allowing you to feel as if you're truly there.
This virtual tour is not just an educational journey but also a tribute to the miners' work and the technological advancements that have revolutionized the mining industry. Whether you're a student, a professional in the field, or simply curious about the inner workings of a mine, our Virtual Mine Visit and 360 Experience promises an enlightening and engaging adventure into the depths of the earth's treasures.
Link to Virtual mine visit and 360 experience.
Welcome to "The Briefcase of Mineral Applications" Game!
Dive into the exciting world of minerals and their role in everyday objects with 'The Briefcase of Mineral Applications,' available now on our website. This engaging game challenges players to match 18 minerals with 18 everyday objects, offering a fun way to learn about the natural world.
Interactive Learning
Each mineral is paired with four clues to aid in matching it to the correct object. The catch? Using fewer clues earns you more points, making for a thrilling and educational challenge.
Perfect for All Ages
We've also crafted a kid-friendly version of the game. It simplifies the concept, allowing younger players to enjoy discovering the connections between minerals and everyday items.
Why Play?
'The Briefcase' isn't just a game; it's an interactive learning journey. Ideal for students, teachers, and anyone curious about how minerals shape our daily lives, it promises fun and insightful experiences for every player.
Join Us Now
Ready for a mineral exploration adventure? Play 'The Briefcase' on our website and uncover the fascinating role of minerals in the world around us!
Play THE BRIEFCASE GAME!
Minerals and Metals Enabling Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a total of 17 global sustainable development goals that were adopted by the United Nations (UN) in September 2015 and came into force in January 2016. Ecological, economic and social challenges such as climate change, inequality and poverty are to be solved by 2030 by means of this strategy. Here’s how the European mineral raw materials industry is contributing to these goals.
Contribution to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Climate change is perhaps the most important issue facing our world today. Its consequences could be catastrophic to all the people, animals and plants that live on this Earth. As a foundational sector that affects many other industries and activities through the raw materials produced, there are a variety of ways the European mineral raw materials industry helps fight climate change. These contributions fall into two main categories: providing materials for sustainable efforts and continuously improving processes within the mineral raw materials sector.
Our Didactic Videos
Complimentary Educative Materials
for GENERAL PUBLIC 
for STUDENTS 14-19 years old 
for CHILDREN 
RM@Schools Virtual Centre - propose an active learning by involving 10 - 19 yrs students in experiments on raw materials. Learning pathways supplied with detailed explanations and toolkits to perform hands-on experiments are available in the virtual centre.
The Importance of Minerals
HOW WOULD BE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT MINERALS? VIDEO SMH
Video showing how change our world without minerals
Only music, no need translation.
Click here for the video.
TRIP TO THE CENTER OF MINERALS
Educative video about the importance of the minerals, from the genesis to the applications, focused on copper mining activities in Chile, exploration basic concepts, copper process operations and applications (realised by Chile Government).
Video in Spanish version
GAME “LIFE WITHOUT RAW MATERIALS”
An application/game for smartphone, tablet etc. (with the Android operating system), in which the player has to help the boy find proper deposits and produce semi-finished products to make the selected device at the final stage. The following objects/devices have been selected for reproduction: house, media, computer, smartphone and car. For each mission - the reproduction of each device, the player must provide the four most important raw materials for their production.
Available in English
WHO WANTS TO BE AN RM AMBASSADOR?
A quiz game with tricky questions of increasing difficulty concerning the origins of minerals, the ways of identifying minerals, the everyday products made by raw materials, divided into three (3) stages. It has a scoring system, for each correct question the student gets ten (10), twenty (20) or thirty (30) points based on which stage the student is. Wrong answers are penalized. The student can choose one of the two help options, 50:50 or help from friends, each having also a penalty score. The scores of each stage are summed up and the type of ambassador (gold, silver, bronze) based on the answers is announced.
Available in English
RAWsiko - MATERIALS AROUND US
Digital version
It is a digital game about the distribution of critical raw materials in the world, their use in the modern technologies and why access to them is pivotal. The game is set in a future where China, which is the largest exporter of critical raw materials, decided to close its borders. In the face of this decision, a raw materials rush begins. Each player is at the head of a huge company active in several industries, that will be allocating it’s all over the world to secure the critical raw materials it needs and keep other competing companies away from them
Available in English and Italian
WHERE DOES METAL COME FROM?
The video explains where metal comes from to younger children
English version
HOW WE USE MINERALS
Game which proposes to link minerals with objects.
English version
MINECRAFT FOR GAMIFIED EDUCATION
The Project webpage offer educative resources focused on raw materials
Available in English, Swedish, German, French, Slovenian, Italian, Spanish, Estonian, Finnish
RAW MATERIALS - THE INGREDIENT OF WHICH DREAMS ARE MADE
Promotional video of the European Commission to promote training and employment in the field of raw materials to enhance sectoral competitiveness and sustainable growth, while showing the enormous potential of European raw materials
Spanish version
English version
German version
French version
Polish version
Italian version
ROCKS AND MINERALS
Multiple choice questions and answers about rocks and minerals
English version
GCSE METALS
Technical information about metals.
English version
GCSE CHEMISTRY OBTAINING AND USING METALS
Technical information about iron and copper extraction and processing.
English version
TEACHING ACTIVITIES ON MINERALS
The National Association of Geoscience Teachers works to raise the quality of and emphasis on teaching the geosciences at all levels proposing several activities dedicated to teach about geology, mining and minerals
English version
POTASH MINING VIDEO
This short video shows the process of creating potash fertilizer, complete with unique footage of potash mines, evaporation ponds, and depictions of ancient evaporated inland oceans.
English version
THE IMPORTANCE OF POTASSIUM (K) IN CROPS
This short video shows the importance of potassium for health
English version
POTASH 101
Commercial video of Mosaic to show the importance of potash, how it is obtained around the world, the product market and its applications
English versions
NUTRIEN POTASH FACILITY TOUR
Promotional video Nutrien, which operates six potash mines around the world. Take a closer look at a Nutrien potash facility and learn how they produce potash to improve crop yields and quantity worldwide.
English version
POTASSIUM CYCLE CHALLENGE
Game: Test your knowledge as you help Sarah or Ana and Marc work their way through the potassium cycle. Explore two different scenarios, answering questions about the potassium cycle in soybean fields or a lettuce garden.
English version
Metal Processing
THE IMPORTANCE AND THE PROCESS OF MOLYBDENO, COBALT, GOLD AND COPPER
The video covers the process to obtain these metals, their characteristics, applications and importance for our lives.
English version
Spanish version
French version
Bahasa Indonesia version
Chinese version
English version
ATLANTIC COPPER: RECEPTION OF RAW MATERIALS
Animation video to show the areas and processes of the Atlantic Copper smelter
English version with English subtitles
Spanish version with Spanish subtitles
FLASH SMELTING IN ATLANTIC COPPER
Animation video to show the flash smelting process of the Atlantic Copper smelter
English version with English subtitles
Spanish version with Spanish subtitles
CONVERSION, REFINING AND CASTING IN ATLANTIC COPPER
Animation video to show the conversion, refining and casting processes of the Atlantic Copper smelter
English version with English subtitles
Spanish version with Spanish subtitles
THE CATHODE COPPER FROM ATLANTIC COPPER
Animation video to show the refinery process of the Atlantic Copper smelter
English version with English subtitles
Spanish version with Spanish subtitles
Conflict Minerals
EN TIERRA HOSTIL
A documentary about coltan mines in Africa. The video reinforces the BetterInMyBackard concept if the teacher points out the difference between European and African mines. The consequences of our purchase decisions can be addressed through the video if the public target are older students that can understand the the pressure that consumers can exert on equipment producers to publish their raw material suppliers, being transparent in the traceability and origin of the materials used.
Spanish version
THE LIFE OF A CHILD WORKING IN A MINE
A documentary about how is the life of children working in a mine. The video reinforces the BetterInMyBackard concept if the teacher points out the difference between European and African mines. The consequences of our purchase decisions can be addressed through the video if the public target are older students that can understand the the pressure that consumers can exert on equipment producers to publish their raw material suppliers, being transparent in the traceability and origin of the materials used.
English version
HOW IS TO WORK IN A NON-SUSTAINABLE MINE (MYANMAR'S JADE RUSH)
Hundreds of thousands of people have flocked there to scavenge among the rubble left over from the mine - hoping to get find fragments of the stone. It’s a dangerous job and heroin addiction among the miners and scavengers is endemic.
English subtitles (no audio)
BLOOD JADES: THE DARK SIDE OF MYANMAR'S JADE TRADE WITH CHINA
The jade trade between Myanmar and China is worth an estimated US$30 billion a year - about half of Myanmar’s GDP. But jade mining is a bloodstained business built on drug addiction, slave labour and massive environmental destruction. Who should be responsible for the dark side of jade?
English (with English subtitles)
A TREASURE IN MY POCKET
A short, fun and informative video on smartphones, more specifically focusing on how they are made, their chemical compounds, properties and complimentary information about where these elements are extracted and an introduction to geopolitical issues and conflict minerals, realised by Italian students.
English version, English and Italian subtitles
Exploration and Mining
LAS MEDULAS
Promotional video to show the ancient techniques applied by Romans in Spain to transport water through the mountains to the Medulas gold mine.
Spanish version
MAGNA AND BIODIVERSITY
There is a promotional video pointing out the MAGNA committed with the environmental protection, offering a tour of the biodiversity living around MAGNA facilities
English version
Spanish version
GRASBERG MINE, VIRTUAL TOUR
FreeportFCX promotional video which offers a 360 virtual tour around the Grasberg mine in Indonesia.
English version, English subtitles
MINING DURING ROMAN TIMES
Documentary (1 hour) about the ancient mining focused on the Roman techniques for minerals exploitation
Spanish version
ROBOBLOCKS
An innovative teaching program about mine operations with application of roboblocks (LEGO ® Education). What do Lego Blocks and Mining have in common? Children are being familirised with mining through playing Lego Education blocks. The children's task is to build robots that can be found in underground mines every day.
Available in English
FROM EXPLORATION TO EXPLOITATION: A MINERALS ADVENTURE
The educational program "From exploration to exploitation: A minerals adventure" was developed as a two-to-three-hour workshop in the form of an entrepreneurship game, aiming at familiarizing undergraduate students with the concepts of Mineral Research and the Exploitation of a given ore deposit. The operational environment is developed in a network application, where the participants, through their computer, are invited to play the geoscientist’s role and direct mineral research activities from the preliminary research phase to the possible exploitation of the ore body.
Available in English
MINING RELATIONSHIP WITH ODS
Poster summarizing how mining helps to reach the SDG
Spanish version
HOW TO PAN GOLD?
Video to teach the gold panning technique and tips on final panning steps.
English version