The slate industry is moving towards a circular economy with the GEOMAT project, a pioneering initiative aimed at converting mining waste into sustainable materials and recovering critical raw materials.
The project is being developed under the 2024 grant call to enhance research and innovation capabilities within the business sector through support for innovative business clusters (AAEEII). This call is promoted by the Regional Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Junta de Castilla y León and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the objective to “Achieve a more competitive and intelligent Europe.”
With a budget of €56.282,40, GEOMAT is led by the ISMC Cluster (Iberian Sustainable Mining Cluster) in collaboration with Pizarras Matacouta, I.P. CONTROL, and INPROOBRAS. Its dual objective is to reduce the environmental impact of slate mining and to develop alternatives to conventional cement using low-impact geopolymers.
By making use of slate sludge and mining waste, GEOMAT aims to minimise the volume of spoil heaps and reduce the carbon footprint of the sector. Additionally, technical, economic, and environmental feasibility studies are being conducted to assess its implementation in the industry.
The expected outcomes include the development of new sustainable materials, the optimisation of resource use in mining, and the promotion of circular engineering within the sector. With this approach, GEOMAT positions itself as a model for innovation in sustainable mining and the efficient reuse of industrial waste.
