Exploration Innovation for Sustainable Mine Water Management
The MINOTAUR Project was prominently featured at the International Mine Water Association (IMWA) Conference, held in Braga, Portugal, from 6 to 11 July 2025. The event brought together over 300 participants representing more than 40 countries, and included 150 oral presentations and 46 posters focused on water management challenges and innovations in mining.
As part of the official poster session, the MINOTAUR Project was presented by Magdalena Worsa-Kozak, a researcher at the Digital Mining Center (DMC), part of the Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology at Wrocław University of Science and Technology. The poster titled “From Deep Mineral Exploration to Mine Closure: Why Groundwater Matters” received strong interest from attendees, reflecting the growing awareness of the need to address groundwater early in the mining lifecycle
The poster introduced a novel concept developed within the EU-funded MINOTAUR Project: a miniaturized robotic exploration tool equipped with advanced sensors for in-situ acquisition of geomechanical, geochemical, and hydrogeological data. The innovation lies in integrating Logging-While-Drilling (LWD) and Measure-While-Drilling (MWD) systems to collect real-time information on groundwater parameters—such as pressure, temperature, and conductivity—which are typically lacking during early exploration campaigns.
The Digital Mining Center (DMC) contributes to system requirements and specifications for MINOTAUR Explorers, specifically on challenges related to geological and hydrogeological conditions, legal and formal requirements, and mining industry needs regarding data quality (WP1). Moreover, they will be involved in developing data-driven methods for local resource characterization to ascertain the quality and composition of the ore.
A highlight of the conference was the mid-conference technical tour to the Borralha mining district, a former wolframite (tungsten ore) mine now being re-evaluated by MINERALIA as a prospective vein-type deposit. The site is one of the key case studies of the MINOTAUR Project, offering a valuable opportunity to investigate the interaction between hydrothermal systems, groundwater flow, and mineralization processes. The visit provided participants with first-hand insight into the hydrogeological and geological complexity of such deposits in Portugal, reinforcing the importance of integrating hydrogeological exploration tools such as those developed in MINOTAUR to support environmentally and economically viable mining operations.
Attendees from the research, industry, and regulatory sectors highlighted the potential of the MINOTAUR concept to enhance risk assessments, support regulatory compliance, and facilitate more resilient mine water management strategies, from exploration through to closure. The enthusiastic response confirms that the project’s contributions to responsible and forward-looking resource development are relevant.
