DEPARTMENT OF MINERAL RAW MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY & METALLURGY.
The Department of Mineral Raw Materials Technology and Metallurgy (TEOPYM) is part of the Directorate of Mineral Resources and Mining (DOPME) and is the designated unit of E.A.G.M.E. responsible for the utilization of mineral raw materials (MRMs) and processing residues, as well as their environmental characterization in line with European and international laboratory protocols. It provides services to ministries, local authorities, industry, and other organizations, with responsibilities that include:
- Conducting beneficiation and metallurgical processing tests and studies for all types of MRMs at laboratory and pilot-plant scale, developing processing flow sheets, and contributing to related techno-economic studies,
- Assessing the quality of mining waste and by-products from the extractive industry and investigating their potential for reuse—either for recovering valuable components or producing new products—through the development of appropriate methodologies, including participation in feasibility studies for their management,
- Performing toxicity tests on solid wastes and sludges in the accredited Laboratory for Solid Waste Toxicity Testing,
- Supporting the research activities of other E.A.G.M.E. units by preparing and processing samples of MRMs,
- Contributing to studies of industrial pollution through the analysis of solid samples,
- Providing services to third parties by carrying out tests and measurements within its areas of expertise,
- Conducting geomicrobiological studies and research on geological and mineral samples.
The Department is staffed with experienced scientific and technical personnel engaged in:
- Technological evaluation, beneficiation, and metallurgical processing of MRMs at laboratory and pilot scale, including flow sheet development and techno-economic study contributions,
- Investigating the properties of mining wastes and by-products, developing methodologies for their reuse, and participating in feasibility studies for their management,
- Providing suitability assessments of MRMs, processed products, and final outputs,
- Testing and characterizing solid industrial wastes and sludges through accredited laboratory procedures,
- Supporting research activities of other units in sample preparation and processing,
- Contributing to studies on industrial pollution and environmental impacts from human activities,
- Providing third-party services in testing and measurements within the Department’s scope,
- Developing research on biodiversity in extreme environments in Greece, along with geomicrobiological analyses of geological and mineral samples.
The Department operates the following laboratories:
- Laboratory for Solid Industrial Waste and Sludge Testing
- Laboratory for Beneficiation Technology Testing
- Laboratory for Fill Material Quality, as well as a modern sample preparation section equipped with crushers, grinders, classifiers, and mills.
Main activities, tests, and measurements carried out by the Department:
Field and laboratory sampling of ores, residues, etc.
- Sample preparation for chemical analysis: crushing, grinding, classification, particle-size analysis,
- Measurement of physical properties (specific gravity, Bond index, pH, conductivity, etc.),
- Beneficiation of all types of MRMs using gravity separation, magnetic separation, and flotation,
- Hydrometallurgical processing of gold (Au), manganese (Mn), rare earth elements, etc.,
- Biohydrometallurgical processing of gold, copper, mixed sulfides, sands, etc.,
- Environmental testing and classification of solid industrial wastes,
- Treatment of wastewater and drinking water using industrial minerals and biotechnological methods,
- Valorization of extractive industry residues to produce high value-added materials.
The laboratories are fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
Other tests and measurements:
- NEN 7375 (2004): Determination of leaching of inorganic components from monolithic materials,
- Waste characterization: compliance leaching tests for granular wastes and sludges:
(ELOT EN 12457.01)
(ELOT EN 12457.03)
(ELOT EN 12457.04) - prEN 15875 (2008): Waste characterization – static test for acid potential and neutralization potential in sulfide wastes,
- Measurements of soil pH and electrical conductivity, among others.
Read more about the other departments of the Directorate of Mineral Resources and Mining (DOPME) of E.A.G.M.E.:
Department of Ore Deposit and Mining Research (KOIME)
Department of Mineralogy and Petrography (TOP)