16^th IAGOD Quadrennial Symposium 2026

Mafic-ultramafic rocks are important hosts of Ni, Co, Cu, Ti, V, and PGE as well as magnesium silicates. The metals and minerals are of increasing economic and societal significance for the green energy transition because of their use in battery cathodes, catalysts, fuel cells and carbon sequestration. This session aims to explore new developments in exploration and extraction as well as novel ideas of ore genesis.

To meet projected demand for transitioning to a greener economy, achieving carbon-neutrality, and producing consumer technologies significant amounts of mineral resources are required. Alkaline rocks and carbonatites typically are enriched in critical mineral commodities such as rare earth elements (REEs) and high field strength elements (HFSE), as well as phosphate. Processes controlling elemental enrichment in these systems tend to be complex and may be controlled by mantle source fertility, magma evolution, carbo(hydro)thermal fluids, and weathering. This session will be broad in scope to include magma petrogenesis, mineral deposit formation, exploration, and production associated with alkaline rocks and carbonatites. Contributions focused on case studies, experimental work, advanced geochronological, mineralogical and geochemical studies, and geochemical modeling are welcome.

Giant ore deposits, regardless of their age, are often associated with major lithospheric features, like terrane sutures and large trans-crustal faults, which are the main conduits for major fluid circulation. The complex tectonothermal evolution of orogenic systems has often impeded the effective development of large-scale mineral exploration and quantification models. Orogens record large-scale redistribution of mass and energy driven by compressional and extensional structures. The generation and evolution of that architecture is connected to extensive thermal anomalies and the potential activation of hydrothermal cells, melt mobilisation and ore deposits at regional scale. 3D understanding of this regional systems required integration of geophysical, structural, petrological and metallogenic data to detect the setting and imprint of potentially fertile tectonic processes and unravel orogenic evolution and its mineral deposits. This session welcomes contributions dealing with geodynamic controls on giant mineral systems at different scales and orogenic contexts, focused on (but not limited to) the generation of strategic mineral resources (i.e. Au, Sn-W-Nb-Ta-(Li), Co, Cs, Be, Y, Sc, REE).

Rising demand of critical raw materials in response to the global energy transition is pushing a global fever for upon the exploration and sustainable exploitation of the crustal ore deposits from which these commodities are extracted. In this framework, the Europe-Latin American and the Caribbean flagship Global projects encourage scientific diplomacy aiming to create networks and partnerships between researchers and industry, shifting the focus of research from brownfield to greenfield exploration. This change requires of a broad and multidisciplinary understanding of the geological factors that could jointly lead to the formation and preservation of a metallogenic province. Several geological processes may operate over large time- and length-scales to predispose a specific sector of the Earth’s crust to develop a metallogenic province through short-lived and transient mineralizing episodes, which usually constitute the final outcome of a complex system of mass and energy fluxes. Understanding each component of these mineral systems, and linking them together through a holistic conceptual framework, may provide key tools for predicting the locations of hidden mineral camps. This session will welcome interdisciplinary contributions that describe the geological and geochemical processes that may be involved in the selective transfer of critical raw materials and their storage in the Earth’s crust, with special emphasis in studies combining the regional to the nanoscale approach focused on mineral deposits of Iberia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Relevant disciplines may include, but are not limited to, mineral systems science and economic geology, mineral exploration, mineral chemistry, geochemistry and isotopes, numerical modeling, and geometallurgy. Contributions related to empirical and experimental studies on metal transport in magmas and hydrothermal fluids are also welcome.

This session examines the petrophysical properties of granites, with a focus on magnetic characterization and the potential of magnetic susceptibility (MS) and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) in unraveling the evolution of granitic rocks. The oxidation state of granitic magmas plays a fundamental role in determining whether magnetite or ilmenite crystallizes, which in turn influences the style and distribution of mineralization spatially associated with an intrusion.

Beyond MS and AMS, complementary tools such as isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM), anisotropy of anhysteretic remanent magnetization (AARM), and out-of-phase magnetic susceptibility provide insights into the preferred orientation and morphology of fine-grained ferromagnetic minerals. These techniques also shed light on magnetic particle size distributions, the presence of conductive minerals, and the fabric of both rocks and soils.

Collectively, studies using these diverse magnetic methods yield critical constraints on the redox conditions of magmatism. Such constraints are essential for building robust metallogenetic models and for understanding the links between granitic magmatism and mineral deposit formation.

Non-metallic and Industrial Minerals, including Dimension Stones, typically take the backstage in the world of Mineral Resources and Mineral Science but they are equally as important and strongly contribute to the economy of the regions where these materials are extracted from.

In this session we are looking into highlighting the different types of non-metallic and industrial mineral resources and current research on these types of mineral resources. This session is coupled with a field trip to the Palaeozoic Estremoz marbles and regional geology of the south of Portugal.

IAGOD, founded 1964, evolved from the initiative to hold a symposium (1963) on “Problems of Postmagmatic Ore Deposition with Special Reference to the Geochemistry of Ore Veins“.

Swiftly, the IAGOD Working Group on Tin and Tungsten [WGTT] spearheaded research on granite-related mineralization and high-temperature alteration processes with focus on hydrothermal deposits (W and/or W/Sn) spatially and/or genetically associated with granites. Supported by IUGS UNESCO and under umbrella of IGCP, IAGOD under leadership of the late Professor Miroslav Stemprok was driving the project Metallization Associated with Acid Magmatism [MAWAM] that studied key topics of granite metallogeny during 1970s until 1990s, with field workshops, conferences and a series of MAWAM monographs. With WGTT transforming around 2012 more timely into WGCM, this Special Session will revisit key criteria controlling critical metal [CM] mineralization related to granitic magmatism. Special attention will be paid to advances in thermodynamics and physicochemistry in the uncoupling of magma-ore processes and magmatic-hydrothermal transition, on progress in studies of anatomy and architecture of shallow ore-bearing felsic systems, addressing the continuum of evolved granitoids – subvolcanics as frozen eruptions – granitic pegmatites, on a modern mineral system approach aiding exploration of concealed mineralization, mineral deportment of CM and geometallurgical constrains, and other topics of relevance. This session is dedicated to the life time achievements of the late Professor Miroslav Stemprok [1933 - 2023].

Invited keynote speakers:

Julie Michaud [University Hannover] and Bernd Lehmann [TU Clausthal]

This session welcomes contributions that explore emerging concepts, innovative models, and interdisciplinary approaches that push the frontiers of how we conceptualize fluid-metal interactions in Earth's crust and utilize new knowledge to revise ore system models for application to critical mineral exploration. Studies that develop and apply novel field, analytical, and/or numerical modelling techniques to address knowledge gaps concerning fluid and metal sources, and metal mobility and transport pathways in hydrothermal systems are encouraged.

Since the 1970s, remote sensing data and image processing techniques have been extensively utilized in geological exploration. These approaches enable the detection and monitoring of land surface disturbances, vegetation degradation, and hydrothermal anomalies, thereby providing essential information for environmental impact assessments, regulatory compliance, and the development of sustainable mining strategies. Advances in sensor technologies, coupled with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-based image analysis methods, have significantly enhanced the capacity of remote sensing to delineate exploration targets and characterize mineral deposit types. Nevertheless, the application of remote sensing and AI-driven methodologies to the identification of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) remains comparatively recent and underexplored. This session will review state-of-the-art developments in remote sensing, with a particular emphasis on hyperspectral sensors and AI algorithms, and will examine their emerging roles across the mining value chain—including mineral exploration, extraction, mine closure, and post-closure monitoring.

Volcanic systems play a crucial role in the formation of mineral resources and geothermal reservoirs. Magmatic activity drives the formation of ore deposits and hydrothermal circulation, making volcanology central to economic geology and geothermal exploration. A comprehensive understanding of volcanic processes, including magma evolution, eruption dynamics, hydrothermal fluid flow, and post-eruptive alteration, is crucial for the effective identification and management of these resources. This session explores the intersection between physical volcanology, magmatic-hydrothermal processes and resource exploration, focusing on modern volcanic and geothermal analogues. Active systems serve as natural laboratories where processes such as magma intrusion, degassing, fluid flow and hydrothermal alteration can be observed in real time. These processes directly mirror those responsible for ore deposits. Linking modern analogues to preserved mineral systems establishes a powerful connection between fundamental volcanology and applied exploration. We welcome submissions from academic and industry perspectives showcasing cutting-edge research, case studies and applied approaches that demonstrate the importance of volcanology in mineral resource development.

Mining operations of the past have left environmental legacies around the world that are difficult to resolve, involve high remediation costs, and promote public opposition to mining. The environmental remediation of these scenarios and the application of mitigation measures to prevent this type of impact on current mining operations are crucial for the fulfilment of mining environmental sustainability.

Therefore, the submission of studies related to eco-friendly mining practices, environmental remediation measures and exploitation of mining wastes is welcome to this session.

The thematic session on “Regional Metallogeny” will feature case studies from metallogenic belt and basins over district scale to deposit scale. Applications of interdisciplinary method inventory using a modern mineral system approach will highlight novel advances in special, regional and historic metallogeny to feature key aspects of the evolution of mineral provinces in space and time. A number of invited presentations will focus on economically significant mineral provinces from the global perspective, with a specific emphasis on mineral resources critical for the transition to green economies. These presentations will cover various aspects, including mineral deposits, resource evaluation techniques, and the role of economic complexity in renewable energy development. The session aims to showcase leading practices in resource evaluation and discuss the status of resource evaluation, including its future and ESG considerations.

Pegmatites are an important source of many of the elements considered critical such as lithium, cesium, tantalum, tin, beryllium, rare-earth elements, amongst others. Most of these elements play a key component in the transition to a green economy and decarbonization. Therefore, it is important to further our knowledge on these types of rocks and continue to identify and develop new sources of critical element pegmatite deposits. This session will focus on presentations that highlight studies on pegmatites’ mineralogy, petrogenesis, and classic to innovative exploration techniques.

Invited keynote speakers: Robert Linnen [Western University]

From greenstone belts to modern vents, Volcanic and Sediment-Hosted Massive Sulfide Deposits have continuously shaped the Earth’s crustal base-metal endowment. Formed in a variety of geodynamic settings, these deposits also provide vital clues for discovering new and deeper resources, including strategic and critical raw materials. This session welcomes contributions spanning Volcanic- and Sediment-Hosted Massive Sulfide Deposits and district-scale studies, geochemistry, host-rock petrogenesis, mineral exploration, and modern seafloor massive sulphide analogues.

Many different analytical techniques can be used for rock and other earth material’s characterisation (e.g., SEM-EDS, micro-XRF). New solutions in Automated Mineralogy include MLA and QEMSCAN designed to improve mineral identification, elemental quantification, and textural characteristics.

This session accepts contributions from the applications of automated mineralogy and how to incorporate these types of data in a geometallurgical framework from the early development stage though the whole mine lifecycle. Abstracts from research and development in the use of AI tools to produce and analyse datasets are also welcomed.

Coal, coal discards, and coal derived ash host a wide suite of critical elements and also pose environmental issues. The session will explore the potential of these three product streams as sources of critical elements and to contextualize the results within the circular economy.

This session will focus on innovative approaches combining geochemical data analysis including mineral chemistry with advanced statistical and machine learning techniques to enhance exploration targeting. Emphasis will be placed on geochemical vectoring using by the integration or interpretation of lithogeochemical, soil, and hydrogeochemical datasets, mineral chemistry and/or applying multivariate analysis, supervised or unsupervised classification methods that support the identification of concealed or distal mineralization. This session aims to foster collaboration between geochemists, data scientists, and exploration geologists working at the forefront of sustainable resource discovery.

(Session sponsored by SGA)

This session will explore recent advances in the micro-analytical characterization of sulphide and oxide phases across a wide range of mineral deposit systems. We welcome contributions that integrate paragenetic studies and mineral chemistry of VMS, SEDEX, IOA, IOCG, and porphyry systems. Submissions focusing on geochemical and textural evolution from early magmatic crystallization through to late hydrothermal alteration are encouraged, as they provide critical insights into metal partitioning, fluid–rock interaction, and ore fertility. Studies employing in-situ analytical techniques (e.g., EPMA, LA-ICP-MS, SIMS, µXRF, atom probe) to trace mineral-scale chemical variations and decipher mineral growth histories are particularly welcome. By bridging magmatic and hydrothermal processes, this session aims to foster a better understanding of how sulphide and oxide ore systems develop, evolve, and concentrate economically important metals.

Large igneous provinces are regions of the Earth’s crust composed of high-volume and a really-extensive magmatic rocks, spatially contiguous at the time of emplacement, that are typically generated in an intraplate setting. They are identified on all continents and throughout geological time and host an assortment of mineral deposit types including magmatic, hydromagmatic, and hydrothermal. The types of deposits of a particular LIP are unique but are ultimately related to the mantle source, magmatic and hydrothermal processes, the country rock into which the magmas are emplaced, and post-emplacement conditions. This session will focus on constraining the emplacement and post-emplacement processes that contribute to mineral deposit formation within mafic and silicic large igneous provinces. It is aimed at geochemists, petrologists, geologists, tectonophysicists, and numerical modelers interested in the relationship between short-term volumetric magmatism and metal enrichment.

Orogenic gold deposits produce a large proportion of the worlds gold supply and are one of the key exploration targets worldwide in terranes ranging from Archean to Mesozoic in age. The genesis of these deposits has been hotly debated during the last decades. Recent advances of understanding such as in the transport of gold in hydrothermal systems and precipitation mechanisms have significantly advanced our understanding of these important deposits. We invite contributions on the genesis and exploration for orogenic gold mineralizing systems. This includes but is not limited to investigations of the ore forming processes in these systems from the tectonic to microscale with focus on such aspects as geodynamic settings, structural evolution, sources of metals and fluids, alteration footprints, processes of gold precipitation, isotopic compositions of ore minerals. Of particular interest are the processes required to build giant orogenic gold deposits and systems including preenrichment of gold and multiple mineralizing events in giant OG systems, the role of gold nanoparticles in transport of gold in mineralizing fluids, source rock fertility. Contributions on the exploration models used in giant orogenic gold deposits are also welcome.

(Session sponsored by SGA)

Nuclear power is becoming increasingly important and globally relevant in the energy transition. This was clearly demonstrated at COP28 in 2023, when—for the first time—nuclear energy was recognized as a key component of climate action strategies. Twenty-two countries issued a declaration to pursue the aspirational goal of tripling nuclear power capacity by 2050. More recently, in 2025, the World Bank’s board announced its support for nuclear energy projects. The long-term sustainability of nuclear power will depend, among other factors, on an adequate supply of uranium resources that can be delivered to the market at competitive prices. Given the long lead times from uranium deposit discovery to production—typically 10 to 20 years—investment in uranium exploration and mining is urgently needed. To meet near- and mid-term uranium demand, we must develop and support innovations that enable new deposit discoveries and improve the economics of uranium resources through advanced processing and mining technologies.

Submissions to this session should provide new insights or highlight recent developments in uranium exploration techniques, processing, and mining technologies. The session aims to promote academic and industry partnerships and foster research in uranium deposits.

The Iberian Peninsula presents a geologically diverse framework, encompassing a wide range of lithologies and tectonic settings that host numerous mineral deposits of strategic significance. It contains substantial European reserves of copper, tungsten, fluorspar, strontium, lithium, and other critical raw materials-many of which are essential for the transition to a low-carbon economy and the advancement of high-tech industries.

In recent years, there has been a notable resurgence of interest in the mineral potential of Iberia, driven by the European Union’s Raw Materials Initiative and the increasing need to secure reliable, domestic sources of critical and strategic metals. This geopolitical and economic context has underscored the urgency of reducing dependency on imported raw materials and enhancing supply chain resilience across member states.

This session will present recent advances in the mineralogical characterization and geological modeling of high-tech and strategic mineral deposits in the Iberian Peninsula. Particular emphasis will be placed on ore-forming processes, paragenetic sequences, and deposit typologies, with the aim of providing a comprehensive overview of current research and exploration efforts. Contributions are especially encouraged on topics directly related to mineralogy, petrology, and the geology of ore deposits—including mineral associations, crystallographic and geochemical features of ore minerals, genetic models, and field-based studies. The session is intended to highlight specialized research within the disciplines of mineral deposit geology and applied mineralogy, offering a focused platform for sharing new findings and methodological approaches.

Porphyry deposits are a major source of critical minerals, a vital resource for the electrification of the global economy. These magmatic-hydrothermal systems are typically associated with oxidised, hydrous magmas formed at convergent margins and require a conjunction of geodynamic, magmatic and hydrothermal processes in their genesis. A better understanding of the complex interplay of these mantle- to crustal-scale processes and the resulting alteration is vital to improving the exploration models and targeting techniques for these deposits.

This session will highlight innovative research into the tectonic environments, magma chemistry, mineralization, and alteration assemblages using a modern, integrated approaches in geochemistry, isotopic systems, geochronology, and mineral chemistry of these critical mineral systems. Submissions based on research on a belt- or district-scale are highly encouraged.

Epithermal deposits in subduction- and post-subduction zone environments exhibit significant enrichments in precious and critical metals and metalloids (i.e. Au, Ag, Te, Se, Sn, Bi, In, Ga, Ge). These deposits are important contributors to the world’s supply of these elements, however are not mined in substantial quantities that meet the world demands in order to use in green technologies.

Understanding of the behavior of precious and associated critical elements in epithermal systems remains incomplete, although of great significance for exploration projects and the mining and metallurgical processes. The knowledge of fluid and metal sources, and of suitable conditions for the transport and ore deposition, are key issues for the exploration and exploitation of epithermal deposits. Trace element composition in sulfides and sulfosalts combined with isotope analyses are useful for characterizing conditions and processes during metal deposition. We welcome all contributions covering recent advances in our understanding of epithermal deposits as demonstrated by studies of geological setting, host rocks, mineralogy, geochemistry, fluid circulation, conceptual models, conditions of formation; all aspects that lead to understanding the controls on mineralization.

The wide-ranging research on Iron Oxide-Apatite and Iron Oxide-Copper-Gold deposit systems (IOA-IOCG) in the last 20 years has produced a trove of data and key observations that support a divergent spectrum of genetic models explaining the formation of these deposit types and their relationships to one another. As considerably more evidence becomes available in the coming years, we will no doubt continue to refine these petrogenetic models. We welcome and encourage a wide range of presentations focused on new data and ongoing research examining metal budgets, isotopic constraints, and petrogenetic models for the IOA-IOCG class of deposits and other related ore-forming systems.

The global demand for gold continues to rise, driven by its enduring value in finance, technology, and jewelry. However, discovering new economic deposits is becoming increasingly challenging as near-surface resources are depleted, necessitating exploration under deeper cover and in more complex geological settings. This demands a paradigm shift from traditional methods to a more integrated, data-driven approach. This session is convened to address these challenges by forging a crucial link between three fundamental pillars of modern mineral resources: a deep understanding of ore-forming processes, advanced practices in exploration, and the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in prospectivity prediction. It serves as a premier platform for geoscientists, exploration professionals, data scientists, and researchers to disseminate knowledge, share innovative ideas, and foster collaborations that will define the future of gold discovery.

Lithium is a critical element underpinning the global energy transition to low-carbon technologies. Substantial resources, including brine and volcano-sedimentary (clay) deposits, are concentrated in the Earth’s critical zone and form through interaction between geothermal and meteoric fluids with lithium-fertile igneous lithologies.

This session will focus on the formation, distribution, and characterization of such lithium resources, emphasizing the processes that control the transfer of lithium from magmatic-hydrothermal systems into the critical zone. Particular attention will be given to hydrogeochemical mechanisms driving lithium enrichment in closed-basin environments and to mineralogical and diagenetic factors influencing lithium occurrence in volcano-sedimentary successions.

We invite contributions that highlight advances in analytical methods, isotopic tracers, and numerical modelling, as well as case studies that refine exploration strategies and genetic models. Interdisciplinary perspectives integrating geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology, and hydrogeology are especially encouraged to strengthen our understanding of lithium systems within the broader framework of the critical zone.

The European Union identifies critical raw materials (CRMs) as those essential for strategic industries like clean energy, digital tech, and defense. The EU has identified 34 CRMs which are subject to increasing demand and supply chain vulnerabilities. Some of these, such as copper, lithium, and the rare earth elements, have higher public and academic profiles than other. In this session we highlight the lesser-known CRMs, such as antimony, beryllium, gallium, helium, etc. We welcome submissions on the geology, mining, processing, and uses of these CRMs.