Project title
Marine Aggregates: Prospecting and Exploitation methods, Environmental Impact and Usage possibilities
Acronyme: MARE
Abstract
The usage of Marine Aggregates (MA) particularly that of sand and gravel, is of great importance for the construction and raw material industry. This importance has been recognized at an international level, since the various onshore extraction activities (e.g., open pit quarries) have been dramatically reduced (if not abandoned) due to their environmental impact and related legal restrictions. Besides, MA deposits are often characterized by better mineralogical quality compared to land-based deposits. Furthermore, the demand for MAs is expected to increase due to their use in beach replenishment schemes; the latter are associated with coastal erosion due to sea level rise induced by climate change. Although in many European countries (e.g., United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark) the use of MAs has been established over the past decades, in Greece, so far, there are no systematic studies for their identification despite the fact that the overall marine geological background favors their occurrence.
The proposed research project aims to investigate the Greek continental shelf, including the Cyclades Plateau, in terms of MA identification, prospecting, dredging, and usage. The main objectives are: (i) compilation and integration of the available information concerning prospecting, dredging, and usage of MAs in Greece and Europe; (ii) MA prospecting techniques and methods (transfer of knowledge); (iii) sedimentological characteristics of the MAs occurring in Greek waters; (iv) an assessment of the environmental issues related to MA prospecting and dredging in Greece; (v) the exploitation of the project’s results (e.g., industrial use); and (vi) the training of young researchers in innovative related research aspects. The successful fulfillment of the proposed project will be achieved through the co-operation of scientists/researchers of complementary geo-science fields, the use of innovative methodology and, the transfer of knowledge (i.e., scientists invited from abroad).
