The cage is ready to take the miners back to half a kilometer deep. Back to the mine. In Silius, a small mining center of the Gerrei, about fifty kilometers from Cagliari, we are preparing to cultivate fluorite. And then also galena and rare earths.
The new course of the Muscadroxiu mining site, started in the early 1900s for the cultivation of galena, the raw material from which lead is obtained, and then fluorite, restarts with a program dedicated to sustainability and the Industry 4.0 plan. And a 40 million investment plan. For the moment, the new company, after having obtained the Environmental Impact Assessment from the Region, awaits the release of the mining concession. “It all started in 2012 when the Region prepared a tender for the Silius mining site – says Umberto Gioia, geologist and co-owner of the Gerrei mining company – we therefore decided to participate and prepare a plan”.
The path to give a new life to the mining site which, after the last stop had been waiting for a new management, with workers waiting for a new location, traveled at a fairly slow pace. In the end, however, Mineraria Gerrei, owned by Umberto Gioia and partner Matteo Maccabelli, went ahead with the project. A few weeks ago the positive opinion of the Region with the resolution that gives the Way (environmental impact assessment). «At this point, only one last step is missing – argues Gioia – that is, the release of the concession. From that moment on, within a year and a half we have been able to restart the mine ». The “value of the site” pushes entrepreneurs with mining interests in Northern Italy to undertake this adventure. “A field of 2.2 million tons of fluorite has been estimated – argues Gioia – with a content equal to 34% (ie 34% of a cubic meter of material extracted), and a galena content equal to 3, 5% “. Numbers considered important and sufficient to guarantee the restart of production. “With the mine in operation, an annual production of 70 thousand tons of fluorite at 97.5% and 6,800 tons of galena is estimated”.
All to be placed on the national and international market. “The battery market requires these raw materials, all the conditions are in place for an important turning point in Italy and also in this area”.
Then there is the space dedicated to rare earths which, explains the geologist, are obtained from processing residues. “All following the principles of the circular economy”. Those who imagine a return of the miners with peak and shovel and perhaps carbide candles to illuminate the tunnels will be disappointed. The investment plan, which provides for “a commitment of 40 million for the first four years”, is a sort of revolution for the mining sector. “Let’s say that ours will be the first fluorite mine in Italy with the most important deposit in Europe – he continues – and everything that will be done will be in the name of sustainability and innovation”. Outside will remain the castles of the five wells (four to reach the subsoil with a vertical one that reaches 500 meters) and one for ventilation. “The treatment plant will be built underground, there will be minimal impact outside.” A substantial change will also affect the means that will be used. «In the tunnel we will work with battery powered vehicles – explains Alessandro Murroni, mining technician with international experience and general manager of Mineraria Gerrei – also in terms of energy our site aims to become self-sufficient». Not only that: “In addition to the production, there will also be a research program, since the last study, which certifies the presence of high tenors, dates back to 2000. Today’s market price may also justify the processing of spaces with higher tenors. bass “. As for processing residues: “The sterile will be used to fill the gaps left during the treatment”. The industrial plan provides for the hiring of about 100 workers, direct employees, to whom the indirect contracts and related activities will then have to be added. At the heart of the new program is automation and technology. «The new systems will allow to work with the new machinery and the miners will have a high level of training – says Matteo Maccabelli – today it is possible to drive a vehicle underground from the surface. The system that will be adopted, thanks to 3D sensors, will make it possible to know where the staff is, if they have difficulty, because safety will be at the forefront ». First step, once the mining concession has been issued, the arrangement of the mining infrastructure consisting of shafts, tunnels and buildings. «We must say that, thanks to the commitment and will of the old miners – argues Maccabelli -, the mine has retained a good part of its integration. Some systems, fifteen years old, will have to be replaced with more modern and advanced ones ».