In the context of renewed interest in mining in Europe and France, we interviewed Éric Marcoux, an esteemed geologist and recognized expert in mineral resources. He shares his analysis of France’s geological potential, the challenges of economic sovereignty, and future prospects.
The European Scientist: Could you tell us about your professional background and expertise?
Éric Marcoux: I am a university-trained geologist with a PhD in geology from the University of Clermont-Ferrand. My career has focused on the study and management of mineral resources, a field that has always fascinated me. I began at the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) from 1982 to 1998, where I contributed to developing France’s first mining plan (1970-1992). This experience allowed me to work on mining projects in France and internationally, including in Peru, Canada, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Mauritania, India, several European countries, and Greenland, giving me a global perspective on mining issues.
In 1998, I joined the University of Orléans as a professor, where I taught and continued my research. In 2001, with my colleague and friend Michel Jébrak, a professor at UQAM in Montreal, I created an international Master’s program in mineral resources geology (EGERM) in partnership with industry professionals. This program, still active, has trained over 250 students to date. I remain involved with the Geological Society of France (SGF) and the Mineral Industry Society (SIM), where I contribute to disseminating knowledge about mineral resources.
TES: Some time ago, President Macron launched a major inventory of France’s metallic and mineral resources. You published work on industrial minerals. Can you explain their specific characteristics?
EM: Globally, mineral resources are divided into four main categories: energy resources (oil, gas, coal, uranium), metals (iron, aluminum, copper, etc.), industrial minerals (clays, talc, silica, etc.), and construction materials (sand, gravel). Industrial minerals are distinguished by their direct use after extraction, grinding, or purification, unlike metallic ores, which require complex processing to obtain pure metal. For example, salt is used as is in the food or chemical industries, while lead or aluminum requires heavy industrial processes.
In France, approximately 190 to 200 quarries produce industrial minerals, supporting numerous industrial sectors. However, dependence on metal imports remains a major challenge. This long-standing issue is now gaining national attention, particularly due to risks of supply chain disruptions or sharp price increases on international markets.
TES: What are the main industrial minerals in France? Can you provide an overview of France’s geological heritage?
EM: France benefits from a diverse geological heritage due to its ancient massifs and sedimentary basins. Key industrial minerals include:
- Silica (quartz): Used 70% in glass production (construction, food packaging) and in foundry molds for the automotive and aerospace industries. France produces about 7 million tons annually.
- Clays: Particularly kaolin, mined in Brittany (five quarries supply about 20% of national needs), used in ceramics and paper production.
- Salt (NaCl): Essential for the food and chemical industries, serving as a base for chlorine and sodium.
- Talc: France hosts the world’s largest deposit at Luzenac, used in polymers (e.g., car dashboards) and paper.
- Andalusite: Mined at Glomel, unique in Europe, used for refractories in steelworks and cement plants.
- Diatomite: Extracted in Cantal and Ardèche, irreplaceable for filtration (oils, beverages, industrial effluents) and absorbents.
- Gypsum, used for plaster and cement, along with carbonates and feldspars, completes this range.
Despite these assets, accessing these resources is increasingly complex due to growing regulatory and administrative constraints.
TES: Can we speak of France’s geological wealth? How does it compare to Europe or the world? What are our unique assets?
EM: As mentioned, France’s varied geology provides a wide range of mineral resources. We are the world’s 7th largest talc producer (nearly 500,000 tons/year), among the top 10 for diatomite (100,000 tons/year), and well-positioned for silica. Deposits like Luzenac’s talc or Glomel’s andalusite are global benchmarks. However, countries like Brazil and China dominate many industrial mineral markets.
Until the 1980s-1990s, France operated metal mines (uranium, iron, tungsten, lead, zinc, copper). Their closure resulted from high operating costs compared to other countries and low metal prices. Today, rising metal prices and sovereignty concerns are driving renewed exploration efforts. The second national mining inventory, launched last year, supports this goal. However, societal opposition and administrative constraints hinder progress. As my colleague Michel Jébrak notes, mines once imposed themselves on communities; now, they must be accepted by society—a paradigm shift.
TES: Your book, Minerals in Our Daily Lives, aims to raise public awareness. Why is it crucial for the public to engage with this topic?
EM: Mineral resources are ubiquitous in daily life: from paints to paper, plastics, electronics, glass, tiles, and nearly all everyday objects. Raising public awareness is essential to highlight the importance of these resources and the stakes of their extraction. Systematic opposition to quarries or mines, often due to misunderstanding, overlooks the impacts of reliance on imports, sometimes from countries with lax environmental and social standards. For example, the Democratic Republic of Congo supplies 60% of the world’s cobalt amid significant political instability. Better understanding of mining issues fosters informed debate on economic sovereignty and industrial choices.
TES: Which French industrial sectors rely on industrial minerals?
EM: All French industrial sectors use industrial minerals: automotive (talc in polymers), aerospace (silica for mold casting), chemicals (salt), construction (gypsum, glass), ceramics (feldspar, kaolin), paper (kaolin, talc, calcite), and even healthcare (carbonates in drug excipients, diatomite for blood plasma filtration). A disruption in industrial mineral supply would paralyze nearly all these sectors.
TES: Why are some minerals considered essential? Are industrial minerals a matter of economic sovereignty?
EM: Most industrial minerals are essential because they meet specific needs with no direct substitutes. Quartz, for instance, is critical for glass and photovoltaic panels, while graphite is vital for batteries. Dependence on imports, particularly for graphite (85% of global production from China), exposes France to supply risks. Economic sovereignty is at stake, as disruptions or price surges could impact strategic sectors like energy or electronics.
TES: What role do industrial minerals play in the ecological transition?
EM: Industrial minerals are central to the ecological transition. Wind turbines require aggregates for foundations, aluminum, copper, and rare earths for components, and industrial minerals for ceramics and polymers. Photovoltaic panels rely on silica, and batteries depend on lithium and graphite. These resources are essential for low-carbon technologies, but their supply, especially for critical metals, remains a challenge.
TES: Does France have enough industrial minerals for its future needs? What are the main obstacles for industries?
EM: Unlike metals, which France does not produce domestically (except through recycling), France meets part of its industrial mineral needs (silica, carbonates, kaolin, clays, salt, talc). However, it remains import-dependent for the most part: for example, only 20% of kaolin is domestically produced, with the rest imported from Brazil or the U.S. Access to resources is hindered by strict regulations, lengthy and costly impact studies, and growing, often systematic, opposition from NGOs or local residents. While necessary, the regulatory framework has become increasingly rigid and multi-layered (regional, national, European), delaying quarry openings or expansions, such as diatomite project in Cantal.
TES: How do industries balance environmental and societal imperatives?
EM: Industrial operators, often SMEs, are strongly committed to responsible management. They adhere to strict regulations and implement measures to reduce carbon footprints, preserve biodiversity, and improve social acceptability. Beyond stricter regulations, operators’ mindsets have evolved: none want to repeat past mistakes and strive to protect the environment. These efforts yield impressive, often underreported achievements. For example, strip mining allows backfilling of exploited areas, minimizing environmental impact. Many quarries are rehabilitated into educational sites or biodiversity zones, sometimes richer than before exploitation. Companies also collaborate with groups like the LPO to protect wildlife, such as halting operations during nesting periods.
TES: Your book is published by the Geological Society of France (SGF). Why this choice?
EM: The SGF, one of France’s oldest learned societies, bridges scientific research, the public, and industry. My book, Minerals in Our Daily Lives, offers an accessible, scientifically grounded synthesis for a broad audience. Publishing with the SGF promotes a rigorous approach while raising awareness of the importance of mineral resources. Other works, such as a study on oil and gas in France, are underway in the same collection and spirit.
TES: How do you envision the future of mining in France?
EM: I am cautiously optimistic. The second national mining inventory, aimed at reducing import dependency, is a positive step. However, opening a mine takes 10 to 15 years. The first inventory (1969-1992) identified significant deposits of tungsten, zinc, gold, and antimony, but these were underutilized. Administrative hurdles, societal opposition, and delays in exploration permits slow progress. For instance, the Rouez deposit (95 million tons of sulfides containing copper, zinc, lead, and gold), with a potential market value of €20 billion, remains largely unexploited (except for its top 20 meters mined for gold and silver in 1989-1992). Recent years have seen about ten exploration permits granted in mainland France—a first step—but streamlined procedures and greater consultation with local communities are needed to balance economic sovereignty and social acceptability.
TES: What are your thoughts on deep-sea nodules and astro-mining?
EM: Exploiting deep-sea polymetallic nodules is highly debated, but their resource potential remains speculative due to limited knowledge of ocean floors. Tonnage and grade estimates are approximate, and other underwater deposits (sulfides, manganese crusts) offer no economic advantage over known terrestrial deposits. Technical challenges (mining at 3,000–5,000 meters) and environmental impacts make these projects unviable in the short term.
Astro-mining, meanwhile, is more science fiction than economic reality. Asteroids, at best, contain iron and some nickel—abundant on Earth. The costs and technological challenges of retrieving these resources are prohibitive. Terrestrial deposits, like copper or gold in France, offer more immediate and viable solutions.
TES: Should artisanal mining be revived?
EM: Artisanal mines, suited to small deposits and employing 10–20 people, work well in some emerging countries. In France, this model existed until the 1970s but is now constrained by heavy regulations (impact studies, site rehabilitation). These requirements, necessitating significant investment, favor large companies and major deposits over smaller operations. Simplifying procedures could enable the development of modest deposits while engaging local communities to enhance social acceptability.
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