Several activities were accomplished involving dissemination, communication and exploitation during the. In detail:
► Implementation, mainteinance and upgrades of the website of the Project (https://www.camebax.eu/). The website is composed of five pages including Home; Description and Documentation; Research Units; Ongoing Activities; Scientific Dissemination. On each page are the logo of the project, the PNRR logo, the title of the project and the contacts of the Principal and Associate investigators. The website underwent an intermediate and a final upgrade.
► Background and targets of the Project have been issued by the PI, in order to gain attention by the international scientific community, on the “Research Gate” scientific social media:
(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380289026_Project_Critical_metals_in_bauxite_ore_deposits_and_derived_mining_wastes_recovery_and_reuse_for_a_sustanable_future_PRIN_2022_PNRR_Italia_Domani_MUR_Funded_by_the_European_Union_Next_Generation_EU).
The repository gained a 2.8 Research interest score with 66 reads and 3 recommendations. This item’s Research Interest Score is higher than 54% of research items on ResearchGate and higher than 69% of research items published in 2024. (Updated January 2nd, 2026).
► Dissemination through seminars for high school and PhD students was also accomplished. In detail:
• within the frame of the programme “Orientamento Consapevole” organized by UniBa Geological Sciences degree course for high school students, April 12/04/2024, Prof. E. Mesto addressed a seminar about the general principles of the contribution of mineralogy to the circular economy, focusing on case studies regarding critical raw materials and recovery of REE from industrial wastes;
• as part of the “soft skills course” for PhD students of the doctoral program “Earth processes and management of resources and risks for a resilient society” the seminar entitled “Waste materials and circular economy” was held on 30/04/2024 by Prof. E. Mesto and Prof. M. Lacalamita. The seminar addressed the definition and classification of wastes, minerals and waste, waste production and principles of waste management, critical raw materials in a reuse/recycle perspective, and REE recovery.
► Communications to International Conferences
• Critical metals distribution in bauxite residues: a compositional data analysis approach. O. Ameur-Zaimeche, R. Kechiched, P. Mameli, E. Mesto, G. Mongelli, H. Ouladmansour, E. Schingaro. EGU General Assembly, 14-19 April 2024, Wien.
• First row transition metals deportment in Cretaceous karst bauxite: the case of the southern Italy and Sardinia Island deposits. Buccione R., P. Mameli, G. Mongelli, G. Oggiano. 37th International Geological Congress, 25-31 August 2024, Busan. a)
• Rare Earth Elements (La-Lu, Sc, Y) and Other Critical Metals deportment in Bauxite Residues: Assessing the Economic Viability of Red Mud Deposits at the Porto Vesme Disposal Site, Sardinia, Italy, A. Ouladmansour, P. Mameli, E. Schingaro, E. Mesto, M. Lacalamita, G. Cerri, A. Idini, C. Cisullo, G. Mongelli. EGU General Assembly, 27 April-2 May 2025, Wien.
• The recovery of rare earths and valuable metals from the red muds of the eurallumina site in Portovesme, Sardinia, Italy. A. Goudarzi, M. Genduso, C. Cristiani, E. Mesto, E. Schingaro. G. Mongelli, P. Mameli, M. Bellotto. 8th SUM2025 Multidisciplinary symposium on circular economy and urban mining, 21-23 May 2025, Procida.
• REE and critical metals in Bauxite from Olmedo mine (SW Sardinia, Italy). A. Ouladmansour, P. Mameli, E. Schingaro, E. Mesto, M. Lacalamita, G. Mongelli. Goldschmidt Conference, 5 -11 July 2025, Prague.
► Communications to National Conferences and workshop events
• Mineralogical and geochemical characterization of Red Muds from Portovesme (SW Sardinia, Italy. A. Ouladmansour, E. Mesto, M. Lacalamita, G. Mongelli, P. Mameli, G. Cerri, G. Capitani, R. Conconi, G. Agrosì, E. Schingaro. SGI-SIMP joint Conference “Geology for a sustainable management of our Planet”, 3-5 September 2024, Bari.
• Red Muds: from problem to opportunity. E. Mesto. Rare earth elements geochemical tools of strategic importance: presence in soil and effects on model organisms” workshop, 29-31 October 2024, Bari.
• Nanoscale analysis of Red Muds from Portovesme (Sardinia). Ouladmansour A., J.J. Millán, M.I. Abad Martìnez, E. Mesto, M. Lacalamita, G. Agrosì, G. Mongelli, P. Mameli, E. Schingaro. SGI-SIMP joint Conference “Geosciences and the Challenges of the 21 st Century”, 16-18 September 2025, Padua.
• REEs and valuable metals recovery from the red muds of the Eurallumina site in Porto Vesme, Sardinia, Italy. A. Goudarzi, A. Ouladmansour, E. Mesto, M.Lacalamita, E. Schingaro, G. Mongelli, P. Mameli, M.G. Genduso, M. Bellotto. SGI-SIMP joint Conference “Geosciences and the Challenges of the 21 st Century”, 16-18 September 2025, Padua.
► Published papers
• Exploring the potential of red muds from Portovesme (SW Sardinia, Italy): multiscale analysis of REEs content and mineralogy”. E. Schingaro, P. Mameli, E. Mesto, M. Lacalamita, A. Ouladmansour, G. Rizzo, G. Capitani, R. Conconi, G. Mongelli. Heliyon, Volume 11, Issue 9, e43303.
• Distribution and fractionation of Rare Earths (La-Lu, Sc, Y) and other critical metals in bauxite residues: addressing the profitability of the red muds stored at the Porto Vesme disposal site, Sardinia Island, Italy. P. Mameli, E. Schingaro, E. Mesto, M. Lacalamita, A. Ouladmansour, G. Cerri, A. Idini, C. Cisullo, G. Mongelli. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, Volume 275, 107792
► Submitted papers
• Rare Earth Elements and other Critical Raw Materials recovery from red muds of Porto Vesme, Sardinia, Italy by optimized chemical leaching. M. Lacalamita, M. Bellotto, A. Goudarzi, E. Mesto, P. Mameli, G. Mongelli, A. Ouladmansour, E. Schingaro. Submitted to Journal of Cleaner Production
• Understanding critical metals (REE, Sc and Ga) behaviour in Red Muds from the Porto Vesme disposal site (Sardinia, Italy) through Feature Interaction Analysis: Constraints from data analysis, machine learning and empirical modelling. A. Ouladmansour, R. Kechiched, P. Mameli, J.J. Millán, M.I. Abad Martìnez, O. Ameur- Zaimeche, E. Schingaro, G. Mongelli. Submitted to Scientific Reports
► Ongoing papers
• Geochemical distribution and mineralogical control of Scandium in karst bauxite, NW Sardinia, Italy. A. Idini, P. Mameli, G. Mongelli, E. Schingaro, G. Cerri, M. Deidda, S. Naitza, G. Oggiano. To be submitted to Chemical Geology