No human society may live without the use of metals. Metals are with us in form of wide diversified products, from cars to CD players. The growing use of metals runs parallel with the growing concern regarding environmental impacts of ore mining, and tendencies to restrict or completely ban this industry.

The OMENTIN (Ore Mining and Environmental Technologies Information Network) is a 3-years project in which mining professionals, geologists, environmentalists work together in assessing and evaluating and explaining hazards linked to ore mining. The project was started after the Baia Mare and Borsa environmental accidents.

Summarization the state of the art in ore mining is one of the first objectives of our working program. A review of environmental regulations, as second objective, helps to understand the legal and social aspects of these technologies. The third and fourth part of the work program deals with assessment and improvement of public awareness regarding mining. The final part of the work program covers the evaluation of follow-up measures of the Baia Mare accident.

The ongoing events, information about the progress of our works, new contacts, etc are published through our electronic Newsletter. On-line workshops are being organized to discuss actual issues.

Technical publications are prepared which review the ore mining industry, waste management methods, environmental regulations related to mining.

Popular science publications are released, which help the understanding of several mining terms as well as risks and hazards related to mining.

Workshops are planned to train environmental NGOs about mining related environmental risks.

Finally, a wide cooperation of interested partners, from both the environmental and the mining sector is being organized to manage the network after the 3-years EU financed period of the project.