10.5880/GFZ.DMJQ.2025.001 eng dataset GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences datapub@gfz.de https://gfz.de Helmholtz-Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences Helmholtz-Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences pointOfContact 2026-05-01 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG:4326 Survey for critical raw materials in Malawi East African Rift geothermal areas 2026-05-01 revision 2024 creation doi:10.5880/GFZ.DMJQ.2025.001 Wilke, Franziska D. H. GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany author Gondwe, Kondwani Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, Malawi author Regenspurg, Simona GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany author Zimmer, Martin GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany author Strauch, Bettina GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany author Stammeier, Jessica GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany author Klose, Lukas Constructor University, Bremen, Germany author Kreitsmann, Timmu University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia author Bau, Michael Constructor University, Bremen, Germany author Niedermann, Samuel GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany author Gondwe, Kondwani Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, Malawi originator Elements and Minerals of the Earth Laboratory (ElMiE Lab, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany) GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany originator Microprobe Lab (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany) GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany originator Gas Geochemistry Lab (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany) GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany originator Noble Gas Lab (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany) GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany originator GFZ Data Services publisher In autumn 2024, an expedition to Rwanda was undertaken within the framework of the research project “CRM-geothermal”. Within „CRM-geothermal“, we are looking for an environmentally friendly co-production of critical raw materials together with the provision of geothermal energy. In the EARS, high levels of rare earth elements (REE), Sr, Ba and Mg are expected in waters and solids in areas with alkaline volcanic rocks, while other critical elements, including helium, have been sought in other localities. The eastern and western branches of the EARS host juvenile sectors with promising geothermal potential related to hot fluids migrating along permeable faults. The expedition began in the Virunga Volcanic Province in north-western Rwanda and continued all along Lake Kivu to Kamembe Further, along the Nyakabuye-Ruhwa Valley, in the area of Bugarama, Ruhwa and Mashyuza, gas, water, rock and sediment associated with natural hot springs but also cold springs were collected. On site, physical and chemical parameters were measured in-situ and documented together with the geology, infrastructure and domestic use of the hot site. At Ruhwa borehole, southern Rwanda, the hot water (66°C) emerges as an artesian spring at the surface. Drilling sites for geothermal water and energy extraction in Karisimbi were not visited because no economically viable geothermal system was found. Gisenyi and Bugarama are in the focus of the authorities, but funding for drilling at these sites was not yet achieved. We visited these sites to monitor the physicochemical parameters and to highlight the importance of their usage. Wilke, Franziska D. H. GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany Head of microprobe labs fwilke@gfz.de pointOfContact critical raw materials geothermal fluids east african rift system EARTH SCIENCE > HUMAN DIMENSIONS > ECONOMIC RESOURCES > ENERGY PRODUCTION/USE > GEOTHERMAL ENERGY PRODUCTION/USE EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOCHEMISTRY > GEOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES NASA/GCMD Earth Science Keywords publication CC BY 4.0 CC BY 4.0 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2005.07.019 DOI Cites 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2025.122722 DOI Cites 10.1029/JB094iB11p15785 DOI Cites 10.1111/j.1468-4004.2005.46216.x DOI Cites 10.1016/S0024-4937(99)00031-6 DOI Cites 10.1016/j.precamres.2012.06.007 DOI Cites 10.1016/j.precamres.2020.105851 DOI Cites 10.1007/s42452-020-03370-1 DOI Cites 10.1016/S0016-7037(97)00102-6 DOI Cites 10.1029/2019TC005633 DOI Cites 10.1016/j.precamres.2010.02.022 DOI Cites 10.1016/j.precamres.2010.02.022 DOI Cites 10.5880/GFZ.3.1.2024.006 DOI Cites eng geoscientificInformation 32.3807 36.4896 -17.3253 -9.09754 http://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.DMJQ.2025.001 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Data Access - DOI Data Access - DOI information