General geology
Geological mapping
Geological mapping provides information about the Earth’s crust and serves as a basis for decision-making in areas such as the use of groundwater and mineral resources, construction, land use, and environmental conditions.
Analysis of the construction of wind farms on mineral deposits and in prospective and occurrence areas of mineral resources
The objective of this activity is to analyse whether and under which conditions it is possible to construct temporary renewable energy generation equipment (wind farms, solar power plants) on mineral deposits.
Improvement of the conditions for the preservation of geological information
Drill cores are a valuable material for further scientific and applied research. In parallel with the development of the Arbavere Research Centre, drill cores will be reviewed and moved to the modern storage facilities provided there, and the information concerning the drill cores will be consolidated.
Mineral resources
Surveys of the crystalline basement
The crystalline basement underneath the sedimentary cover of Estonia hides mineral resources, the extraction and processing of which may prove profitable in the near future.
Phosphorite and graptolitic argillite and their valorisation
Economic interest in the phosphorite and graptolitic argillite, which contain several important resources (including critical raw materials), found in the Earth’s crust in Estonia is increasing steadily. Their potential exploitation in the future requires complex exploration, starting with the investigation of the composition and bedding conditions of rocks that hide mineral resources and ending with the enrichment and valorisation of the resources.
Distribution, extraction, and exploitation of construction minerals in Järva County
The aim of this activity is to provide an overview of the construction mineral resources in Järva County and of their exploitation, to assess the current situation on the basis of security of supply, and to detail the possibilities of supplying construction minerals until 2030 and with a horizon of up to 2050.
Environmental geology
HydroScope
Protecting cross-border groundwater resources and dependent ecosystems from extreme climate events and pollution with real-time monitoring and digital springs.
EU-WATERRES
The aim of the project is to promote coordinated management and integrated protection of transboundary groundwater by creating a geoinformation platform.
More information at eu-waterres.eu.
LIFE IP CleanEST
This project is aimed at the improvement of the status of surface water and groundwater bodies in Ida-Viru County and Lääne-Viru County, and at analysing the means by which their status could be improved.
LIFE SIP AdaptEST
EGT takes part in project Implementation of national climate change adaptation activities in Estonia.
More information at LIFE Public Database
Monitoring of groundwater and surface water at the Ojamaa oil shale mine
In co-operation with OÜ VKG Kaevandused, the EGT is monitoring the impact of the Ojamaa oil shale mine on the groundwater regime of the surrounding areas, on the quality of the groundwater, and on terrestrial ecosystems.
Monitoring of groundwater and drinking water in the rural municipality of Viimsi
In order to assess the effects of intensive abstraction on Viimsi Peninsula and Prangli Island, the EGT, in co-operation with AS Viimsi Vesi, is monitoring the local groundwater and drinking water. This includes observing changes in the movement and quality of the groundwater.
WaterAct
Joint actions for more efficient management of common groundwater Resources. Project is being implemented with the support of Interreg V-A Estonia-Latvia cross-border cooperation programme 2014-2020.
More information at LVĢMC | Joint actions for more efficient management of common groundwater resources (WaterAct) (meteo.lv)
Radon surveys in underexplored municipalities
At the request of the Ministry of the Environment, a radon survey project was launched in 2018, in the course of which the network of radon measurements in Estonia’s less explored municipalities will be expanded. The project has been divided into four stages, during which a total of 19 municipalities will be mapped by 2024.
Survey of the relationship between Lake Uljaste and the local groundwater
The aim of this activity is to investigate how and to what extent Lake Uljaste and the aquifers below it are connected, and to create a hydrogeological 3D model. The created model can then be used to predict the negative environmental impacts of economic activities, such as mining or drainage.
Stabilisation of subsurface mining areas with waste material from the oil shale industry
This survey, which is being conducted by the University of Tartu and the EGT from 2021 to 2023, is aimed at identifying the key parameters of ash produced in the oil shale industry and at investigating the impacts that using it as a material for the backfilling of mines would have on the aquatic environment.
Marine geology
EMODnet – development of a marine geology data network and thematic maps
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is funding the preparation of the common marine data network EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data Network).
Survey of seabed surface sediments at the intake of the planned pumped-storage power plant in Paldiski Bay
The objective of this survey was to determine the composition, thickness, and distribution of seabed sediments in the area of the intake pipe of the pumped-storage power plant planned to be constructed in Paldiski Bay.
MereRITA – seabed geology: geophysical remote sensing methods and sediment surveys
In co-operation with the Department of Geology of Tallinn University of Technology, a set of geophysical surveys was carried out in the framework of the project ‘Innovative approaches to monitoring and assessing marine environment and nature values in Estonian sea area’ in northwestern Saaremaa, on the eastern side of Uudepanga Bay, which is located at the tip of Tagamõisa Peninsula.
Magnetic surveys of Kaevatsi Islet and its surrounding areas
In the summer of 2021, the University of Tartu organised magnetometric surveying operations in the exploration area of Kaevatsi Islet, which were performed both on land and onboard a small craft, at a total of 375,653 points.
Environmental status of sediments in the Baltic Sea
This project is specifically aimed at improving the environmental status of the seabed. As a result of this project, the methodology for the assessment of the environmental status of maritime areas will be improved and the necessary reference data will be supplemented.
Port surveys
The aim of this activity was to investigate the vertical positioning of sediments in port areas and in the planned expanded area.
Last updated: 28.04.2026
