Resources such as minerals and metals are essential raw materials for our daily lives. Yet, it is a long road (> 10 years) before they become available for the first time through mining. From basic scientific research to on-site prospecting and exploration to the technical, economic and legal challenges associated with the development, operation, maintenance and aftercare of a mine and/or processing plant, many experts from a wide range of disciplines are involved. The civil society is also involved in all these steps - whether because they are directly affected, have an interest in the project or the location of the action, or because they are involved in non-technical, administrative tasks. Thus, how can these different stakeholders and the great variability of detailed knowledge about project specifics and its location communicated in a form that is equally understandable to all?
This presentation will outline the various steps of the process using the UNFC (United Nations Framework Classification for Resources). It will discuss a) how and where the different steps a resource project goes through can be visualised in an understandable way, b) whether and how this information used for communication outside one's own bubble and c) what information used for this purpose. To this end, publicly available information is analysed across the phases of a project and from different temporal perspectives. The results presented in the form of UNFC figures building the basis for further discussion.