Mineral carbon storage for climate: GEOMIMIC

Advancing CO₂ capture and storage in mafic rocks efficiently

Michela Di Giuseppe 

In 2024, the planet exceeded the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the limit set by the Paris Agreement (2015) to contain global warming. This  breach, along with the intensification of extreme climate events, highlights the urgent need  for effective solutions. Among the available strategies, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)  has established itself as a key suite of technologies, allowing CO₂ to be captured and stored in deep geological formations. The GEOMIMIC project aims to deepen the understanding of these processes. 

Mineral CCS: mechanism, benefits, and risks 

To better understand what is meant by Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) we consulted Dr.  Chiara Boschi (IGG-CNR, Pisa, Italy): «This is an advanced technology for climate change  mitigation, designed to limit the increase in CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere. The process  involves capturing carbon dioxide. Once captured, CO₂ is transported to a suitable storage site  and injected into deep geological formations, preventing its release into the atmosphere». 

Mafic rocks like basalts react with CO₂, forming stable carbonates for permanent, secure  storage. «Among all CCS technologies, mineral carbonation is undoubtedly the safest option»  explains Dr. Boschi. Compared to saline aquifers or depleted reservoirs, mafic rocks offer  greater stability and efficiency. The risk of CO₂ leakage due to subsurface pressure changes is  highly remote thanks to careful site selection and continuous monitoring via «seismic sensors,  geothermal measurements, satellite remote sensing and numerical modeling». This technology, therefore, faces challenges in terms of reliability, scalability, and the «limited understanding of the hydraulic properties controlled by fractures in these rocks». For this reason GEOMIMIC studies the evolution of porosity in mafic rocks to advance CO₂ mineralization. Funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the GEOMIMIC project began on September 16, 2023, and will run until March 15, 2026, with an EU contribution of €236,499.60. It is coordinated by the University of Coruña with the Georgia Institute of Technology. The project integrates laboratory experiments to analyze mineralization kinetics, numerical modelling to simulate CO₂ transport and distribution, and  geophysical analyses to assess fracture evolution over time. Alongside projects such as STORECO2 in Italy (focused on serpentinite rocks), GEOMIMIC explores new CO₂ storage strategies in a landscape where CarbFix, active in Iceland since 2012, remains the global  benchmark for research and innovation in CO₂ mineralisation. 

Economic and ethical implications 

Focusing on the CO₂ capture phase, Professor Francesco Lamperti (Scientific Coordinator of  the FIND Project, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies) highlights a fundamental distinction  between CCS and CDR (Carbon Dioxide Removal). CCS involves capturing CO₂ at the emission source and is particularly appealing for major emitters such as Big Oil companies or the cement industry. The second, CDR, deals with removing CO₂ already dispersed in the atmosphere or oceans, favouring sectors that have primarily indirect emissions, such as ICT companies. From an economic perspective, cost and effectiveness are crucial factors: «Standard CCS is relatively less expensive» explains Lamperti, «but it also performs quite poorly and has not shown significant improvements over the past 10-15 years». CDR, on the other hand, despite having greater potential, is currently extremely expensive and still in its infancy, requiring substantial investments to become a practical solution on a large scale. According to Lamperti, «investing in mitigation is the most economically sensible approach». 

However, an even more delicate ethical issue arises: the risk of mitigation deterrence, meaning CCS could be used as an excuse to delay the energy transition. The involvement of Big Oil companies in CCS, with giants like Shell, Equinor, and Occidental Petroleum (Oxy), shows that the oil sector has a strong interest in developing this technology. «We must be careful» warns Lamperti, «because these technologies can be strategically used to keep alive industries that should instead decarbonize as soon as possible». 

Mineral CCS provides a concrete solution for secure CO₂ storage, but challenges remain  regarding scalability and a deeper understanding of geochemical dynamics. Projects like  GEOMIMIC are helping to bridge these gaps; however, the adoption of these technologies  must be supported by strong climate policies to prevent the risk of mitigation deterrence. To  avoid this, it is essential to follow the recommendations of both interviewed experts: policies  should also support CDR technologies, urban and non-urban reforestation, and other advanced  CCS solutions, ensuring a long-term reduction of atmospheric carbon. 

Acknowledgments 

Filippo Bonchi (University of Pisa, Italy) 

Chiara Boschi (IGG-CNR, Pisa, Italy) 

Federico Farina (DISTAD, University of Milan, Italy) 

Francesco Lamperti (Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy) 

References 

CarbFix Project. (2020). Permanent Storage of CO₂ in Basalt.  

IPCC. (2018). Global warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report.  

Copernicus Climate Change Service. (2024). Global Climate Highlights 2024. 

Kelemen, P., Benson, S. M., Pilorgé, H., Psarras, P., & Wilcox, J. (2019). A review of the  status and challenges of geological CO₂ storage in minerals and geological formations.  Frontiers in Climate, 1,9. 

Tan, X. (2025). CO₂ oil displacement and geological storage: Status and prospects. Energy  Science & Engineering. 

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2019). Negative Emissions  Technologies and Reliable Sequestration: A Research Agenda. National Academies Press.