Exploration information system: mineral systems anatomy linked to computational techniques for mineral exploration targeting

• EIS combines spatial data and mineral systems to enhance exploration models. • EU-funded EIS project links mineral systems with exploration criteria using open GIS. • EIS identifies high potential exploration areas, reducing costs and environmental impact. • AI/Machine learning will improve mineral prospectivity mapping and modelling. The growing demand for critical raw materials resources has intensified the search for new mineral deposits, bringing mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) and mineral systems modelling to the forefront of economic geology. A recently proposed Exploration Information System (EIS), supported by the European Union4, aims to address the challenges of mineral exploration while generating a range of prospectivity models for targeting new deposits. By integrating diverse datasets and applying robust modelling techniques, geoscientists can better identify and evaluate mineralization footprints, ultimately improving exploration success rates. This paper explores how MPM methodologies can be effectively combined to interpret and utilize geoscientific data, with the goal of delineating areas of high mineral potential. Additionally, it serves as an editorial for a relevant Virtual Special Issue.