# Blockchain-based Mineral Tracking and Tracing

> Minespider provides an open blockchain protocol for creating digital certificates to track minerals throughout global supply chains without gaps. The system already tracks over 10% of global tin production and collaborates with leading companies like Minsur in Peru and Rwanda. The solution addresses the lack of transparency in complex mineral supply chains and enables verification of origin from conflict areas.

**Sector:** Primary sector · **Industry:** Mining and raw materials · **Organisation:** Minespider, Aura Blockchain Consortium · **Maturity level:** Production

Canonical URL: https://www.sapientblock.com/en/use-cases/minespider-mineralien-mine-verfolgen

## Documentation status

- **Project status:** Production
- **Evidence:** Evidence high
- **Editorial review:** Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026

## Description

Minespider is a technology company founded in 2018 with offices in Germany and Ireland, which has developed an open, decentralised blockchain protocol for tracing minerals in global supply chains. The protocol is public, free, and interoperable — no single organisation controls the data. It records origin, certifications, and compliance documents across all transformation steps in the manufacturing process.

Minespider was founded in 2018 and received EU funding under the H2020 programme for two projects (CORDIS-ID 835775 and 946437). The protocol is specifically designed to trace conflict minerals — gold, tin, tantalum, tungsten, cobalt — in global supply chains, even when materials are transformed multiple times during manufacturing. Three core components: the blockchain layer (decentralised, without central control), the application layer (enterprise software), and the SILQ utility token. In the Phase 1 project (December 2018 – June 2019), pilots were conducted with over 20 Fortune 500 companies and their suppliers. Specific partners: Volkswagen (traceability of the lead supply chain for batteries), Google (tin traceability with LuNa Smelter Rwanda), Ford Otosan (Battery Passport for e-bus compliance with EU Battery Regulation), LuNa Smelter (conflict-free tin supplier from Africa). Minespider is recognised by the Responsible Minerals Initiative, EIT Raw Materials, UNECE, and the World Economic Forum. The protocol helps companies comply with the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, the EU Battery Regulation, and the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.

## Benefits

- Mining companies and manufacturing plants can meet their compliance requirements more efficiently while strengthening their reputation through verifiable ethical sourcing.
- Consumers gain direct access to origin information of their purchased products by scanning QR codes and can make informed purchasing decisions.
- The system enables seamless tracking of minerals even in complex supply chains with multiple transformation stages.
- Companies can improve their ESG performance through verifiable transparency and compliance with international standards.
- Automated verification significantly reduces manual inspection processes and associated costs.
- Compliance and procurement staff receive automated tools for risk assessment and can support their reporting with verified blockchain data.

## Challenges

- Companies need to adapt existing ERP systems and IoT infrastructures to the blockchain solution and train employees accordingly.
- Integrating various systems and coordinating all supply chain actors requires significant organisational effort.
- The quality of the entered data is crucial for the system's credibility and requires continuous monitoring.
- Employees need training in handling blockchain technology and must integrate new digital workflows into their daily work.

## Technology foundation

The system uses a decentralised blockchain architecture with proof-of-authority consensus, which is very energy-efficient and does not allow central control by individual actors. The technology combines blockchain with IoT integration and offers three different privacy and transparency levels for the varying requirements of supply chain actors.

## Sources

- [Minespider EU Project Report](https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/946437)
- [CORDIS/EU-Kommission: Minespider – Blockchain protocol for responsible mineral sourcing (H2020-Projekt 835775)](https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/835775)
- [Google Sustainability: Supplier Responsibility – Mineral Tracking mit Minespider](https://sustainability.google/stories/traceability/)
- [Ledger Insights: Minespider partners with Google for tin blockchain traceability](https://www.ledgerinsights.com/minespider-partners-with-google-for-tin-blockchain-traceability/)