Research
In our research, we pursue a “basic science” approach to economic geology, compared to more industry-driven groups worldwide. Companies recognise our pioneering instrumental and modelling capabilities as a basis for new exploration concepts, and support our research and training with 3-dimensional data sets, field logistics and access to mines.
Research areas
We focus on quantifying global, ore-forming processes of fluid-mineral-melt interaction, heat and mass transfer in the crust and upper mantle. To tackle these interactions, our team of geologists, chemists, geophysicists, and engineers aims to push the frontier of four critical discipline areas:
- Mineral system analysis to investigate what controls the size of mineral deposits
- High-precision geochronology to constrain the age and rate of key geological processes
- Numerical modelling to test and simulate the interaction of physical and chemical processes
- Fluid and melt inclusions study to obtain quantitative geochemical information on crustal fluids and melts
We are working towards a close integration of these approaches, to the point that we can rigorously test our understanding of coupled physical and chemical processes of hydrothermal ore formation. This will be a basis for reducing the economic risks in localising more deeply located resources - which are more difficult to find but commonly more environment-friendly to mine.