PhD in Geochemistry

The Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering at Luleå University of Technology (LTU) is one of Europe’s leading academic environments for mining-related research. To ensure continued development within critical raw materials research, we are now seeking a PhD student in Ore Geology./nSubject description: Ore Geology includes the use, setting and mode of formation of naturally occurring economic concentrations of metallic raw materials. The research aims at describing the geological conditions that lead to economic concentrations of minerals, as well as how these minerals can be used for a sustainable societal development./nProject description: This PhD position is part of the research project CYCLiCAL – Crustal cycling of lithium during orogenesis – funded by the CAMM-CRM research initiative at LTU./nThe overall objective of this PhD project is to track the geochemical cycling and behaviour of lithium in the continental crust during orogenesis. Research will focus on the Paleoproterozoic Svecokarelian orogen in Sweden which offers an excellent natural lab to track the pre-enrichment and cyclical upgrading of lithium in a variety of metamorphic and igneous minerals formed during separate orogenic stages./nThe project will integrate: Geological mapping, structural mapping, and bedrock sampling; Rock and mineral characterisation using a variety of microanalytical techniques (SEM-EDS/WDS, EMPA, Micro-XRF, LIBS, LA-ICPMS, SIMS); Targeted geochronology studies of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks (e.g. U-Pb SIMS and LA-ICPMS analysis); Integration of results with regional geological and geochemical datasets.