Author

Emma Fairley

Date

2011-ongoing

Project Type

PhD

Subject

Geology

Datasets

British Geological Survey collection via Digimap

Ordnance Survey collection via Digimap

Related Subjects

Mining; Economics; Environmental studies; Contaminated Land Remediation; Nuclear Waste Disposal; Politics

Sources: Digimap

Dates/Editions: All available.

Scales: All available scales for Ordnance Survey; 1:10,000 for BGS

Key Words

Minerals; crystals; REEs; fieldwork

Publishing Institution

University of Glasgow

Summary

Accessory minerals host Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and actinides, which are some of the most economically and environmentally important trace-elements. REEs are found in a variety of cutting edge technologies and consumer products such as pace-makers, aerospace parts, wind turbines, and atomic batteries. Actinides are vital to the nuclear power industry.

Only with recent advances in analytical techniques has the behaviour of these minerals been investigated. My project is examining the behaviour of REE- and actinide- bearing minerals under different low-temperature geological conditions, in order to provide the first comprehensive account of accessory mineral behaviour in crustal rocks. EDINA's Digimap geology collection has allowed me to identify a variety of field localities from which to collect samples for my project. 

Aims & Objectives

• Identify suitable low-temperature geological environments- Regional, contact, hydrothermal and diagenetic environments for sample collection.

• Study low temperature behaviour of main REE- and actinide- bearing minerals in crustal rock.

• Monitor dissolution, alteration and survival of these minerals.

• Produce the first comprehensive account of accessory mineral behaviour in crustal rocks.

Methodology

I have utilized the Digimap Geology collection to research possible field localities for my PhD. The detailed geological maps have allowed me to select sampling locations from a variety of geological settings from around the UK. Preliminary office-based assessment of the field localities has been invaluable, as it means time spent in the field is targeted and more efficient. 

Results/Outcome

This is the preliminary phase of a 3-year PhD project. I hope that data gathered during this study will provide the first comprehensive account of how rare and economically valuable minerals behave in the Earth’s crust.

References & Acknowledgements

Supervisor: Dr Tim Dempster, University of Glasgow. Project funded by the Angus Mitchell Scholarship.