GeOCHemISTea

For Episode 51, the tables are turned as Imdex Chief Geologist and Technologist Dave Lawie takes over hosting duties and puts Sam in the hot seat.Fresh from the SME Current Trends in Mining Finance conference in New York City, Dave and Sam discuss the growing disconnect between how mining projects are evaluated financially and how they actually behave technically. From resource models and geometallurgy to critical minerals, permitting, and project risk, they explore why geology, mineralogy, metallurgy, and geochemistry remain central to project success. The conversation also looks at Sam's path into geochemistry, the origins of GeOCHemISTea, and the role mentorship has played throughout her career. How Sam found her way into geochemistryWhy technical risk is often overlooked in mining financeThe realities of critical mineral recoveryGeometallurgy, mineralogy, and project valuationWhere AI may (and may not) help the industryWhy mining needs better conversations between technical and financial teamsA candid discussion about the assumptions, risks, and opportunities that sit between a discovery and a successful mine. SME Current Trends in Mining Finance ConferenceImdexLKI Consulting

In this episode of GeOCHemISTea, we're diving deep, literally, with Andy Campbell, oceanographer, geochemist, and former senior leader at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Andy takes us back to his PhD days at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where he conducted some of the earliest geochemical research on seafloor hydrothermal systems in the Guaymas Basin. His work on manganese cycling, water column anomalies, and hydrothermal plume modeling not only helped lay the foundation for modern vent geochemistry, it also offered early insight into how ore deposits might form in sediment-hosted marine environments.But the real tea? Andy was part of the shakedown cruise for the Titanic dives... yes, that Titanic... on the iconic Alvin submersible. He shares first-hand stories about extreme ocean storms, lost samples, deep-sea discoveries, and how a science cruise turned into an unexpected government career path. From manganese-rich vent clouds to nuclear safety policy, this episode explores the many ways geochemists contribute far beyond the lab.For this episode we read: Water column anomalies associated with hydrothermal activity in the Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California (Campbell and Gieskes, 1984)Manganese geochemistry in the Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California (Campbell et al., 1988)

Join us this month on GeOCHemISTea as we sit down with Brittany Hupp, Assistant Professor at George Mason University in the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences. Brittany specializes in micropaleontology, sedimentology, and low-temperature geochemistry, exploring ancient climates and ocean conditions to better understand modern environmental challenges.In this episode, Brittany shares her unconventional path into geosciences—from a dairy farm in rural Ohio to oceanic research cruises—and offers practical advice for aspiring geochemists seeking interdisciplinary careers. She introduces listeners to the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a pivotal ancient global warming event used as a critical analog to current climate change. Brittany explains how geochemical proxies, such as stable isotopes and trace elements in microfossils (foraminifera), illuminate past temperature shifts, ocean acidification, and hydrological changes.Tune in for captivating stories from life at sea, including the social dynamics aboard research vessels, and discover how paleoclimatology provides valuable insights into Earth's climate sensitivity and future scenarios.Grab your tea... it's time to spill!For this episode we read:The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum: A Perturbation of Carbon Cycle, Climate, and Biosphere with Implications for the Future (McInerney and Wing, 2011)Diagenetic Attenuation of Carbon Isotope Excursion Recorded by Planktic Foraminifers During the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (Kozdon et al., 2018)Development of a novel empirical framework for interpreting geological carbon isotope excursions, with implications for the rate of carbon injections across the PETM (Turner and Ridgwell, 2016)Individual foraminiferal analyses: a review of current and emerging geochemical techniques (Fehrenbacher et al., 2024)

Historical geochemical datasets can be challenging with variable methods, missing metadata, and shifting detection limits, but they’re also an invaluable resource for mineral exploration and mining.In this episode, we break down what qualifies as historical data, common pitfalls to watch for, and best practices for integrating legacy datasets into interpretation workflows. We also explore the newest geochemical data from field-portable and scanning technologies, examining how they complement and contrast with traditional datasets.For this episode we read:Advances in ICP-MS technology and the application of multi-element geochemistry to exploration (Sader and Ryan, 2019)Advances in exploration geochemistry, 2007 to 2017 and beyond (Winterburn et al., 2019)Evaluation of partial digestions for soils to detect a deeply buried VMS Cu-Zn prospect in boreal forests (van Geffen et al., 2014)Major advances in exploration geochemistry, 1998-2007 (Cohen et al., 2010)

In this episode of GeOCHemISTea we dive into the origins of orogenic gold deposits with Rich Goldfarb, exploring the science behind fluids, isotopes, and formation processes. From debunking magmatic theories to highlighting the facts of metamorphic origins, Rich shares the real tea (and quite a number of shenanigans) on how to make an orogenic gold deposit . Join us for a conversation that’s equal parts science and intrigue. For this episode we read: Orogenic gold: is a genetic association with magmatism realistic? (Goldfarb and Pitcairn, 2022)

Let's learn about upscaling LA-ICP-MS pyrite results to whole rock geochemistry data using PCA. On the way we'll hear about the life and times of an early career geochemist and some of the ins and outs of being a geochemical consultant. For this episode we read: Using whole rock and in situ pyrite chemistry to evaluate authigenic and hydrothermal controls on trace element variability in a Zn mineralized Proterozoic subbasin (Magnall et al., 2022)

This is our second episode on GeOCHemISTea where we have branched out from geochemistry into a sister geoscience - spectral geology. For this episode take a look at another of the spectral ecosystem's end-members: hyperspectral core imaging. Join us as we talk about hyperspectral imaging, the data load, and some interesting applications to porphyry geoscience. For this episode we read: Hyperspectral Core Imaging Applications in Porphyry Deposits (Corescan)

This is our first episode on GeOCHemISTea where we have branched out from geochemistry into a sister geoscience - spectral geology. For this episode we start from one of the spectral ecosystem's end-members: remote sensing, or satellites and airborne. Join us as we talk about the newest developments in sensor tech and data processing, while still paying proper attention to the role of remote sensing in the mining value chain. For this episode we read: Improvements in Mineralogical Classification with Increased Spectral Resolution: A Case Study over Cuprite, Nevada comparing Fused Bare Earth Composite and EnMAP Data (Wickert and Casement, 2024) Hyperspectral Imaging for Mining: EnMAP Satellite Data versus SpecTIR Airborne Data (Wickert and Casement, 2024) And we'd like to give a shout out to @LucaCongedoGIS on YouTube who we referenced numerous times in the podcast as the "Italian guy." You are a legend!