PhD Studentship - Investigating the formation and potential recovery of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Metals (Co,Se,Sb) from a sea floor analogue; Troodos Ophiolite, Cyprus

Rationale: The Rare Earth Elements (REE) are presently attracting acute interest due to their widespread use within modern technologies and the perceived supply risk due to limited presently viable ore deposits. In particular, the possibility of sea floor extraction of the REE has received widespread publicity with the recognition of the potential of marine clays to provide an economic supply1. However, determining the actual potential of REE in any sea-floor environment is hindered by the extreme environment and the demanding technologies required to investigate and evaluate these deposits. The Troodos Ophiolite, Cyprus is a fragment of ancient ocean floor that has been uplifted and now crops out in the Troodos mountains and is therefore a readily accessible analogue. Moreover, Cyprus contains a series of Mn-Fe-oxide-rich metalliferous sediments related to sea floor hydrothermal activity, which contain significant REE concentrations, up to 100*chondrite2. These deposits are the ochres and umbers that provided pigments for the Classical world. Although these REE concentrations are lower than some of the recent clay-rich sediments being investigate, these Fe-Oxide rich sediments also contain significant credits for gold, and so called “critical elements”, cobalt, selenium and antimony3, which makes them a more attractive commercial proposition. This PhD seeks to better understand the formation of the Cyprus REE and critical metal concentrations, examine the potential of the Cyprus deposits as an economic source of the REE and critical metals, and improve REE and critical metal extraction techniques.

Methodology: The studentship will first determine the spatial location of the Mn-Fe-oxide deposits within the Cyprus Ophiolite, using a combination of published geological and mining data alongside a Landsat/GIS survey of the island. The geological setting of various Mn-Fe-oxide deposits will then be investigated to determine the setting of the umbers within the ophiolite stratigraphy and the preservation potential in terms of the paleo-sea-floor. The student will investigate in detail the stratigraphy of the deposits, which should become less metal-rich as the basement spreads away from the hydrothermal springs located along the ancient volcanic spreading ridge. The location of the REE within the host minerals (mostly MnOx phases) will be determined at a micron scale using XANES and synchrotron techniques to establish the structural setting and bonding of the metals either to surfaces or within the mineral crystal lattice. Finally, the Mn-Fe-oxide samples from the deposits investigated will be subject to mineral processing electro-chemical techniques to determine the most efficient extraction methods and commercial viability of REE production in Cyprus and ultimately the present day sea-floor.

Training:
All doctoral candidates will enrol in the Graduate School of NOCS (GSNOCS), where they will receive specialist training in oral and written presentation skills, have the opportunity to participate in teaching activities, and have access to a full range of research and generic training opportunities. GSNOCS attracts students from all over the world and from all science and engineering backgrounds. There are currently around 200 full- and part-time PhD students enrolled (~60% UK and 40% EU & overseas).


The student will receive substantive training within the Graduate School of the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment. The supervisory team will mentor and guide the development of technical and professional skills, with student progress carefully monitored by six monthly Advisory Panels. Specialist support and training will be provided in field and analytical techniques, including Landsat/GIS, geological fieldwork XRD,XRF, SEM, ICP_MS, Laser ablation ICPMS, synchrotron and electrochemistry. The PhD student will also attend generic and subject specific faculty courses including: Research & Presentation Skills; Results Based Presenting; and Results Based Writing and advanced level modules in in electrochemistry at the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment in order to be able to apply state of the art electrochemical characterization methods such as cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronopotentiometry and determine the possibility to isolate and separate the REE. All three supervisors have access to state of the art analytical and laboratory facilities which will ensure that the majority of the analyses can be achieved “in house”.