Biography
Marine placer deposits are widely recognised as important sources of economic metals and minerals (e.g. tin, gold, platinum, titanium, iron and zirconium) and have been exploited globally for decades. They form when heavy mineral sands accumulate offshore in high-energy environments where conditions help sands to sort and concentrate according to density. While these sands occur on the strandlines of many Irish beaches, Ireland has not yet fully explored the potential of economically viable offshore deposits. This renewed research project characterises heavy minerals both offshore and onshore while looking for pathways in which sands are being transported and deposited. Understanding this system is imperative in identification of exploration targets.
Project title: Formation of Littoral and Offshore Irish Placer Resources (FLIPeR)
Technical Description
This study investigates the potential for marine heavy mineral placer deposits offshore Ireland. Research will focus on understanding concentration mechanisms of heavy minerals in marine detrital sediments, establishing the provenance areas and determining the pathway of heavy mineral sands in the littoral and shelf domains. Identifying environmental controls influencing placer formation will aid in the understanding of how marine placers form and by constraining priority targets for exploration.
To assist in the exploration of potential marine heavy mineral placers a multi-disciplinary approach will be employed. Geo-physical data acquisition methods will utilise high-resolution multibeam echosounder (MBES) bathymetry and backscatter, magnetometry, shallow-seismics (sub-bottom profiler) and ROV video seabed inspection ground truthed by vibro-coring and grab-sampling. Subsequent analyses of this dataset combined with geochemistry (SEM-EPMA), geochronology (LA-ICP-MS) and trace element analysis will reveal how heavy minerals concentrate, their source distribution and the environmental controls influencing placer formation.
Role
- Postgraduate Researcher
Institution
- UCC
Research Area
- Earth Resources
Expertise
- Critical Materials
