GFZ German research centre for geo sciences

Dr. Joseph Michael Magnall

Group Leader
Dr. Joseph Michael Magnall
Building B, Room 125 (Büro)
Telegrafenberg
14473 Potsdam

Research Interests:

Some of our highest-grade ore deposits are located in sedimentary basins, which up to this point have largely been the focus of hydrocarbon exploitation; looking forwards, non-carbon-based (mineral) resources in sedimentary basins will provide the material framework for the energy transition. Within this broad context we face the problem that many of the easiest discoveries located in the uppermost 1 km of the earth’s crust have now been made, yet we still do not fully understand fundamental aspects of sediment-hosted mineral systems across a range of scales. 
My research interests are focused towards improving mineral systems models so that we can:
  • Understand the temporal and spatial distribution of sediment hosted ore deposits within the geological record, including where the major (Zn, Pb, Cu) and minor (In, Ge, Ag etc.) metals are ultimately sourced from.
  • Determine the parameters that control the formation of the high-grade systems.
This involves integrating a wide range of petrographic and geochemical datasets to help reconstruct the diagenetic and hydrothermal evolution of sediment hosted mineral systems, including: 
  • Petrographic techniques (transmitted & reflected light microscopy, cathodoluminescence, scanning electron microscopy)
  • Fluid inclusion analysis (microthermometry & LA-ICP-MS)
  • Whole rock lithogeochemistry & XRD
  • Stable (S, C, O, Mo) and radiogenic (Sr) isotopes
  • Mineral chemistry (EPMA, LA-ICP-MS)
  • Fe speciation

Education:

2015-present – Postdoctoral Researcher, GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Germany 
2011-2015 – PhD, Economic Geology, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
2010-11 – MSc, Geochemistry, School of Earth and Environment, Leeds University, England
2006-2009 – BSc, Environmental Geology, School of Earth and Environment, Leeds University, England

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