LODE

London Centre for Ore Deposits and Exploration (LODE) is focusing on developing a world-class mineral analytical facility to deliver important solutions to industry problems.

Aims

The LODE group aims to:

• Undertake research of the highest international quality into the mineralogy and geochemistry of ore deposits in order to improve discovery success and provide solutions to reduce both the environmental impact and energy use of resource extraction
• Identify, attract and develop students of the highest calibre, providing a pipeline of talent and future leaders for government, academia and the international minerals industry
• Foster a wider awareness and understanding of resource supply and development issues beyond the scientific community

The initiative

The LODE initiative formally combines:

• a long history of mineral deposit teaching and research at ICL
• the ores research group at the Museum, which has access to the world-class ore, rock and mineral collections

Our prize-winning research is delivering important solutions to industry problems and has been published in international journals such as Science, Nature Geoscience, Geology, American Journal of Science and Economic Geology.

Via the LODE LA-ICP-MS laboratory housed within the Museum’s Imaging and Analysis Centre, we have a focus on developing a world-class mineral analytical facility to deliver important solutions to industry problems.

In 2014, the team won the Measurements in Action Award from the Institution of Engineering and Technology for 'Lazer ablation analysis for enhanced discovery of buried mineral resources'.

Studentships

New projects will be developed with graduate and postgraduate level students. 

PhD level projects can be wholly funded by research council, industry partners or co-funded through schemes such as the NERC-CASE awards. Competitive departmental studentships may be applicable, depending on the balance between pure and applied research components.

More about the LODE project