Deciphering a signature
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Sample: Skarn with epidote and molybdenite
Locality: Argyllshire, Scotland, United Kingdom Solid foundation
Museum scientists are always trying to find new ways to discover ore deposits and with more than 16,000 samples from around the world, the ore collection provides a solid resource foundation for this research. |
Green signal
The light green mineral in photograph A is epidote and the Museum’s Eloise Harmen’s MSci project focuses on whether epidote’s chemistry i.e. its ‘signature’, is specific to the geological environment in which it formed. To do this, Eloise is seeking to establish the controls on epidote’s trace element chemistry to see if comparisons can be made between the signatures of epidotes forming in different geological settings.
If epidote’s signature is specific to the setting in which it formed, Museum scientists hope to establish whether this mineral’s signature can be used to distinguish between mineralized (containing metals of interest) and barren (not containing metals of interest) hydrothermal ore systems. This could prove a vital tool in the early stages of exploration.
View window three and window nine to read more about how the ore collection is aiding with cutting edge research.
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The light green mineral in photograph A is epidote and the Museum’s Eloise Harmen’s MSci project focuses on whether epidote’s chemistry i.e. its ‘signature’, is specific to the geological environment in which it formed. To do this, Eloise is seeking to establish the controls on epidote’s trace element chemistry to see if comparisons can be made between the signatures of epidotes forming in different geological settings.
If epidote’s signature is specific to the setting in which it formed, Museum scientists hope to establish whether this mineral’s signature can be used to distinguish between mineralized (containing metals of interest) and barren (not containing metals of interest) hydrothermal ore systems. This could prove a vital tool in the early stages of exploration.
View window three and window nine to read more about how the ore collection is aiding with cutting edge research.
< Back to calendar