Dear Geochemists,
A bumper update this week!
Student Rep committee position:
We have a student representative position available on the Geochemistry Group committee! Our student representatives are highly valued members of our committee, giving a voice to, and supporting the student geochemistry community.
To apply for the position, please submit a brief statement about yourself and why you would like to take on this role (roughly half an A4 page). Please also provide a profile picture. Please email your statement to Marie-Laure Bagard (mlb63(a)cam.ac.uk) by the deadline on Friday 5th December.
If you have any questions about the role, then please feel free to contact me or our current student reps, Fawn Holland (fh37(a)st-andrews.ac.uk) and Chen Xu (cx23(a)st-andrews.ac.uk). Find out more about the current committee on our website: https://geochemistry.group/the-committee/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…>.
Please forward this info on to anyone who may be interested in applying!
PhD list:
We have lots of geochemistry-related PhD projects already advertised in our list! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16OQpC1r2lP199Tu9ZH5ZGyjYHAqHDOdFGRT…<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.goog…>
If you want to add to this list in the coming weeks, then please fill out the details here: https://forms.gle/X1vMMoYr1QPzdgmC7<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle…> . Projects don’t have to be purely geochemistry, and international PhDs are welcome! Please share this list with any prospective PhD students.
Geochemistry Group Awards (deadline 15th January):
The Geochemistry Group Postdoctoral Medal is awarded each year to a postdoctoral researcher who has published outstanding research in a peer-reviewed journal within the broad field of geochemistry. Nominations for the GG Medal can be submitted at any time throughout the year and will be reviewed at the January committee meeting. Please visit our website for full details and to apply https://geochemistry.group/awards-and-medals/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…>
If you know a postdoc with a great paper, then please encourage them to apply!!
Early Career Researcher Prominent Lecture Series. Applications for 2026 are now open, for more information please visit our website: https://geochemistry.group/awards-and-medals/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…>.
Meeting Attendance Bursaries (PhDs and ECRs) (deadline 15th January)
The Geochemistry Group welcomes applications from researchers registered at UK and Irish universities or research institutions to facilitate the presentation of their geochemistry-related research at a meeting hosted online, within the UK or internationally. The bursary is open to students regardless of funding situation as well postdoctoral researchers without financial support for conference attendance. Full eligibility criteria are listed in the application form which can be downloaded from our website: https://geochemistrygroup.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=130&action=e…<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…>
These are often under subscribed, so you stand a great chance of success!
GGRiP 2025:
A reminder that the next Geochemistry Group Research in Progress (GGRiP) meeting will take place in Bristol on the 24th-26th of March 2026.
For GGRiP 2026 in Bristol, we are running 2 pre-conference workshops that will be free for all conference attendees. The first will be a technical staff workshop covering lab techniques and lab management. The second workshop will be aimed at ECRs, covering the basics of different geochemistry techniques. There will be guest lecturers from across earth science/chemistry/Archaeology.
Topics will include:
* Introduction to Atoms, Molecules, Ions, Fields and Forces.
* Inorganic Mass Spectrometry for Elemental and Isotope Ratio Determination: Quads, TOF, Sectors, (CC)-MC-ICPMS.
* GC and LC Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Separating and Quantifying Molecules in Complex Mixtures; compound specific IRMS (C,N,H).
The GGRiP website will be live for registration from December 2025! Please also check our website: https://geochemistry.group/research-in-progress-meeting/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…> for the latest info!
Mineralogical Society at 150: Past Discoveries and Future Frontiers
The Mineralogical Society will celebrate its sesquicentennial during 2026. The focal point of our celebrations will be a three-day meeting at the University of Manchester from 23–25 June 2026. All are welcome, from students and early-career researchers to those who have a lifetime of Society experience under their belts!
A key element of the programme will focus on the history of the Society. As part of our celebration, we will publish an article in Mineralogical Magazine describing the history of the Society. In addition, we will celebrate the key people who have contributed to the organization, to our journals and to mineral science over the past 150 years. We would welcome contributions which look at the history of our Society, its leaders and, our disciplines. These may fit in any of the sessions but certainly are welcomed in the ‘Universal Session’.
The scientific sessions (up to 3x parallel sessions are planned) will be held in the Schuster Building and the banquet, on the night of 23rd June, will be held at the wonderful Whitworth Hall. More information on the event webpage: https://minsoc-150.org/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fminsoc-15…>
MinSoc Skills and Training:
Register here for an upcoming event (18th November 2025): Advances and applications in carbonate geochronology<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2…> by Nick Roberts, BGS
In situ U-Pb dating of carbonates using LA-ICP-MS (Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) has become a widely applied method in the last decade, in part due to the ubiquity of carbonate minerals in a range of geological settings and lithologies, as well as the large number of laboratories with suitable instrumentation. Here I will review the method, from the basics of LA-ICP-MS through to the requirements specific to carbonates. I will discuss common issues to obtaining and interpreting reliable U-Pb data. Carbonate dating is applicable across a wide breadth of geoscience, and I will demonstrate a range of examples and case studies to explore the extensive possibilities. I will also discuss current issues and future directions.
Follow us on Bluesky, LinkedIn & YouTube:
* Follow us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/geochemgroup.bsky.social<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%…>.
* We now have the Geochemistry Group set up as a ‘company' on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-geochemistry-group/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linke…>, so please follow us here!
* Also a plug for our parent body, the Mineralogical Society of the UK and Ireland, follow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mineralogical-society-of-uk-and-ireland/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linke…> for lots of relevant updates.
* Check out some great resources on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@geochemistrygroup4420<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtu…>. Here you can watch all our past series of 'ECR Skills for Geochemists' and 'Out of Academia: Into Science’.
All the best
George
Dr George Cooper (ef/fo - he/him)
Cymrawd Ymchwil Prifysgol, y Gymdeithas Frenhinol | Royal Society University Research Fellow
Ysgol Gwyddorau’r Ddaear a’r Amgylchedd | School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Prifysgol Caerdydd | Cardiff University
Ebost | Email: CooperG3(a)cardiff.ac.uk
Ystafell | Office: 1.74A
Dear Geochemists,
PhD list:
We are compiling a list of all the geochemistry-related PhD projects available in the UK (or abroad, for UK applicants). If you have/know of a project, please fill out the details here: https://forms.gle/X1vMMoYr1QPzdgmC7<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle…>. Projects don’t have to be purely geochemistry!
Thanks to all those who have already added PhD projects, it looks like there will be lots on offer! We will circulate the compiled list on social media, our website and through the mailing list in November.
GGRiP 2025:
A reminder that the next Geochemistry Group Research in Progress (GGRiP) meeting will take place in Bristol on the 24th-26th of March 2026.
For GGRiP 2026 in Bristol, we are running 2 pre-conference workshops that will be free for all conference attendees. The first will be a technical staff workshop covering lab techniques and lab management. The second workshop will be aimed at ECRs, covering the basics of different geochemistry techniques. There will be guest lecturers from across earth science/chemistry/Archaeology.
Topics will include:
* Introduction to Atoms, Molecules, Ions, Fields and Forces.
* Inorganic Mass Spectrometry for Elemental and Isotope Ratio Determination: Quads, TOF, Sectors, (CC)-MC-ICPMS.
* GC and LC Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Separating and Quantifying Molecules in Complex Mixtures; compound specific IRMS (C,N,H).
The GGRiP website will be live for registration from December 2025! Please also check our website: https://geochemistry.group/research-in-progress-meeting/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…> for the latest info!
Mineralogical Society at 150: Past Discoveries and Future Frontiers
The Mineralogical Society will celebrate its sesquicentennial during 2026. The focal point of our celebrations will be a three-day meeting at the University of Manchester from 23–25 June 2026. All are welcome, from students and early-career researchers to those who have a lifetime of Society experience under their belts!
A key element of the programme will focus on the history of the Society. As part of our celebration, we will publish an article in Mineralogical Magazine describing the history of the Society. In addition, we will celebrate the key people who have contributed to the organization, to our journals and to mineral science over the past 150 years. We would welcome contributions which look at the history of our Society, its leaders and, our disciplines. These may fit in any of the sessions but certainly are welcomed in the ‘Universal Session’.
The scientific sessions (up to 3x parallel sessions are planned) will be held in the Schuster Building and the banquet, on the night of 23rd June, will be held at the wonderful Whitworth Hall. More information on the event webpage: https://minsoc-150.org/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fminsoc-15…>
[image002.jpg]
MinSoc Skills and Training:
Register here for an upcoming event (18th November 2025): Advances and applications in carbonate geochronology<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2…> by Nick Roberts, BGS
In situ U-Pb dating of carbonates using LA-ICP-MS (Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) has become a widely applied method in the last decade, in part due to the ubiquity of carbonate minerals in a range of geological settings and lithologies, as well as the large number of laboratories with suitable instrumentation. Here I will review the method, from the basics of LA-ICP-MS through to the requirements specific to carbonates. I will discuss common issues to obtaining and interpreting reliable U-Pb data. Carbonate dating is applicable across a wide breadth of geoscience, and I will demonstrate a range of examples and case studies to explore the extensive possibilities. I will also discuss current issues and future directions.
Follow us on Bluesky, LinkedIn & YouTube:
Our X account is no longer, so please:
* Follow us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/geochemgroup.bsky.social<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%…>.
* We now have the Geochemistry Group set up as a ‘company' on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-geochemistry-group/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linke…>, so please follow us here!
* Also a plug for our parent body, the Mineralogical Society of the UK and Ireland, follow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mineralogical-society-of-uk-and-ireland/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linke…> for lots of relevant updates.
* Check out some great resources on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@geochemistrygroup4420<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtu…>. Here you can watch all our past series of 'ECR Skills for Geochemists' and 'Out of Academia: Into Science’.
All the best
George
Dear Geochemists,
It’s that time of year again when PhD opportunities are advertised. We will be compiling another list of all the geochemistry-related PhD projects available in the UK (or abroad, for UK applicants).
To help us compile the list, I have put together a short google form to enter all the relevant info: https://forms.gle/X1vMMoYr1QPzdgmC7<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle…> .
So if you have/know of a project you would like adding to the list, please fill out the form ASAP. We will circulate the compiled list on our website and through the mailing list in November.
All the best
George
Dear Geochemists,
The following workshop may be of interest to many!
We invite the community to register for the Magellan3 workshop “Zero-age drilling at mid-ocean ridges”. Mid-ocean ridges (MOR) are a major component of the plate tectonic cycle. Newly formed ocean crust at MOR (‘zero-age’) undergoes significant changes soon after formation (e.g. the onset of hydrothermal alteration, hosting microbial life, changing physical and magnetic properties). Despite these fundamental changes, our sampling of ‘zero-age’ crust is very limited, particularly in the sub-surface. This workshop will explore the scientific rationale and locations for a zero-age drilling proposal using seabed drilling technology to be submitted to IODP3. The workshop will also explore opportunities to link any potential drill sites with other seagoing experiments to maximise the scientific return, as such we encourage communities who may not have engaged with scientific drilling before to participate.
Workshop logistics:
Where: The workshop will be held at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, with online hybrid participation possible.
When: Thursday 8th January – Friday 9th of January 2026
Registration deadline: Friday 5th of December 2025
Link to registration form: https://forms.office.com/e/ZhMrHnWNjC?origin=lprLink<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.off…>
Travel support: Limited support is available to attend the workshop in person, ECRS will be prioritised. Please indicate during registration if you would like to be considered for travel support.
Workshop Programme: Full programme to follow, includes keynote talks to stimulate discussion and discussion sessions.
For further information or if you have any questions, please contact either Michelle Harris (michelle.harris(a)plymouth.ac.uk<mailto:michelle.harris@plymouth.ac.uk>) or Aled Evans (a.evans(a)soton.ac.uk<mailto:a.evans@soton.ac.uk>).
All the best
George
[Zero_Age_Flyer_draft_v4.png]
Dear Geochemists,
Last call for GGMS 2025 mentors and mentees! (Deadline today!)
Don’t forget to sign up as a mentee (or mentor) for the 2025/2026 Geochemistry Group Mentor Scheme (GGMS).
The aim of the scheme is to connect early career researchers (ECRs) and PhD students with more established geochemists, people they might not normally have the opportunity to meet, or to hold in-depth discussions with, over an extended time period.
If you would like to sign up as a mentee then please fill out the expression of interest form here: https://forms.office.com/e/EpbhASsBzd<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.off…>
This year, we are also looking for new mentors (established geochemists). We especially encourage those with industry experience for those ECRs looking for guidance on paths outside of academia. We are also encouraging the participation of an in-person GGMS meeting during the lunchtime break at our annual GGRiP meeting held at the University of Bristol next year, and mentors will be offered a 15% discount on attendance fees for this event. This is a fantastic opportunity to give back to our community! If you are interested in becoming a mentor with GGMS, please fill out this form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=MH_ksn3NTkql2rGM8aQVG8-…<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.off…> (You must be based in the UK and Ireland)
This scheme will involve a time commitment of 4 to 5 meetings between mentors and mentees over the course of an academic year (for full information, please see our website: https://geochemistry.group/ggms/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…>)
Meeting Attendance Bursaries (PhDs and ECRs) (deadline 15th October)
The Geochemistry Group welcomes applications from researchers registered at UK and Irish universities or research institutions to facilitate the presentation of their geochemistry-related research at a meeting hosted online, within the UK or internationally. The bursary is open to students regardless of funding situation as well postdoctoral researchers without financial support for conference attendance. Funding for two types of expenses can be applied for through this bursary: (i) offsetting the cost of travel to conferences being attended in person; (ii) contributions towards the costs of attending online conferences.
Full eligibility criteria are listed in the application form which can be downloaded from our website: https://geochemistrygroup.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=130&action=e…<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…>
GGRiP 2025
A reminder that the next Geochemistry Group Research in Progress (GGRiP) meeting will take place in Bristol on the 24th-26th of March 2026.
For GGRiP 2026 in Bristol, we are running 2 pre-conference workshops that will be free for all conference attendees. The first will be a technical staff workshop covering lab techniques and lab management. The second workshop will be aimed at ECRs, covering the basics of different geochemistry techniques. There will be guest lecturers from across earth science/chemistry/Archaeology.
Topics will include:
* Introduction to Atoms, Molecules, Ions, Fields and Forces.
* Inorganic Mass Spectrometry for Elemental and Isotope Ratio Determination: Quads, TOF, Sectors, (CC)-MC-ICPMS.
* GC and LC Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Separating and Quantifying Molecules in Complex Mixtures; compound specific IRMS (C,N,H).
The GGRiP website will be live for registration from December 2025! Please also check our website: https://geochemistry.group/research-in-progress-meeting/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…> for the latest info!
Mineralogical Society at 150: Past Discoveries and Future Frontiers
The Mineralogical Society will celebrate its sesquicentennial during 2026. The focal point of our celebrations will be a three-day meeting at the University of Manchester from 23–25 June 2026. All are welcome, from students and early-career researchers to those who have a lifetime of Society experience under their belts!
A key element of the programme will focus on the history of the Society. As part of our celebration, we will publish an article in Mineralogical Magazine describing the history of the Society. In addition, we will celebrate the key people who have contributed to the organization, to our journals and to mineral science over the past 150 years. We would welcome contributions which look at the history of our Society, its leaders and, our disciplines. These may fit in any of the sessions but certainly are welcomed in the ‘Universal Session’.
The scientific sessions (up to 3x parallel sessions are planned) will be held in the Schuster Building and the banquet, on the night of 23rd June, will be held at the wonderful Whitworth Hall. More information on the event webpage: https://minsoc-150.org/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fminsoc-15…>
[MinSoc_Flier_150th-final-copy-1503x2048.jpeg]
MinSoc Skills and Training:
Register here<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2…> for an upcoming event (21 October 2025): The versatility of ICP Analysis, an Earth Science-focused introduction<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2…>, by Sam Hammond and Barbara Kunz, Open University.
ICP instruments are relatively common in Earth and Environmental science analysis, allowing the measurement of major, minor and trace element concentrations, and isotopic ratios of a wide variety of materials from rocks, soils, waters, through to biological tissues, chemical experiments, nano-technologies and more. In this seminar we will provide an overview of ICP instruments and analysis, with a specific focus on quadrupole ICP-MS instruments used for trace element analysis. The versatility of ICP instruments are one of their strengths, however, there are also pitfalls to be avoided in order to achieve the best quality analysis. We will also discuss some specific analytical strategies, and show how we in our lab at the Open University ensure data quality.
Follow us on Bluesky, LinkedIn & YouTube:
Our X account is no longer, so please:
* Follow us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/geochemgroup.bsky.social<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbsky.app%…>.
* We now have the Geochemistry Group set up as a ‘company' on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-geochemistry-group/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linke…>, so please follow us here!
* Also a plug for our parent body, the Mineralogical Society of the UK and Ireland, follow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mineralogical-society-of-uk-and-ireland/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linke…> for lots of relevant updates.
* Check out some great resources on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@geochemistrygroup4420<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtu…>. Here you can watch all our past series of 'ECR Skills for Geochemists' and 'Out of Academia: Into Science’.
All the best
George
Dear Geochemists,
Meeting Attendance Bursaries (PhDs and ECRs) (deadline 15th October)
The Geochemistry Group welcomes applications from researchers registered at UK and Irish universities or research institutions to facilitate the presentation of their geochemistry-related research at a meeting hosted online, within the UK or internationally. The bursary is open to students regardless of funding situation as well postdoctoral researchers without financial support for conference attendance. Funding for two types of expenses can be applied for through this bursary: (i) offsetting the cost of travel to conferences being attended in person; (ii) contributions towards the costs of attending online conferences.
Full eligibility criteria are listed in the application form which can be downloaded from our website: https://geochemistrygroup.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=130&action=e…<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…>
Last call for GGMS 2025 mentors and mentees! (Deadline 10th October)
Don’t forget to sign up as a mentee (or mentor) for the 2025/2026 Geochemistry Group Mentor Scheme (GGMS).
The aim of the scheme is to connect early career researchers (ECRs) and PhD students with more established geochemists, people they might not normally have the opportunity to meet, or to hold in-depth discussions with, over an extended time period.
If you would like to sign up as a mentee then please fill out the expression of interest form here: https://forms.office.com/e/EpbhASsBzd<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.off…>
This year, we are also looking for new mentors (established geochemists). We especially encourage those with industry experience for those ECRs looking for guidance on paths outside of academia. We are also encouraging the participation of an in-person GGMS meeting during the lunchtime break at our annual GGRiP meeting held at the University of Bristol next year, and mentors will be offered a 15% discount on attendance fees for this event. This is a fantastic opportunity to give back to our community! If you are interested in becoming a mentor with GGMS, please fill out this form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=MH_ksn3NTkql2rGM8aQVG8-…<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.off…> (You must be based in the UK and Ireland)
This scheme will involve a time commitment of 4 to 5 meetings between mentors and mentees over the course of an academic year (for full information, please see our website: https://geochemistry.group/ggms/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…>)
GGRiP 2025:
A reminder that the next Geochemistry Group Research in Progress (GGRiP) meeting will take place in Bristol on the 24th-26th of March 2026.
For GGRiP 2026 in Bristol, we are running 2 pre-conference workshops that will be free for all conference attendees. The first will be a technical staff workshop covering lab techniques and lab management. The second workshop will be aimed at ECRs, covering the basics of different geochemistry techniques. There will be guest lecturers from across earth science/chemistry/Archaeology.
Topics will include:
* Introduction to Atoms, Molecules, Ions, Fields and Forces.
* Inorganic Mass Spectrometry for Elemental and Isotope Ratio Determination: Quads, TOF, Sectors, (CC)-MC-ICPMS.
* GC and LC Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Separating and Quantifying Molecules in Complex Mixtures; compound specific IRMS (C,N,H).
The GGRiP website will be live for registration from December 2025! Please also check our website: https://geochemistry.group/research-in-progress-meeting/<https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgeochemis…> for the latest info!
All the best
George