Project description
Preliminary data suggest that sediment δ^56Fe isotope values decrease with downstream distance, possibly reflecting progressive isotope fractionation linked to Fe oxidation and mineral precipitation. In this master’s project, the student will measure Fe isotopes in river waters and sediments from two different sampling years and assess whether the downstream trend is reproducible. The student will interpret these results in the context of the Río Tinto acid drainage system and explore their wider relevance for iron cycling in ancient Earth environments and Martian analogues. The project will provide insight into trace metal cycling and isotope systematics, while also giving the student hands-on experience in laboratory work, data interpretation, and developing a larger geological research project. These are valuable skills for later careers in research, geochemistry, or the environmental industry.
Field-, lab- and analysis work
Methods: Powdered sediment and, where available, filtered water samples from the Río Tinto system will be analysed for their iron isotope composition following sample preparation. Selected samples will be processed for Fe isotope analysis using ion exchange chromatography and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MCICP-MS). The dataset comprises already acquired samples from two field campaigns, enabling assessment of downstream δ^56Fe trends. Additional comparative samples may potentially be collected during a field campaign in 2027 at Litlabø to extend the dataset.
Proposed course plan during the master's degree (60 ECTS)
Year 1
Autumn Semester:
GEOV243 Environmental geochemistry (10 ECTS)
GEOV245 Geomicrobiology (10 ECTS)
GEOV300 / Scientific writing and communication in Earth Science (5 ECTS)
HOSP-GEOV / Science Project in Earth Science (5 or 10 ECTS)
Year 1, Spring Semester (20 ECTS + thesis start)
GEOV302 Data analysis in Earth science (10 ECTS)
GEOV342 The geochemical toolbox (10 ECTS)
GEOV344 Geobiology and evolution of life on Earth (10 ECTS)
Year 2
MSc Thesis in Earth Science (60 ECTS): independent research project including laboratory training, method
development, data acquisition, data analysis, interpretation, and thesis writing.