ProfessorSarah Gleeson

Sarah A. Gleeson has broad research interests in mineral deposit genesis, diagenetic processes, hydrothermal fluid flow and water rock interaction in crustal settings. She has carried out research on provinces with world-class Zn and Cu deposits globally, for example, in Ireland, Germany, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Canada, and the USA.  Her Research Ireland Research Professorship grant is entitled "Metals for a Green Ireland: Developing innovative mineral systems and exploration tools". Renewable energy and high-tech applications require large amounts of raw materials. Professor's Gleeson's multidisciplinary research programme is focussed on 1. developing the next generation of models and geochemical exploration techniques to detect ore deposits in sedimentary basins and 2. to further the understanding of the general public’s perceptions of the underground. The research team will construct mineral systems models that integrate geology, geochemistry, petrophysical and geophysical signatures of base metal deposits in the Irish Zn-Pb orefield, the Central African Copperbelt and other mineral systems in Europe and North America. Fundamental genetic studies on individual deposits will also be carried out.  Professor Gleeson's group is developing new stable isotopic tools and geochemical tools to enhance detection of buried ore deposits and link petrophysical and geochemical datasets using 3D constraints from rock samples. Research, with collaborator Dr. Geertje Schuitema will also assess how the general public visualize and makes decisions about use of the sub-surface and georesources. Professor Gleeson's background in geochemical innovation adds to the current economic geology group at UCD and the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences.