Accessibility statement

Geochemistry

Qualifications	Duration	Start dates	Application period
PhD (MPhil also available)	Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years	February and October	January to April

Qualifications
PhD (MPhil also available)

Duration
Full-time: 3–4 years
Part-time: 6–8 years

Start dates
February and October

Application period
January to April

Geochemistry is a key theme in the Dynamic Earth Research and Palaeoenvironmental Change Groups and has been a major focus of the research carried out at The Open University for nearly 40 years.

Academics and researchers from Earth Sciences use cutting-edge geochemical techniques, such as laser ablation (LA) inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and solution ICP-MS, to study a very diverse range of problems in the Earth and Environmental Sciences. Our research interests include ore formation and the evolution of the Earth’s mantle and crust, palaeoceanography, water-related alteration processes, palaeoenvironmental change, impact cratering and the early Earth, climate science, magmatism and metamorphism related to mountain building.

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.

Potential research projects

We encourage enquiries from prospective students on any geochemical or geochronological aspect of Earth evolution and ore formation.

Current/recent research projects

Using mineral systems to track arc magmas to ores
Te and Se cycling and supply
Using geochemical tracers to study the South Asian Monsoon
Hydrous and hydrothermal evolution of impact craters
Reconstructing ocean circulation during past warm climates
Using noble gases and Ar/Ar geochronology to track volcanic and crustal processes

Potential supervisors

Dr Tom Argles – metamorphic evolution, crustal melting, economic geology
Dr Pallavi Anand – ocean biogeochemical proxies and palaeoceanography
Dr Frances Jenner – igneous geochemistry, economic geology
Dr Marcus Badger – organic geochemistry, temperature and atmospheric CO₂ proxy application
Dr Susanne Schwenzer – water-related alteration processes, impact-cratering and Early Earth processes.
Dr Philip Sexton – climatic change during the Eocene and mid-Cretaceous ‘greenhouse’ regimes, and the relationships between ocean circulation, ocean carbonate chemistry, and atmospheric CO₂
Dr Sarah Sherlock – ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology
Professor Clare Warren – metamorphic evolution, U-Pb and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology, petrochronology, geodynamic evolution.