The next adventure has been revealed

As of 1 November I shall be employed again. True to my pattern thus far it will be for something I have never done before. My Master's research was a structural geology project focusing on the deformation style and timing of a specific fault in the Brooks Range, Alaska. My PhD research focused on the metamorphic history of all of Tasmania, my first post-doc position introduced me to experimental petrology as a tool for understanding subduction zone processes. Now I am about to start a research position focusing on 3D (and 4D) geochemical modelling of VHMS ore deposit systems in northern Sweden.

This will be a project with a steep learning curve for me since the last two projects focused on metapelitic rocks and now I will need to learn the intimate details of volcanic rocks and what happens when they not only contain ore deposits but also have been subjected to greenschist facies metamorphism.

Needless to say, I left the meeting where I accepted the job offer with a bit of light reading in hand—one textbook: Introduction to Ore-Forming Processes and one PhD thesis: Volcanic Stratigraphy and Hydrothermal Alteration of the Petiknäs South Zn-Pb-Cu-Au-Ag Volcanic-hosted Massive Sulfide Deposit, Sweden. This thesis contains cross sections of one of the important deposits in this area—my project will be to take this sort of research to the next step—modelling the actual volumes involved in 3D.

I will look forward to reading these during the next couple of weeks before the job actually starts—in theory I will be in a much better place to hit the ground running by doing so. If any of you have suggestions for things in the literature that I really should read if I hope to do well with this research feel free to share them here. It is time to start reading 1000 words a day from the geologic literature again. I stopped at the end of last year when my job ended and haven't picked it back up during my extended vacation between jobs. I have enjoyed the holiday, but it is time to refocus on science and learning.