Rate My Professor Isabel Barton

Isabel Barton is an associate professor in the School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources at The University of Arizona. She holds a BS in Geology from the University of Oklahoma, MS in Geosciences from the University of Arizona with a thesis on alteration and ore distribution in the Proterozoic Mines Series at Tenke-Fungurume Cu-Co District, Democratic Republic of Congo, PhD in Geosciences from the University of Arizona with a dissertation on copper-cobalt mineralization at Tenke-Fungurume and developments in geology between 1550 and 1750 A.D., and MS in Mining Engineering from the University of Arizona with a thesis on the mineralogical and metallurgical study of supergene ores at the Mike Cu-Au(-Zn) deposit, Carlin Trend, Nevada. Barton began the geometallurgy program at the University of Arizona in 2014 as a Research Scientist with the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources, sponsored by Newmont Mining and Freeport-McMoRan Inc., prior to her faculty appointment.

Her primary research focus is geometallurgy, collaborating with metallurgists, geologists, mine engineers, mineralogists, geotechnical engineers, archaeologists, and geochemists on materials characterization, analytical techniques, economic geology, geochemistry, extractive metallurgy, mineralogy, and history of mining, metallurgy, and geology. Key publications include 'Geometallurgy of the Tenke-Fungurume sediment-hosted copper-cobalt district, D.R. Congo' (Minerals Engineering, 2024), 'Chalcopyrite leaching in novel lixiviants' (Hydrometallurgy, 2021), 'Heap leach pad mapping with drone-based hyperspectral remote sensing at the Safford copper mine, Arizona' (Hydrometallurgy, 2022), 'Paradox Basin uranium-vanadium deposits: History and significance of geological research' (Mining, Metallurgy, & Exploration, 2024), and 'Vanadium in phyllosilicate ores: occurrence, crystal chemistry, and leaching behavior' (Minerals Engineering, 2023). Awards include the National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2021), Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Outstanding Young Professional Award (2021), and SME Academic Career Development Grant (2021). Barton delivers keynote talks, such as at Missouri University of Science and Technology, and leads projects including a mine tailings reuse initiative.