About the Project
Project Overview
Copper and cobalt are essential metals for electrification, renewable energy technologies, and battery supply chains, making understanding their geological enrichment processes increasingly important for supporting the global energy transition.
The Central African Copperbelt, extending across the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia, hosts the world's largest sedimentary rock-hosted cobalt resources and one of its most important copper provinces. Within this region, the Tenke-Fungurume Mining District (TFM) represents one of the largest and most metal-endowed Cu-Co districts globally and is responsible for a substantial proportion of global cobalt production.
Despite decades of exploration and mining, fundamental questions remain regarding the origin of the exceptional copper and cobalt enrichment at Tenke-Fungurume. In particular, the relationships among sedimentary architecture, structural evolution, fluid migration, and mineralisation remain incompletely understood.
This fully funded PhD project will investigate the geological processes responsible for Cu-Co mineralisation within the Tenke-Fungurume Mining District through an integrated programme of field geology, drill-core studies, mineralogy, geochemistry, geochronology and structural geology.
Research Objectives
The project will address several key scientific questions:
- What lithological and stratigraphic factors control the distribution of copper and cobalt mineralisation?
- How did faulting, folding, and evaporite-related deformation influence fluid flow and metal accumulation?
- Were copper and cobalt introduced during the same mineralising event or during multiple stages of mineralisation?
- What is the timing of mineralisation relative to basin development and tectonic deformation?
- What geological processes produced one of the world's largest sediment-hosted Cu-Co districts?
Research Approach
The successful candidate will undertake a multidisciplinary study involving:
- Geological mapping and drill-core logging;
- Sedimentological and stratigraphic analysis;
- Optical petrography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM);
- Mineral chemistry using EPMA and LA-ICP-MS;
- Re-Os, U-Pb, and Lu-Hf geochronology;
- Structural geological investigation;
- Integration of geological, geochemical, and geochronological datasets into a district-scale mineral systems framework.
The project will benefit from access to world-class analytical facilities at Durham University and extensive geological datasets from one of the world's premier copper-cobalt districts.
Training and Development
The student will receive advanced training in:
- Economic geology and mineral systems analysis;
- Sedimentary basin evolution;
- Ore deposit mineralogy and petrography;
- Isotope geochemistry and geochronology;
- Structural geology;
- Scientific communication and data integration.
The project provides an excellent opportunity for students interested in pursuing careers in mineral exploration, mining, critical minerals research, geoscience consultancy, or academia.
Candidate Requirements
Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, at least a 2:1 Honours degree, Master's degree, or international equivalent in Geology, Earth Sciences, or a closely related discipline.
We particularly welcome applicants with interests or experience in:
- Economic geology and critical mineral resources;
- Sedimentology and stratigraphy;
- Geochemistry;
- Geochronology;
- Structural geology;
- Mineral exploration.
Previous research experience through undergraduate or Master's projects, internships, or industry placements will be advantageous but is not essential.
How to Apply
To apply, please send the following information to lzhouearth@gmail.com:
- A CV;
- Academic transcripts;
- A cover letter outlining your suitability and motivation for the project;
- Contact details for two academic referees.
Application deadline: 30 July 2026
Interviews (online): 14 August 2026
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