The University of Manchester — Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Supervisors: Dr M Hartley, Dr Matthew Thomas, Dr David Neave, Dr A Pawley
Applications accepted all year round. Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide).
About the Project
The global transition towards net zero and the digital economy has driven unprecedented demand for critical raw materials including lithium, copper, arsenic, tungsten and tin. As metal demand increases and fast-moving geopolitical constraints create supply-side vulnerabilities, there is increasing need to characterize previously uneconomical resources and evaluate their capacity to deliver secure future supplies. Igneous intrusions, particularly granites, are key geological resources for strategically important critical metals like Cu and Li. Silicate magmas derived by melting mantle and/or crustal rocks can concentrate significant quantities of trace metals, while magmatic and hydrothermal fluids percolating through an intrusion and adjacent wall rock can transport soluble metals and deposit them in mineralized vein systems. The distribution of metals in the solidified igneous system is ultimately controlled by metal partitioning behaviour between the silicate melt, immiscible sulfide melt (if present), and the aqueous fluid.
This project focuses on the complex interplay between crystallization, fluid and sulfide saturation, in creating the optimal geological and geochemical conditions that lead to the formation of extractable mineral resources in magmatic settings. Silicate and sulfide phases are well preserved in solidified intrusions, fluid compositions are only accessible by analysing fluid inclusions trapped within minerals. A key aim of this project is to provide new computational tools to rapidly characterize the mineralogical context of fluid inclusion assemblages, and the composition, temperature, pH and salinity of the trapped fluids. We will begin by investigating the magma and fluid geochemistry of the Caledonian (~430-400 Ma) ‘Newer Granites’ and associated smaller intrusions in northern Britain, which were historically important sources of porphyry-style Cu-Mo-Au-As enrichments. A recent report by the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (2023) identified these intrusions as areas with potential for future critical raw material prospectivity, yet key outstanding questions include: What were the trace metal contents of the small-fraction mantle-derived magmas and crustal melts that formed these intrusions? How did metals partition between silicate, sulfide and aqueous phases? What were the compositions of the magmatic and hydrothermal fluids? Was mineralization associated with primary or secondary metal-carrying fluids? Could similar geological settings be potentially fruitful areas for future resource exploration?
This project will involve a range of analytical techniques to reconstruct the magmatic and hydrothermal fluid compositions of metallized igneous intrusions. We will begin with detailed petrographic characterization of existing samples from the Caledonian Newer Granites suite to identify fluid inclusion assemblages. Compositions of magmatic and secondary fluids will be measured by fluid inclusion microthermometry. Raman spectroscopy will be used to create phase maps of fluid inclusion-bearing samples, and we will explore 3D Raman microtomography as a mechanism for identifying and mapping non-silicate precipitates within individual fluid inclusions. High-resolution 2D and 3D Raman maps will generate 10,000s of spectra, so the student will develop open-source machine learning techniques to identify different mineral phases. Depending on the student’s background and interests, the project could progress in a geological direction exploring the thermochemical evolution of mineralized igneous systems, or in a data science direction analysing spectral or imaging datasets relevant to resource characterization.
This project is expected to start in September 2027.
Before you apply: We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply.
How to apply:
To be considered for this project you must complete a formal application through our online application portal. If you already have an applicant account, this link will directly open an application for PhD School of Natural Sciences Scholarships. If you don’t already have an applicant account, please follow the instructions here.
When applying, please specify the full title and supervisor/s of the project, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees. You must also upload a Supporting Statement describing your motivation to apply to the project, your CV and transcripts of awarded and in-progress university qualifications. Please note late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester and central to all our activities. A diverse research community strengthens creativity, productivity and quality, while increasing the societal and economic impact of our work. We welcome applicants from all career paths, backgrounds and sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation or transgender status.
We welcome applications from candidates returning to study after a career break or experience in other roles. Flexible study arrangements may be available, including part-time study at 50%, 60% or 80%, subject to the requirements of the project and funder.
Eligibility: The standard academic entry requirement for this PhD is an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree in Earth Science, Data Science, or a related Physical Sciences (or international equivalent) OR any upper-second class (2:1) honours degree and a Master’s degree at merit in Earth Science, Data Science, or a related Physical Sciences (or international equivalent). Previous experience in igneous petrology, Raman spectroscopy, fluid inclusion microthermometry, data science, coding, and/or machine learning would be beneficial but is not necessary since training in analytical and computational methods will be provided.
This project will remain open until filled.
If your application is submitted by 1st November 2026, you can expect a decision by 18th December 2026.
If your application is submitted by 15th January 2027, you can expect a decision by 30th March 2027.
Self or externally funded students can also be considered for this project.
FSE_SoNS
Funding Notes
Funding covers tuition fees, an annual stipend at the UKRI minimum rate (currently £21,805 per year), and a research training support grant of up to £2,500 per year for the full 3.5-year programme.