PhD student in Ore Geology

Luleå University of Technology is in strong growth with world-leading competence in several research areas. We shape the future through innovative education and ground-breaking research results, and based on the Arctic region, we create global social benefit. Our scientific and artistic research and education are conducted in close collaboration with international, national and regional companies, public actors and leading universities. Luleå University of Technology has a total turnover of SEK 1.9 billion per year. We currently have 1,840 employees and 17,670 students.

In the coming years, multi-billion investments will be made in large projects in Northern Sweden to create a fossil-free society both nationally and globally. Luleå University of Technology is involved in several of these cutting-edge research projects and in the societal transformation that they entail. We offer a broad range of courses and study programmes to match the skills in demand. We hope that you will help us to build the sustainable companies and societies of the future.We are now looking for a PhD student in Ore Geology with a focus on ore characterization and geometallurgy. The PhD project will include documentation of complex sulphide ores at Zinkgruvan in Sweden, with a focus on sulphide paragenesis, mineral chemistry and textural variations. The emphasis will be on understanding the mineralogical and textural controls on the distribution of ore, critical and punishing elements, and how this affects the yields in the enrichment process. The project is funded by CAMM (Centre for Advanced Mining Technology and Metallurgy) and Zinkgruvan Mining AB.

Subjec description
Ore Geology includes the use, setting and mode of formation of naturally occurring economic concentrations of metallic raw materials. The research aims at describing the geological conditions that lead to economic concentrations of minerals, as well as how these minerals can be used for a sustainable societal development.

Project description  
A number of different zinc and copper-dominated orebodies at the Zinc Mine will be characterized with respect to textures, mineralogy, metal content, mineral associations and metal distribution. The focus will be on integrating detailed characterization in the drill core with microanalytical techniques (e.g. SEM-WDS, electron microprobe, Laser Ablation ICPMS and QEMSCAN). The PhD student will characterize products from beneficiation tests conducted on the investigated ore types in order to better understand how variations in ore characteristics affect metal deportment, in particular the distribution of trace elements including critical metals. Results from the project will form the basis for geometallurgical modelling, which aims to make the processes more predictable and to maximize recoveries at Zinkgruvan. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with Zinkgruvan Mining AB and its mining geologists and process engineers.

Duties
A doctoral student position involves both theoretical and practical work. The doctoral student is trained in scientific work in the form of publishing scientific articles in journals and at national and international conferences. A doctoral student also takes compulsory and optional doctoral courses. In addition, you may have the opportunity to try out the role of teacher. As a researcher, you work as a neutral party in many contexts, which provides a fantastic opportunity to learn how to run challenging development projects. Most of your working hours will be devoted to your own doctoral studies. Your work will mainly include drill core logging, microanalytical characterization of geological samples, and writing scientific papers.

Qualifications
Eligible applicants for the position must have recently obtained their master's degree or equivalent degree in Earth Sciences with specialization in mineralogy, ore geology or other relevant subjects. It is important that the applicant is able to express themselves well in English, both orally and in writing. Drill core mapping with a focus on mineralogy and ore textures is an important part of the PhD project and therefore experience in this is a merit. Experience of analytical techniques is also considered a strong merit.

Written proof of good English language skills (certificate of examination, relevant transcripts of records, or a letter of support) is required.

For further information about a specific subject see
 General syllabus for the Board of the faculty of science and technology

Further information
Employment as a PhD student is limited to 4 years, or a maximum of 5 years if departmental duties are included. Teaching and other department duties may be added with max 20%. Placement: Luleå. Start of the position from 1 January 2025. Employment as a PhD student can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5 §§ 1-7.

For further information, please contact:
Associate Professor, Nils Jansson, (+46)920-49 14 87 nils.jansson@ltu.se
Professor and Head of Subject Christina Wanhainen, (+46)920-49 24 01 christina.wanhainen@ltu.se

Union representatives:
SACO-S Diana Chroneer, (+46)920-49 2037 diana.chroneer@ltu.se
OFR-S Lars Frisk, (+46)920-49 1792 Lars.Frisk@ltu.se

In case of different interpretations of the English and Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

Application
You apply for the position via the application button below, where you attach a cover letter, CV/CV and copies of verified degree certificates and a certificate of language proficiency in English (certificate of examination, relevant transcripts of records or a letter of support). Mark your application with the reference number below.

Application deadline: 21 October 2024
Reference number: 3821-2024