Tobias Bauer

During my PhD studies, I focused on combining structural geology with ore geology in the Skellefte district of northern Sweden. I analyzed the structural setting and evolution of VMS deposits and reconstructed the district's structural evolution and crustal architecture. Collaborating with other project members, I developed 3D geological models of the area. Post-PhD, my research expanded to the structural evolution of mineralized systems in the Northern Fennoscandian Shield, Greenland, Spain, and the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt. I led several projects, including the "Multi-scale 4-dimensional geological modelling of the Gällivare area" and the industry-funded "Common Earth Modelling of the Kiruna mining district." I also contribute to the Horizon Europe project "Exploration Information Systems (EIS)," focusing on mineral systems for critical raw materials across Europe.

My research primarily involves field geology to identify large-scale crustal shear zones and their control on ore deposits, complemented by structural and microstructural analysis, high-resolution geochronology, lithogeochemistry, and geophysical investigations. I use modern 3D and 4D modelling techniques to constrain structures and mineralized systems in depth, employing digital field mapping devices for multi-scale 3D models.

I operate a Virtual Reality Lab to enhance 3D-4D modelling through VR environments and initiated the EIT Raw Materials network "VISUAL3D," which focuses on VR and AR techniques in exploration and geosciences. Additionally, I developed a UAV system with high-resolution sensors for efficient 3D data acquisition. These innovative techniques aim to improve the mineral exploration workflow by combining 3D models with geological investigations to create 4D models that visualize geological evolution. My research, closely collaborating with the mining industry, helps predict the prospectivity of mineralized districts, target new mineralizations, and predict the shape of ore bodies.