Glenn Bark

Keywords: gold, ore genesis, trace element, mineralogy, mineral chemistry, automated mineralogy, microanalysis, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe, laser ablation ICP MS, synchrotron-based nano-XRF, x-ray microtomography, characterization, exploration, environment, recycling, climate, CO2 capture and storage (CCS, BECCS).

I have worked scientifically with gold ore deposits for almost 20 years, focusing on how these deposits have formed, how precious metals occur in nature and how to optimize the extraction of these metals from existing mines. In my research I use different types of microanalytical techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS/WDS), electron microprobe (EPMA) and Laser Ablation ICP MS, but also more extreme techniques such as synchrotron-based nano-XRF (MAX IV) to look at trace elements in very high spatial resolution. To analyze gold and other minerals results in a potentially more resource efficient and thereby more sustainable mining. If metals now are needed for the green shift these metals should be mined with minimal impact on environment and climate.

A detailed characterization of geological samples also provide important input data in a number of different fields. Research projects that I’m involved in then also relates to the environment (arsenic in mine waste, life cycle analysis of the mining value chain), recycling of metals (gold, silver and rare earth elements in electronic waste), climate (biofuel-related CO2 capture and storage, BECCS, CCS) and others.

Program director for the program area Natural Resources Engineering, covering the programs Civil engineer Natural Resources Engineering and MSc Exploration and Environmental Geosciences.