Research
My research broadly focuses on the geochemistry and environmental impacts of lithium deposits and mining them. Lithium is currently produced from two main deposit types: (1) Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegmatites, which are hard-rock deposits, and (2) closed-basin brines, which are hypersaline waters. My work encompasses both, including project sites at (1) the Carolina Tin-Spodumene Belt of North Carolina, which hosts LCT-pegmatite deposits where I investigate the natural and mining-related water-quality impacts to streams and groundwater throughout a legacy mining region, and (2) the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, which is the largest salt flat in the world and hosts a massive lithium brine resource that is currently under development, where I investigate the geochemistry and geochemical evolution of brines and the potential water-quality impacts of mining them. In addition to lithium deposits, I also collaborate on research related to phosphate deposits and phosphate fertilizers.
Please click the images below for more information on each project!
