GeOCHemISTea

In this episode of GeOCHemISTea, Sam talks with Dr. Brenda Bowen, Professor of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah, about using remote sensing to understand geochemistry at the scale of entire landscapes.Brenda traces her work from the Navajo Sandstone and ancient fluid-flow systems to modern salt flats, desert environments, and Mars analogs. We explore how multispectral and hyperspectral data can map mineralogy, how minerals preserve records of water and environmental change, and how surface halite can even provide clues about groundwater depth.We also talk about interdisciplinary science, unexpected career paths, fieldwork, and why some of the most interesting discoveries happen when geochemistry connects with hydrology, microbiology, ecology, and remote sensing.For this episode we read:Multispectral Surface Reflectance as an Indicator of Groundwater Depth for Salt Crust Systems: Insights From the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah (Radwin et al., 2026)Bleaching of Jurassic Navajo Sandstone on Colorado Plateau Laramide highs: Evidence of exhumed hydrocarbon supergiants? (Beitler et al., 2003)Southwestern Australia Acid-Saline Mineralogy: Observations From Reflectance Spectroscopy (Radwin et al., 2023)Fracture-focused fluid flow in an acid and redox-influenced system: diagenetic controls on cement mineralogy and geomorphology in the Navajo Sandstone (Bell and Bowen, 2014)Decadal‐Scale Trajectories of Land Cover Change Along the Colorado and San Juan Rivers in Response to Declining Water Storage in Lake Powell Reservoir (Kasprak et al., 2026)Mapping mineralogy in evaporite basins through time using multispectral Landsat data: Examples from the Bonneville basin, Utah, USA (Radwin and Bowen, 2020)Shrinking salt crusts of the Bonneville Basin, Utah: Observations from multispectral remote sensing (2025)

Is the next generation of mineral discoveries really hiding at extreme depths, or have we overlooked opportunities much closer to the surface?In this episode, Sam sits down with returning guest Mark Arundell, geoscientist and geochemical consultant, to challenge one of exploration's most widely accepted assumptions: that bigger discoveries require deeper drilling. Together they explore the "fallacy of the deep," discuss why statistics matter when interpreting exploration success, and examine how integrating geology, geochemistry, geophysics, and modern analytical techniques can unlock value from legacy datasets. They also share insights from consulting, near-miss exploration, and why asking better questions often leads to better discoveries. In this episode:Why the "deeper is better" narrative became so influentialAverage vs. median discovery depths and why the difference mattersThe untapped potential of the first 100 metresUsing modern multi-element geochemistry to reinterpret historic dataHow legacy drill core and pulps can create new exploration opportunitiesThe psychology of exploration and why expensive targets often seem more attractiveWhen deep drilling is justified—and when it is notPractical advice for designing smarter exploration programsAs always, we bridge our intro and geochem sections with Tea Time, where Mark shares a memorable airport security story and Sam offers one of her favorite travel hacks.

For Episode 51, the tables are turned as Imdex Chief Geologist and Technologist Dave Lawie takes over hosting duties and puts Sam in the hot seat.Fresh from the SME Current Trends in Mining Finance conference in New York City, Dave and Sam discuss the growing disconnect between how mining projects are evaluated financially and how they actually behave technically. From resource models and geometallurgy to critical minerals, permitting, and project risk, they explore why geology, mineralogy, metallurgy, and geochemistry remain central to project success. The conversation also looks at Sam's path into geochemistry, the origins of GeOCHemISTea, and the role mentorship has played throughout her career. How Sam found her way into geochemistryWhy technical risk is often overlooked in mining financeThe realities of critical mineral recoveryGeometallurgy, mineralogy, and project valuationWhere AI may (and may not) help the industryWhy mining needs better conversations between technical and financial teamsA candid discussion about the assumptions, risks, and opportunities that sit between a discovery and a successful mine. SME Current Trends in Mining Finance ConferenceImdexLKI Consulting

For our 50th episode of GeOCHemISTea, we’re doing something a little different... a panel discussion that brings together two very different perspectives on one deceptively simple problem: levelling geochemical data. Joined by a government survey geochemist, Pedro Acosta-Gongora, and a mathematical geologist, Tom Carmichael, this conversation digs into what levelling really means in practice, why it’s become standard in regional datasets, and where it can quietly distort the geological signal. From legacy data and batch effects to the tension between clean maps and real-world noise, this episode explores the intersection of applied geochemistry and data science.If you’ve ever worked with multiple datasets and wondered “can I actually trust this?...” this panel is for you.For this episode we read:Exploratory data analysis of geochemical exploration data (Arne and Garrett, 2026)Data Leveling of Multi-Map Geochemical Exploration Data Using Compositional Data Analysis: A Case Study from the Baiyinchagan-Maodeng Area, Inner Mongolia, China (Tang et al., 2025)Levelling of multi-generational and spatialyy isolated geochemical surveys (Main and Champion, 2022)G-BASE data conditioning procedures fro stream sediment and soil chemical analyses (Lister and Johnson, 2005)

In this episode of GeOCHemISTea, Sam sits down with Gabe Bowen to explore the world of forensic isotope geochemistry and the power of isoscapes.From identifying where someone has lived, to reconstructing movement through hair and teeth, isotopes are becoming a powerful investigative tool—bridging geochemistry, ecology, and forensic science.They break down:What forensic isotope geochemistry actually is (and what it isn’t)How isoscapes turn isotope data into geographic mapsWhy hydrogen, oxygen, strontium, and sulfur matterHow hair, teeth, and bone record different parts of a life storyThe role of geochemistry in solving cold cases and tracking animal movementAnd yes... there’s a detour into true crime, salmon migration, and what isotopes might reveal about your last vacation.This episode highlights how geochemistry extends far beyond rocks and into real-world problems with immediate impact.🎧 If you’ve ever wondered how geochemistry can help answer the question “Where did this come from?”... this one’s for you.For this episode we read: Human tissue oxygen and strontium isotope values in North America: A data compilation and assessment for forensic geolocation (Verostick et al., 2025) BITS: A Bayesian Isotope Turnover and Sampling model for strontium isotopes in proboscideans and its potential utility in movement ecology (Yang et al., 2023)Isoscapes: Understanding movement, pattern, and process on Earth through isotope mapping (West et al., 2010)Multi-isotopes in human hair: A tool to initiate cross-border collaboration in international cold-cases (Batalle et al., 2022)