New faces of the FluxBEATS network and fieldwork stories

Do you want to join the FluxBEATS doctoral network?

A doctoral candidate position related to alteration of the oceanic lithosphere is open. Read more on the website of the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1. Apply before the 15th of July.

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The FluxBEATS doctoral network started in November 2024, and with this newsletter we are excited to introduce three doctoral researchers who have recently joined our team in Finland.

Tiny inclusions, big impact: Linus Hüne studies fluids circulating through the oceanic crust

Linus Hüne joined the Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, in the beginning of May.

His research in position DC2 is about gaining a better understanding elemental transfer via hydrothermal fluids that circulate through the oceanic crust. This is done by studying fluid and melt inclusion in submarine basalts.

Before joining the FluxBEATS doctoral network Linus completed his BSc in geosciences at the University of Bremen and then MSc in geology at the University of Iceland.

“I see a certain parallel: I am just tiny human being and at the start of my scientific career on a massive planet, in a large scientific community and just maybe, I can also make a difference, just like my tiny inclusions in my research."

According to Linus he has been focusing geological fluids, geothermal geology and volcanology throughout his studies. “And guiding tours in Iceland’s lava caves for two summers sparked my interest in volcanospeleology”, Linus adds.

After leaving Iceland in 2023, Linus did research on trace element partitioning between hydrothermal fluids and sulfides in Toulouse, France.

Linus finds inspiration in studying tiny fluid inclusions, only a few micrometers in size, to understand larger geodynamic settings.

“I see a certain parallel: I am just tiny human being and at the start of my scientific career on a massive planet, in a large scientific community and just maybe, I can also make a difference, just like my tiny inclusions in my research”, Linus explains.

Beyond his work, Linus enjoys music, volleyball, board games, and outdoor activities. Having lived near mountains over the past years has developed, Linus has developed a deep fondness for mountain hiking and climbing.

“It is just the most amazing feeling to reach a summit after a long ascend and just enjoying the view. So now I am trying to adapt to Finnish forests, hills and lakes: let’s see how it goes”, he concludes.

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Unravelling the secrets of black shales: Francesco Magnani studies the interaction between organic and hydrothermal processes

Francesco Magnani joined the Geological Survey of Finland in the beginning of May.

He was recruited to position DC8, and will study the interplay between organic and hydrothermal processes in the formation of metal deposits at different stages of divergent plate margin evolution.

Francesco studied geology at the University of Bologna, Italy, specializing in the field of raw materials exploration and characterization, with a strong focus on the sustainability of mineral exploitation. During his MSc thesis, Francesco delved into the world of mineral processing, gaining insights into the corporate and industrial aspects of mineral resources management.

Francesco was as an Erasmus student in the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, before internship in France.  

“I am eager to contribute my knowledge and experience to support this interdisciplinary and stimulating research network.”

During his PhD project Francesco will conduct comprehensive geochemical, isotopic, sedimentary, and petrographic analyses of metalliferous black shales from various deposits in Finland.

“Now I have the opportunity to return to my roots and tackle a purely geological challenge”, Francesco says.

Francesco is looking forward to engage with the broader European FluxBEATS community, which brings together brilliant minds from different backgrounds to focus on different aspects of global elemental fluxes.

“I am eager to contribute my knowledge and experience to support this interdisciplinary and stimulating research network”, he explains.

On his free-time Francesco is passionate about travelling, photography and cinema. He has also climbed at competitive level in Italy in paraclimbing.

“Climbing has always been a huge part of my life, and I’ve always been glad to help my coach training athletes with various kinds of disabilities, the goal being make sport accessible to everyone”, Francesco concludes.

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From Chile to Finland: Jaime Cataldo Bacho’s research on silicic magmas

Jaime Cataldo Bacho joined the Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, as a doctoral researcher in the beginning of June.

His research in position DC4 concentrates on the formation of silicic magmas in ophiolites and at modern divergent plate margins.

Jaime completed his MSc in geology at the Universidad de Chile, graduating with highest distinction. His thesis focused on the geochemical and tectonic evolution of Cambrian basaltic rocks from Antarctica.

Before joining the FluxBEATS doctoral network Jaime worked as a geology consultant for private companies and also spent several years supporting academic teaching and research as an assistant in classrooms and laboratories at different Chilean universities.

“What inspires me most is the opportunity to understand the world around us.”

Jaime has always been very close to nature. “What inspires me most is the opportunity to understand the world around us”, Jaime explains.

“We live on a planet that is constantly changing, and the rocks record those changes and transformations. By studying their chemical signatures and textures we can understand and imagine – or try to – how things worked in the past and why the Earth is the way it is today. The hidden information keeps me curious and motivated in my work”, he continues.

Outside the lab, Jaime spends most of his time in the outdoors: climbing rock and ice, mountaineering, snowboarding, or bodyboarding when he is near the ocean. Jaime says that he is drawn to places that demand effort to reach, where the journey is as rewarding as the view.

“I enjoy being on the move, meeting new challenges, and adapting to new environments – whether on a mountain face or in a research setting”, he concludes.

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Fieldwork greetings from the Jormua ophiolite complex, Finland

In the second week of June, doctoral researcher Jaime Cataldo Bacho and Professor Tapani Rämö from the University of Helsinki embarked on a field work in northeastern Finland to examine the famous Jormua ophiolite complex.

The complex is part of Jaime’s research related to silicic magmas in the framework of FluxBEATS project DC4. One of the prime targets are the plagiogranites of the complex (figure below). The Jormua complex, formed ca. 1,95 billion years ago, preserves a typical section of an ocean-continent transition ophiolite, including prominent occurrences of plagiogranites (sensu lato) in the mid-section of the ophiolite.

An outcrop just exposed displays three different types of plagiogranite (sensu lato): mafic, intermediate and felsic, with prominent magma mingling relationship between the mafic and felsic members. These rocks will be sampled and analyzed for whole-rock Nd-Sr-Hf-Pb and U-Pb, Lu-Hf, and O isotopes in zircon. Jaime Cataldo Bacho on the left and Asko Kontinen on the right. Photo: Tapani Rämö.

During the fieldwork Jaime and Tapani were hosted by Asko Kontinen, a retired geologist from the Geological Survey of Finland. Asko Kontinen is the discoverer of the Jormua ophiolite, reported in 1987.

Happy geologists! Right at the beginning of the project, Jaime Cataldo Bacho (in the middle) got to explore the rocks in Finland, which are part of his research, with Asko Kontinen (left) and Tapani Rämö (right). Photo: Tapani Rämö.

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FluxBEATS is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.