Lara Tritton

I am a final year PhD student in the field of sustainable resource extraction in economic geology. My research focusses on the recovery of critical metals (tellurium, bismuth and tungsten) as by-products from gold mining using novel, environmentally-benign Deep Eutectic Solvents. These metals are essential for the energy transition and societal needs, but mining and mineral processing comes with a significant environmental burden. My PhD project investigates the potential for sourcing these critical metals from existing mines, working with a Swedish gold mine as a case study. I hold an MSci and a BA in Natural Sciences (Earth Sciences) from the University of Cambridge.

My research investigates the critical mineral potential of a gold mine. I use SEM-EDS (automated and manual) extensively for mineralogical characterisation, alongside LA-ICP-MS, EPMA, PXRD and reflected and transmitted light microscopy. Mineralogical characterisation of mine samples - both of ore and the products of mineral processing, provides an understanding of the geometallurgical properties of the critical minerals -- in other words, what minerals host the target metals and in what proportions. I use R for data processing and data visualisation, and calculate mass balances for the target metals to understand how they flow through the mineral processing plant. With this knowledge, it is possible to undertake targeted experiments using tailored Deep Eutectic Solvents to find a low energy method of co-extracting these metals. These experiments are done with optical profilometry as well as bulk leaching, and results are analysed with bulk geochemical analysis, SEM-EDS and ICP-MS.

My work aims to provide a blueprint for investigating critical metal recovery onsite at existing mines, using methods with minimal environmental impact, and hopefully reducing the need for new mines. 

Demonstrator (University of Leicester):

Voted 'Best PhD student' by the undergraduate cohort, for teaching assistant/ demonstrator roles in 2025, and nominated for a SuperStar award for 'Best Graduate Teaching Assistant' in 2022.

1^st year courses:

• Introduction to GIS (GL1104)
• The Rock Cycle (GL1101)

2^nd year courses:

• Magmatic and Metamorphic Processes (GL2103)
• Introduction to Mineral Deposits/ Mineral Resources for Net Zero Carbon (GL2106)
• Structure and Tectonics (GL2102)

3^rd year courses:

• Crustal Dynamics (GL3118)

Field trips:

• 2^nd year field trip to Almeria, Spain (2023): 8 days (metamorphic and sedimentary processes)
• 2^nd year field trip to Anglesey, Wales (2025): 8 days (structural geology and mapping)

Geology PGR student representative (2022-23)

Co-ordinator of PGR Economic Geology lab group meetings (2022-23)

University of Leicester Women's Water Polo Captain (2022-24)

Awards:

• Best Student Oral Presentation:  SEG 2025 - Society of Economic Geologists' annual conference
• Best Talk (Geology): PGR Day 2025 (School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester)
• Best PhD Student 2025: voted by undergraduate cohort for demonstrating and teaching assistance
• Best Poster (Transformational Science): SEG 2023 - Society of Economic Geologists' annual conference
• Best Talk (first prize): 2023 Young Person's Lecture Competition, IOM3 for MinSouth heat
• Best Talk 2023: College of Science and Engineering Symposium (University of Leicester)
• Best PGR Student Representative 2023 (University of Leicester Students' Union)

• SEG 2025: Best student talk, 15 minute oral presentation
• PGR Day 2025: Best Talk (Geology), 15 minute oral presentation
• MDSG 2025: 15 minute oral presentation
• IOM3 Geometallurgy 2025: 20 minute oral presentation
• SEG 2024: Poster presentation
• PGR Day 2024: 15 minute oral presentation
• MDSG 2024: 15 minute oral presentation  
• IOM3 Geometallurgy 2023: 20 minute oral presentation
• SEG 2023: Awarded best poster in discipline
• CSE conference: 20 minute oral presentation. Awarded Best Talk
• PGR Day 2023: Organising committee, 15 minute oral presentation
• YPLC 2023: 20 minute oral presentation. Awarded first prize in IOM3 Young Person's Lecture Competition 2023, MinSouth competition
• MDSG 2023: Organising committee, 15 minute oral presentation
• EGU 2022: 7 minute oral presentation, ranked in the top 20 % of presentations
• vVMSG 2021: Pre-recorded presentation on Masters research