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GeOCHemISTea: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Sam Scher
Every geoscientist is capable of understanding and applying geochemical data, however, at GeocHemiSTea we understand that there is an incredible amount of nuance and accumulated knowledge. We are here to break down the impediments towards geoscientists learning more about this exciting field! Are you a student wanting to break into the field? Listen to each episode to see how renowned geochemists got to where they are today. Are you intrigued by integrating geochemistry, but don't know how? Stay tuned! Lastly, are you looking for some tea/good gossip? We got it.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 weeks ago1h 15m
Geochemistry QA/QC: 50 Years of Beef with Lynda Bloom
In this episode of GeOCHemISTea, we sit down with Lynda Bloom, an internationally recognized exploration geochemist and QA/QC specialist, to reflect on nearly 50 years in the mining industry and unpack some of her biggest geochemical beefs. From the dangers of comparing datasets using averages to understanding certified reference materials, analytical precision, and the uncertainties introduced during sampling, Lynda challenges some of the industry's most persistent assumptions. We also explore her unconventional career, the realities of consulting and junior mining, the importance of mentorship, and a few memorable field experiences from around the world. Along the way, Lynda introduces MineLabify, a new approach to laboratory auditing. It is a candid, entertaining, and technically insightful conversation about questioning our data, challenging established practices, and knowing when the numbers can actually be trusted.For this episode we read:Practical applications of quality assurance and quality control in mineral exploration, resource estimation and mining programmes: a review of recommended international practices (Smee et al., 2024)
- Sep 23, 20261h 5m
What If We Treated Waste Like Ore with Anita Parbhakar-Fox
What if we treated mine waste with the same curiosity and rigor as the orebody itself?This month on GeOCHemISTea, Sam sits down with Dr. Anita Parbhakar-Fox to talk about rethinking mine waste across the life of mine. From environmental geometallurgy and waste characterization to valorization, closure planning, and the push toward net-zero mine waste, Anita challenges us to stop seeing waste as an afterthought.Plus, over tea, we dig into the geoscience skills shortage, the pressures facing educators, and why inspiring the next generation requires supporting the people teaching them.For this episode we read:Action Versus Reaction: How Geometallurgy Can Improve Mine Waste Management Across the Life-Of-Mine (Parbhakar-Fox and Baumgartner, 2023)War on mine waste (Parbhakar-Fox, 2023)MIWATCH Blog
- Sep 2, 20261h 11m
From Hand Samples to Satellites: Geochemistry with Brenda Bowen
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)
- Jul 21, 20261h 2m
The Fallacy of the Deep with Mark Arundell
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.
- Jun 17, 20261h 20m
The Rocks Meet Wall Street with Dave Lawie & Sam Scher
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
- May 20, 20261h 39m
Data Levelling Panel with Pedro Acosta-Gongora & Tom Carmichael
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)
- Apr 15, 202646 min
From Evidence to Origin: Solving Mysteries with Isoscapes with Gabe Bowen
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)
- Mar 18, 202655 min
Beyond Bulk Geochemistry: Cobalt, Nanoparticles, and Surface Processes with Owen Missen
This episode of GeOCHemISTea explores cobalt cycling, critical metals, and why geochemists need to think beyond bulk chemistry to understand how elements behave in surface environments. Sam is joined by Owen Missen, lecturer in environmental geology at the University of Tasmania and researcher with CODES, whose work focuses on the environmental geochemistry and mineralogy of elements like cobalt and tellurium.The conversation explores why cobalt matters in modern technology, how nanoscale particles are changing the way we think about metal mobility, and what this means for environmental risk around mine waste and legacy sites. Owen also shares insights from Tasmania’s mining legacy, including the Mount Lyell–Macquarie Harbour system, and reflects on why understanding metals at the right scale matters for better mining and environmental decisions.For this episode we read: Natural cobalt–manganese oxide nanoparticles: speciation, detection and implications for cobalt cycling (Missen et al., 2024)
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About GeOCHemISTea
Every geoscientist is capable of understanding and applying geochemical data, however, at GeocHemiSTea we understand that there is an incredible amount of nuance and accumulated knowledge. We are here to break down the impediments towards geoscientists learning more about this exciting field! Are you a student wanting to break into the field? Listen to each episode to see how renowned geochemists got to where they are today. Are you intrigued by integrating geochemistry, but don't know how? Stay tuned! Lastly, are you looking for some tea/good gossip? We got it.
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