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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 reknown 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.
- 4 weeks ago1h 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)
- Feb 18, 20261h 16m
Fit-for-Purpose Geochemistry and Fewer Bad Programs with Simon Bolster
Simon Bolster joins GeOCHemISTea to unpack what actuallymakes near-surface geochemistry work in mineral exploration: understanding regolith and landforms before you ever “put dirt in bags.” With four decades in gold exploration, Simon argues that many programs fail not because geochemistry is “bad,” but because sampling and analytical choices do not match the terrain,the cover, or the project stage.The conversation moves from regolith terrain assessment andmapping as the real starting point, to why “lowest detection limit” is not a substitute for good planning. Simon also breaks down industry “silver bullets” (MMI, calcrete, ultrafines) and why blanket adoption creates false confidence. Finally, he explains how DetectOre upgrades gold from ppb-scale field chemistry into something actionable and fast, by leaching and concentrating gold onto a collector device that can be read by pXRF, enabling real-time decision-making while rigs are still turning.For this episode we read:Valuing time and how some of the latest technologies arecompressing time to fast track and de-risk new discoveries and mines (Bolster, 2025)
- Jan 21, 20261h 7m
From Geomet to the Mill: Breaking Down Silos with Mohsen Yahyaei
In this episode of GeOCHemISTea, host Sam Scher engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Professor Mohsen Yahyaei, a mineral processing engineer and director at the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Center. They explore the impact of geographical differences on mental health, particularly how varying daylight hours can affect mood and productivity. The discussion transitions into the importance of integrating geological and processing data to optimize mineral extraction processes, emphasizing the need for collaboration between geologists and processing engineers to enhance decision-making and reduce waste in mining operations.As the conversation unfolds, Mohsen shares his journey from mining exploration to mineral processing, highlighting the significance of automation and AI in modern mining practices. He advocates for a holistic approach to mining that considers the entire lifecycle of minerals, from extraction to recycling, and stresses the importance of leveraging existing geological data to improve processing efficiency. The episode concludes with a forward-looking perspective on the future of mining, envisioning a fully integrated system that not only maximizes resource extraction but also prioritizes environmental sustainability and circular economy principles.
- Dec 23, 20251h 0m
Volcanoes, Mush, and Mineralization with Mike Stock
In this episode of GeOCHemISTea, Sam talks with Mike Stock, Professor at Trinity College Dublin, about magma systems from eruption to emplacement. Drawing on work in the Galápagos and Ireland, Mike explores how the same geochemical and petrological processes govern both volcanic activity and ore formation.The conversation focuses on breaking down silos between volcanology and economic geology—highlighting shared tools, concepts, and models that are often studied in isolation. The episode closes with a discussion on batholiths and crustal-scale magma systems, offering a fresh perspective on how modern volcanology can inform interpretations of ancient intrusions and mineralized systems, making it relevant for volcanologists and economic geologists alike.For this episode we read:Integrated Petrological and Geophysical Constraints on Magma System Architecture in the Western Galápagos Archipelago: Insights From Wolf Volcano (Stock et al., 2018)Late-stage volatile saturation as a potential trigger for explosive volcanic eruptions (Stock et al., 2016)Cryptic evolved melts beneath monotonous basaltic shield volcanoes in the Galápagos Archipelago (Stock et al., 2020)
- Nov 19, 20251h 0m
The mineralogy hidden in your assays with Scott Halley
This month on GeOCHemISTea, Sam sits down with Scott Halley to talk about extracting meaningful mineralogy from standard four-acid assay data. Scott walks through how the classic MINSQ approach evolved into modern linear-programming methods that handle solid solutions, honor thermodynamics, and produce fast, first-pass mineralogy models.They also dig into ambiguity in geologic interpretation, “cognitive entrenchment” in porphyry systems, and how linking calculated mineralogy to rock physics is helping bridge the gap between geochemistry and geophysics.For this episode we read: MINSQ - a least squares spreadsheet method for calculating mineral proportions from whole rock major element analyses (Herrmann and Berry, 2002)
- Oct 15, 202548 min
Geochemistry Without Borders: A Conversation with Alecos Demetriades
Alecos Demetriades, applied geochemist and Chair of the IUGS Commission on Global Geochemical Baselines (2024–2028), joins GeOCHemISTea to unpack the Global Geochemical Reference Network (GGRN): why a 160×160 km grid matters, how harmonized sampling/analysis underpins trustworthy baselines, and what QA/QC must look like before interpretation. We touch on FOREGS, leveling national datasets to global references, and practical ways exploration and mining teams can access, use, and contribute to these datasets. Plus: tea stories during Tea Time and why passing knowledge to the next generation keeps this global effort moving. For this episode we read: International Union of Geological Sciences Manual of Standard Methods for Establishing the Global Geochemical Reference Network
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 reknown 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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