Bio (NL-EN)

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Anouk Borst is een geologe aan het Africa Museum en professor aan de KU Leuven. Haar onderzoek richt zich op stenen en mineralen die belangrijk zijn voor de maatschappij. Zij bestudeert hoe deze mineralen gevormd worden en waar ze te vinden zijn. In haar huidige onderzoek richt zij zich vooral op gebieden in Centraal Afrika, waar veel belangrijke grondstoffen gewonnen worden zoals tin, tantaal, cobalt en lithium.

Prof Anouk Borst behaalde een doctoraat van de Universiteit van Kopenhagen, waar zij onderzoek deed naar mineralen in Groenland, en een Bachelor en Master in Geologie van de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

About me (EN)

My research focusses on the mineralogy and geochemistry of igneous rocks and associated rare metal deposits. In April 2021 I started as an assistant professor in the Ore Geology and Geofluids group at KU Leuven and as senior researcher at the Royal Museum for Central Africa. In this role my research focusses on granitic pegmatite and quartz vein hosted Sn-W-Ta-Nb-Li mineralisation in the Mesoproterozoic Karagwe-Ankole Belt in Rwanda, Burundi and DRC, and continue research on alkaline and carbonatite hosted REE-P-Zr mineralisation.

I was born and raised in a small town in South Holland, stereotypically Dutch: a few meters below sea level and surrounded by cows and windmills. I studied Earth Sciences at the VU University Amsterdam, where I completed my BSc in 2009 and my MSc in 2012 in the research group of Prof Gareth Davies. Immediately after graduating I started my PhD at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland and the University of Copenhagen, under the supervision of Prof. Tod Waight, Dr Troels Nielsen, and Dr Henrik Friis.

My PhD thesis focussed on the complex magmatic and hydrothermal evolution of highly peralkaline nepheline syenites in the rift-related Gardar province in South Greenland, specifically looking at REE-Zr-Nb mineralisation (metals we need for modern technologies). I defended in June 2016, shortly after which I moved to Scotland to start a postdoc at the University of St Andrews with Prof. Adrian Finch.

As a postdoc I continued to work on eudialyte-hosted REE deposits in South Greenland, and various other mineral deposits, initially as part of the NERC funded SoS RARE consortium. The SoS RARE project was a UK-based consortium with partners at the University of Brighton, Leeds, Sheffield, Exeter (Camborne School of Mines) and the BGS. The aim of the project was to bring together mineralogists, geochemists and metallurgists to improve our understanding of the processes by which metals get concentrated into rocks to levels at which they can be mined, and to use this information to develop environmentally friendly and economically viable ways to extract the metals from these resources.

I am particularly interested in how late-magmatic fluids evolve and modify the primary mineralogy, and how this influences the processing steps required to extract the metals from the rock. I use radiogenic isotopes (U-Pb, Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr, Lu-Hf) to trace subsolidus mobility of elements and to fingerprint the source of critical metal enrichment. I also use various mineral chemical techniques, such as EMP, XRD, and synchrotron-based X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, to characterise the structure and elemental composition of minerals. As part of SoSRARE I have also worked on heavy rare earth enriched Ion Adsorption Deposits in weathered igneous rocks from Madagascar and China with collaborators from the University of Brighton and the British Geological Survey.

In St Andrews I’ve been involved in teaching undergrad level BSc, MGeol and MSc courses in magmatic ore deposits and igneous petrology, demonstrating lab practicals in optical microscopy, field-mapping courses (Mull & Rum), and supervised various dissertation projects.

I was awarded the 2021 Max Hey Medal from the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, for my contributions in mineralogy and petrology, as well as the 2021 R.A. Howie Best Paper Award for our paper entitled “Structural state of rare earth elements in eudialyte-group minerals” in Mineralogical Magazine – which combined synchrotron techniques and lattice strain theory to identify where rare earth elements sit inside the crystal structure of eudialyte.

Research Group

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For more info on the research activities and analytical facilities at KU Leuven and the RMCA, check out the Ore Geology and Geofluids Research Group page, or the Geodynamics and Mineral Resources Research Group – Royal Museum for Central Africa.

Current Members

Thomas van Gerve - Postdoc Avantis project

Topic: Semi-quantitative analyses of ore minerals using SEM EDS and petrographic characterisation of Fe-Ti oxides for ore processing

Fengchun Li – PhD student, 1 year exchange Chinese Academy of Sciences (Dec 2023 -Dec 2024)

Topic: Spatio-temporal enrichment of HREE in the unusual Huanglongpu carbonatite-hosted REE-Mo deposits, Qinling Orogen, China

Juan Sebastian Rodriquez – MSc Student (Thesis 2023-2024). KU Leuven

Topic: Petrogenesis and mineralisation processes of the World-Class lithium, tin, tantalum pegmatite deposits at Manono-Kitotolo, DRC (In collaboration with AVZ/Dathcom Mining AS)

Niel Van de Kerkhof – MSc Student (Thesis 2023-2024). KU Leuven

Topic: Mineralogy and petrologenesis of REE-Pb deposits in the Korsnas Carbonatite Veins, Finland (In collaboration with Prospech Limited)

Axelle Verstrepen – BSc student (Thesis 2023) KU Leuven

Topic: Colour and alteration of spodumene, Manono-Kitotolo, DRC

Evelyne Safari – PhD Student on the GeoRes4Dev project (2024-2026), University of Burundi, Bujumbur/Royal Museum for Central Africa

Topic: Géologie, pétrologie et significations géodynamiques du magmatisme basique associé aux granitoïdes de la chaîne de Karagwe-Ankole, secteur d’Idjwi, Province du SudKivu, République Démocratique du Congo

Co-Promotors: Prof Louis Nahimana, Dr Damien Delvaux, and with co-supervision by Dr Gerard Nimpagaritse, Dr Max Fernandez-Alonso

Lee Fred (left) and Christian (right) handpicking and cutting pegmatitic muscovite sheets for geochemical analyses

Lee Fred Kezimana – PhD Student on the GeoRes4Dev project (2021-2024), University of Burundi, Bujumbura/Royal Museum for Central Africa

Topic: Lithostratigraphy and pegmatite-quartz vein hosted 3T mineralisation in northern Burundi.

Co-supervised with Prof Louis Nahimana, Dr Gerard Nimpagaritse, Dr Max Fernandez-Alonso, Dr Damien Delvaux, Prof Stijn Dewaele

Christian Kalikone – PhD Student on the GeoRes4Dev project (2020-2024), Official University of Bukavu, DRC/Royal Museum for Central Africa

Topic: Lithostratigraphy and pegmatite-quartz vein hosted 3T mineralisation of the Idjwi and Kalehe areas in Kivu district, DRC.

Co-supervised with Prof Louis Nahimana, Dr Gerard Nimpagaritse, Dr Max Fernandez-Alonso, Dr Damien Delvauz, Prof Stijn Dewaele

Dr Maideyi Lydia Meck – Global Minds Short Research Stay Visiting Postdoc May-Aug 2022 – KU Leuven/University of Zimbabwe, Harare.

Lydia is visiting KU Leuven for 3 months on a Global Minds grant for a Short postdoctoral research stay to continue her research on carbonatite-hosted phosphate deposits from Zimbabwe. During Lydia’s research visit she will further characterize the rocks and waste from the Dorowa alkaline carbonatite complex in Zimbabwe, using techniques available at the Geology department of KU Leuven.

Maideyi (she also goes by Lydia) is a lecturer in geology at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare. She completed her PhD at the University of Botswana on the geology and environmental chemistry of the Dorowa alkaline complex and the consequences of mining phosphates, in Zimbabwe.

Jolan Acke – PhD student – KU Leuven/ Royal Museum for Central Africa. 2022-2025

Jolan is studying the granite-hosted Musha-Ntunga pegmatite system in eastern Rwanda, which are exploited for Nb, Ta, Sn, and W. The Musha-Ntunga system offers a rare opportunity to study a complete mineralogical zonation pattern ranging from proximal lithium-bearing pegmatites and Nb-Ta-Sn mineralised pegmatites to distal W quartz veins.

Jolan will combine detailed geochemical and mineralogical analyses to document transitions between different mineralisation types and to gain new insights in the magmatic-hydrothermal transition as well as the key controls on emplacement, enrichment and distribution of metals.

Funding: Anouk Borst FEDTWIN starting grant & KU Leuven BOFZAP FWO

Graduates

Jourdain MqIlquham – University of St Andrews. 2020-2021

Jourdain carried out a BSc dissertation project on multispectral analyses of geological units near the Chang-E lunar landing sites, in collaboration with me, Dr Elyse Allender and Prof Bernard Foing at ESA ESTEC, The Netherlands. Jourdain presented his work at EGU 2021: Mcilquham, J., Borst, A. M., Allender, E. J., and Foing, B.: Geological context of recent Lunar landing sites using Multispectral analysis. EGU General Assembly 2021

Douglas Boler – University of St Andrews. 2020-2021

Douglas wrote his BSc Geology Honours Research Dissertation on the coordination of REE in eudialyte alteration products using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy data (XANES and EXAFS).

Lucy Mathieson – University of St Andrews. 2020-2021

Lucy was a research assistant within the A-team working on various projects and carried out fieldwork in Greenland as a MGeol student. For her final MGeol dissertation she studied the Hf isotopic record of the Gardar Alkaline province in Greenland, analysing temporal and spatial variations in the Hf isotopic signatures of the mantle sources for the Gardar magmas

Lucy recently started a PhD with Chris Kirkland at Curtin University in Perth, Australia.

Clara Onken – University of St Andrews, 2019

Clara wrote her MSc dissertation on the mineralogy and mineral chemistry of lujavrites – a peculiar type of foliated eudialyte nepheline syenite, rich in either aegirine or arfvedsonite. Clara compared lujavrites from classic localities at Illimaussaq and Motzfeldt, in Greenland, to aegirine eudialyte lujavrites from Pocos de Caldas, Brazil. Using petrography, XRF and SEM work, she compared the mineralogy, whole rock geochemistry, and explored the economic potential for the Brazillian lujavrites.

Clara is now a PhD student at ETH Zurich.

Mathijs van de Ven – VU Amsterdam/University of St Andrews. 2018-2019

Mathijs wrote his MSc dissertation (VU Amsterdam) with me on the alteration process of eudialyte in the Ilimaussaq complex, Greenland. He quantified elemental loss and gain during the late-magmatic pseudomorphic replacement of eudialyte crystals and measured Nd isotopes to study fluid sources and REE fractionation. His results were published in Minerals in 2019.

Mathijs now works as a Resource Consultant at RSC Mining & Mineral Exploration in New Zealand.

Funding: SoSRARE consortium

New Paper on the Adsorption of Rare Earths in Lateritic Clay Deposits, published in Nature Communications

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September 2020

Subtropical weathering profiles developed on granites in Southern China are the worlds dominant source for heavy rare earth elements (HREE); metals that are crucial in many user electronics and green technologies. In these weathering profiles, feldspars and other magmatic minerals that contain REE break down to form secondary clay minerals. In the process of soil formation, REE are released from the minerals and are generally inferred to adsorb loosely to the surfaces of secondary minerals, dominantly clays and Fe-Mn oxides.

Although these so-called ‘ion adsorption deposits’ are typically very low grade compared to magmatic REE deposits (carbonatites/alkaline rocks), exploitation of these resources is economically viable because the REE can be extracted at low cost via surface or heap leaching. The key requirement for this to work is that the REE are indeed adsorbed to the surfaces of clay minerals, instead of being hosted in insoluble secondary or relict mineral phases.

In our new paper published in Nature Communications (Open Access: https://lnkd.in/dJf46UH) we compare the mineralogy and distribution of #REE in prospective weathering profiles from the peralkaline #Ambohimirahavavy Complex in #Madagascar to economically exploited weathering profiles from the #Zhaibei Granite in #China.

Specifically, we use X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy to find out exactly where the #REE were hiding in lateritic soil profiles from Madagascar and China.

Although primary mineralogy plays a key role in the development of easily-leachable REE deposits formed by weathering, we found that the adsorption mechanisms of REE to clay minerals, at the atomic level, are identical at both sites.

Our data demonstrates that Yttrium, as a proxy for the heavy REE, is dominantly adsorbed as 8 to 9-fold hydrated outer sphere complexes to clay minerals, dominantly kaolinite and minor halloysite. This proves the general assumption that the REE are adsorbed to clay minerals, and justifies the name ‘Ion Adsorption Clay Deposits’ for these ore types.

Max Hey Medal 2021

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18/11/2020

I am delighted and honoured to be the recipient of the 2021 Max Hey Medal by the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. The medal is awarded: “To recognize existing and on-going research of excellence in the fields of mineralogy, crystallography, petrology and geochemistry by an early career researcher, evidence of which is provided in the form of work published in highly-regarded, international scientific journals”.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my nominators and supervisors (BSc, MSc, PhD and Postdoc), and collaborators in the UK and abroad for their continued support and mentorship over the years.

Just for fun, I added a small gallery below with some thin section photomicrographs of my favorite rocks: eudialyte nepheline syenites from the Ilímaussaq complex in Greenland. Swipe the divider left and right to see images in plane or polarized light. Hope you enjoy.

Beautifully sector zoned eudialyte crystal, nepheline, albite clusters, aegirine (green), arfvedsonite (black to dark green) in a white kakortokite (Borst et al. 2018)

Eudialyte nepheline syenite (white kakortokite) with big feldspar perthites, euhedral pseudomorphs after eudialyte, containing catapleiite (Na-Ca-zirconosilicate with high birefringence colours), aegirine, analcime and various REE-minerals, interstitial arfvedsonite (Na-amphibole), nepheline, sodalite (bottom right, isotropic) and fluorite (top left between amphibole and eudialyte pseudomorphs). Note full replacement of eudialyte crystals (Borst et al., 2016)

Eudialyte nepheline syenite (Transitional kakortokite) from Ilímaussaq, Greenland, under plane polarised light (PPL – left) and cross polarised light (XPL – right). Aegirine in green, eudialyte in white-brown/grey, interstitial nepheline and sodalite (isotropic).

Eudialyte nepheline syenite (red kakortokite) from Ilímaussaq, Greenland, under plane polarised light (PPL – left) and cross polarised light (XPL – right). Cumulate of euhedral eudialyte crystals (white-brown/grey, sector zoned), brown-red aenigmatite (Na-Fe-Ti-silicate) overgrown and partially replaced by aegirine (green, high order interference colours), twinned alkali feldspar laths, interstitial nepheline and sodalite.

Aegirine Lujavrite from Ilímaussaq. Fine grained aegirine (green) defining a strong foliation fabric, wrapped around phenocrysts of nepheline and eudialyte. Oikocrystic (black) interstitial to the fabric and enclosing aegirines.

Same Aegirine Lujavrite sample as above but with large oikocryst of arfvedsonite, overgrowing the foliation fabric defined by microscopic inclusions of aegirine and larger euhedral feldspar and nepheline (replaced by various zeolites).

Angola 2019

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Alkaline Igneous Rocks and potential Critical Metal deposits in Angola

Workshop and fieldtrip, September 2019

3/10/2019

In September, the St Andrews team took part in a workshop and fieldcourse in Angola, hosted by the Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN) in Luanda. The purpose of our trip was to outreach our work on alkaline igneous rocks and to learn more about similar rocks found in Angola. Our visit started with a day workshop on frontiers in the study of alkaline silicate rocks and carbonatites, which included presentations by Prof Adrian Finch and myself (University of St Andrews) and by Pete Siegfried of GeoAfrica Consultants (based in Namibia). GeoAfrica and St Andrews are both partners within the HiTech AlkCarb consortium, funded by the European Union. Our visit was funded by the SFC ODA Global Challenges Research Fund as the first step in assessing opportunities for future collaborations between Angola and St Andrews for sustainable development of their mineral resources. The workshop was hosted by the Universidade Agostinho Neto at their campus in central Luanda on the Avenida Marginale, and was followed by 5 days of fieldwork in an underexplored nepheline syenite complex (Nejoio) in the remote northern part of the Namibe province.

12 Sep 2019 Alkaline Igneous Magmatism workshop at UAN in Luanda
15-20 Sep 2019 Fieldcourse in the Nejoio complex, Namibe Province, Southern Angola

Angola - Nejoio schematic map

Workshop Luanda

The workshop in Luanda was attended by about 60 geologists working in Angola, including representatives from the University, the Angolan Oil company Sonangol, recent Angolan graduates and many of the geology, geophysics and engineering students from the Agostinho Neto University. At the workshop we presented scientific work on magmatic roof zones (Adrian), mineralisation processes in peralkaline systems in Greenland (myself), and on carbonatites in Namibia and South Africa (Pete Siegfried, GeoAfrica Prospecting Services).

Faculty of Sciences, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Marginale Luanda

Students of UAN showing us around the geological museum in Luanda

Adrian speaking at Agostinho Neto

Bay of Luanda

Fieldtrip Nejoio complex, South Angola

The workshop in Luanda was followed by a 5 day fieldtrip looking at peralkaline igneous rocks at the Nejoio complex in Southern Angola. We were based in the town of Camacuio in Namibe Province, roughly 6 hours north of Lubango, and at a c. 3.5 hour drive from the field site which lies on the land of the Muhumbi people. This visit was an opportunity for us to learn more about working in Angola and also to assist the Angolan geologists with the interpretation of their geology using our experience of similar rocks from Greenland, Brazil and Namibia. The group included Finch, Borst and Siegfried accompanied by Professor Aurora Bambi of the Universidade Agonstinho Neto in Luanda. The course was also attended by two recent geology graduates from St Andrews (Geraldine Tchimbali and Antonia dos Santos) and four current geology students from the Agostinho Neto University (Andre Eugenio, Egidio Lopes, Elizabeth Faria and Sergio Azevedo) who will use the field course as part of their undergraduate dissertations.

Local guides (and St Andrews graduate Geraldine) leading the way to Nejoio, viewed from the South

It was a pleasure and a privilege for us to work alongside the geologists from the Agostinho Neto University in Luanda, allowing us insights into the complex and fascinating geology of Angola, and allowing Angolan geologists access to the expertise we have acquired from rocks elsewhere in the world. A key objective of the project was to place Angolan geology within the broader regional context of South West Africa (i.e. South Africa, Namibia, Angola).

Some of the students and our guides on the Nejoio complex. Looking northeast, the large peralkaline Lutala complex (Sierra de Neve) can be seen in the background

View from one the highest points on Nejoio’s outer ring

Complex crosscutting and deformation relationships at the margin of the intrusion

Beautiful scenery on the road from Lubango to Camucuio in the Namibe province

Meeting Soba Nangolo, chief of the Muhumbi people

Looking at crystal alignment in sodalite syenites of the Nejoio alkaline complex, Angola

Laminated sodalite feldspar syenite

Our local guides leading the way

Nejoio is spelled in different ways, including N’DJOIO, NANDJOIO AND NEDJOIO, following attempts to translate locality names in the Kimbundu language into Portuguese. We have used Nejoio to be consistent with existing scientific literature by Rodrigues et al.

Research on Nejoio was carried out thanks to kind permission of Soba (Chief) Nangolo of the Muhumbi People on whose land the complex lies.

The fieldwork and attendance by BORST and FINCH were sponsored by the SFC ODA GLOBAL CHALLENGES RESEARCH FUND.

The attendance of Peter Siegfried was supported by the HITECH ALKCARB project, funded through the European Union h+Horizon 2010 Research and Innovation Programme (#689909)

News

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4 year FWO PhD grant for Jolan Acke

Oct 2023

Congratulations to Jolan Acke who secured a 4 year FWO Aspirant grant for his PhD project on Lithium pegmatites from Rwanda. Jolan has been part of my group for the last two years, studying spodumene textures and alteration processes in LCT pegmatites from the Musha-Ntunga Li-Ta-Sn deposits, exploited by Trinity Metals Ltd. Jolan works on beautiful pegmatite drill core samples, and is co-supervised by myself and Stijn Dewaele (UGent). Very glad to have Jolan in our team for another 4 years.

Kinderuniversiteit: Minecraft en Geologie

October 2022

Op zaterdag 22 oktober nam ik namens de afdeling Geologie deel aan de Kinderuniversiteit op Campus Arenberg met een hoorcollege over Minecraft en twee workshops over Vulkanen.

230 kinderen schreven zich in voor mijn kindercollege ‘Minecraft en Geologie’. Wat een super leuk publiek was dat!

Ouders konden ook live meekijken in de naastgelegen aula. Minecraft is een populaire game onder scholieren en blijkt dus een zeer effectief medium om de jongere generatie te informeren over geowetenschappen en het belang van stenen en mineralen voor de maatschappij en de energietransitie.

The Minecraft & #Geology lecture was a hit. 230 Flemish school children flooded the lecture room, their parents were listening on live stream next door. So many hands up and questions asked. Never had such an enthusiastic crowd before 😉 #Minecraft #kinderuniversiteit pic.twitter.com/IpY92SuRJr
— Dr Anouk Borst (@Anoukborst) October 23, 2022

Na het college volgden er verschillende workshops, waaronder twee workshops over vulkanen waarbij 50 kindjes experimenteerde met proefjes over de viscositeit van magma en explosiviteit van vulkanen. Dank aan de studenten die meehielpen aan de workshops, Jolan Acke, Nick van Faals, Michael Steenhuyse en Hella Devriese, en Anne Oldenhage voor het mooie initiatief.

Mijn interactieve lezing over Minecraft en Geologie kun je terugvinden op Youtube:

Special Issue Applied Mineralogist June 2022

Jolan and I wrote a short blog about our field visit to the Musha-Ntunga pegmatites and quartz veins in Eastern Rwanda (Feb 2022) with some preliminary petrographic findings on the pegmatite cores.

Read it here: https://www.minersoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AppliedMineralogist_June2022.pdf

Backscatter electron image, SEM element map and Cathodoluminescence image of spodumene-quartz intergrowths on the edges of a large spodumene crystal from Musha-Ntunga drill cores.

Critical minerals in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa

April 2022

In February 2022, PhD students Jolan and Laura and I visited the tin-tantalum mines in the Musha-Ntunga area in Rwanda, licensed by Piran Resources Limited. With the help of the Piran geologists and miners, we sampled tourmaline host rocks, mineralised pegmatites and quartz veins, and looked at drill cores of fresh spodumene pegmatites to study their lithium potential. Click this link to read the news article on the website of the Africa Museum, summarizing our activities in the field.

Also in Dutch and French:
NL: https://lnkd.in/da7uu3qX
FR: https://lnkd.in/dehQTrF2

New PhD student starting

Jan 2022

I’m excited to welcome Jolan Acke as the first PhD student to join my research group. Jolan will be studying granite-hosted pegmatite systems and Nb-Ta-Sn-Li mineralisation in Rwanda. More info.

https://ees.kuleuven.be/geology/ore-geology-and-geofluids/

Ore Deposits Hub talk

Dec 2021

In the link below you’ll find my live streamed ODH talk and discussion on Peralkaline Magmas and Critical Metal Resources, providing an overview of recent research I have worked on within the SoSRARE and HiTechAlkCarb projects. The talk also introduces two new/upcoming papers (one on fenitisation procesess published in Geology, and one currently under revision in Economic Geology). Not my best talk ever – but hope it gives a nice overview on the peculiar world of peralkaline rocks.

Interview with KU Leuven SIM²

Sept 2021

In this interview with the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals (SIM²) I share some thoughts on the public perception of mining and the challenges around sourcing the materials needed for the green-energy transition.

We must go ‘green’ and we must do it fast. The catch is that we cannot become carbon-neutral without mining, and we cannot become carbon-neutral if the raw materials we import were mined under unfair or unsustainable conditions. If we source our raw materials elsewhere, we – as consumers and fellow inhabitants of planet Earth – have a responsibility to make sure they were extracted to similar standards as if they were mined from our own backyards. Easy to say, not so easy to do.

Read the interview here:

“Mining of critical metals has to bring economic and social benefits to Africa”

Starting a new position!

I’m excited to announce that on April 1st 2021 I’ll be starting a new position at KU Leuven and the Royal Museum for Central Africa, where I’ll be conducting research on magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits of Sn-W-Li-Ta-Nb-REE-P and other critical metals in Central Africa.

The past 5 years at the University of St Andrews have been wonderful, and I am grateful for the many opportunities and lovely people I met along the way!

I will miss Scotland and everyone at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, but am looking forward to this exciting next chapter with new areas of research and collaborations. If you are working in geological exploration in Central Africa and would like to connect/collaborate, please send me a PM.

Max Hey Medal 2021

November 2020

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my nominators and supervisors (from BSc, MSc, PhD and Postdoc projects), and collaborators in the UK and abroad for their continued support and mentorship over the years.

September 2020

Specifically, we use X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy to find out exactly where the #REE were hiding in lateritic soil profiles from Madagascar and China.

Special Issue on Angola visit in the Applied Mineralogist

December 2019

I was invited to write an item for the Applied Mineralogy Group Newsletter about our recent visit to Angola. Click here to read more about the history and economy of Angola, and highlights from our fieldtrip to the Nejoio Alkaline Complex. I presented this work at the Mineral Deposit Studies Group (MDSG2020) in London this January.

Nejoio pic compilation — Figure 2A) Blue photochromic sodalite (note hexagonal inclusions in feldspar), B) Photoluminescent sodalite, C) Nejoio complex seen from the south, D) magma-mush mingling textures, E) mafic-felsic banding with strong contrast in feldspar lamination.

Article in The Conversation

30/10/2019

Finch, Borst and Hutchison (2019) How volcanoes recycle the Earth’s crust to uncover rare metals that are vital to green technology.

This article highlights Will’s recent 2019 paper in Nature Communications, which presented sulfur isotope data of alkaline magmas providing insights in global recycling of the Earth’s crust into the mantle via subduction, and coming back to the surface via alkaline magmatism. This article in The Conversation explains to a more general audience how volcanoes can help us understand these global element cycles related to plate tectonics, and how metal resources for the future were concentrated in this cycle.

Alkaline Igneous Rocks of Angola, workshop and fieldtrip September 2019

3/10/2019

Sulfur Isotopes Paper Published in Nature Communications

16/09/2019

Our research led by Will Hutchison on sulfur isotopes of alkaline magmas is now published Open Access in Nature Communications. The work was led by the St Andrews team in collaboration with colleagues at Tübingen and Glasgow Universities. The group at St Andrews included four of our group (Will Hutchison, Adrian Finch, Nicky Horsburgh and Anouk Borst), our colleague Eva Stüeken (who works on chalcogen isotope fractionation) and Henrik Friis who is now Associate Professor at the University of Oslo.

Will compared the mantle signatures of Gardar magmas in Greenland with a compilation of data for alkaline igneous rocks across the globe. Variations in mantle sulfur signatures matched gross trends in the isotope values of the contemporary surface, which changed dramatically over Earth History. He concluded that the sulfur in the Gardar magmas contained a component that had been recycled from the Earth’s surface.

The exciting conclusion is that the Earth’s sulfur cycle contains a significant component of surface sulfur being recycled back into the mantle. Will’s work draws attention to how useful alkaline igneous rocks are as windows on the composition of the sub-continental mantle through geological time.

View from mile high cliffs on the Motzfeldt complex, Gardar South Greenland, one of the main sites for the study

Hutchison W, Babiel RJ, Finch AA, Marks MAW, Markl G, Boyce AJ, Stüeken EE, Friis H, Borst AM & Horsburgh NJ (2019) Sulphur isotopes of alkaline magmas unlock long-term records of crustal recycling on Earth. Nature Communications, 10, 4208.

Press Coverage

The work has received significant national press coverage including of the following:

The Herald – https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17906666.scots-scientists-discover-secrets-earths-crust/
The Courier – https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/979895/st-andrews-scientists-unearth-secrets-of-earths-crust/
Deadline – http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2019/09/16/ancient-volcanoes-reveal-earths-recycled-crust/
Phys.org – https://phys.org/news/2019-09-ancient-volcanoes-reveal-earth-recycled.html
Environmental News Network – https://www.enn.com/articles/59767-ancient-volcanoes-reveal-earth-s-recycled-crust

New paper out in special Rare Earth issue of Minerals

10/07/2019

In this study we quantify gains and losses of critical elements during late-magmatic hydrothermal alteration of eudialyte in the Ilimaussaq complex, Greenland. By microdrilling the alteration products of eudialyte – the primary host for REE, Zr and Nb – we found that certain metals (particularly those just mentioned) may be more mobile in the hydrothermal environment than we previously thought.

EudialyteAlteration-VandeVen et al 2019 — Red kakortokite sample from Unit 0 showing relative proportions of fresh eudialyte (red, c. 30%), replacement products after eudialyte (brown, c. 30%) and remaining minerals (feldspar, nepheline, sodic amphibole, c. 40%)

The alteration led to significant losses in Rare Earths and other High Field Strength Elements, and small gains in Large Ion Lithophile Elements (Rb, Th, U). We suspect that the elements that were removed from eudialyte by the fluids re-precipitated elsewhere in the rock. As such we infer that the alteration did not significantly influence the overall ore grade of the deposit. However, it does influence the ease by which we can extract the metals from the rock, as the metals are now hosted in a plethora of fine-grained intergrowths of secondary minerals. This has important implications for ore potential and mineral processing schemes of eudialyte-hosted ores, if we are to exploit these as a future source for green-technology metals.

van de Ven Mathijs, Borst Anouk M, Davies Gareth R, Hunt Emma J, Finch Adrian A (2019) Hydrothermal Alteration of Eudialyte-Hosted Critical Metal Deposits: Fluid Source and Implications for Deposit Grade. Minerals 2019, 9(7), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/min9070422.

The paper is the result of an MSc project by Mathijs van de Ven, co-funded by the University of St Andrews, the VU University Amsterdam and SOSRARE. Mathijs graduated at the VU University Amsterdam with distinction in 2018, and now works as an exploration geologist at RSC Mining & Mineral Exploration in New Zealand.

New Ilímaussaq isotope paper in Lithos

Jan 2019

Dating agpaitic rocks: A multi-system (U/Pb, Sm/Nd, Rb/Sr and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar) isotopic study of layered nepheline syenites from the Ilímaussaq complex, Greenland, Lithos. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2018.10.037

Happy to announce that the last paper of my PhD is now published in Lithos. In this paper we investigate how late-magmatic fluid reactions affect initial isotopic ratios of different minerals and how this affects the accuracy of isochron age dating for peralkaline rocks.

Find a link to the paper here.

EGU Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology Blog

Below is a link to a guest blog I wrote with Dr. Will Hutchison for the EGU Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology website.

The Fractional Crystallization Freak Zone

Will is a fellow postdoctoral researcher here at St Andrews. He studies active volcanoes and ancient magma chambers, and is currently working on the roof zones of alkaline magmatic systems in Greenland, as part of the Horizon2020 funded HiTech AlkCarb consortium.

Click here for the HiTechAlkCarb, website and blogs

Brazil 2017

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Brazillian Rare Earth symposium – University of São Paulo

On 6 to 10 November 2017, the St Andrews team (Nicky Horsburgh, Adrian Finch and myself) attended the Brazilian SOS RARE symposium on Rare Earth Elements, held at the Institute of Geosciences, University of São Paulo. The symposium was organized by Prof. Daniel Atencio and Prof. Marcello Andrade (University of São Paulo) and comprised a series of invited talks followed by field excursions to famous Brazilian carbonatite and peralkaline localities.

Prof. Marcello Andrade kicked off the meeting with a presentation on Raman spectroscopy to fingerprint REE minerals. Dr Andrezza de Almeida Azzi (USP) introduced us to the fascinating geology and mineralogy of the Poços de Caldas alkaline complex. She catalogued many REE minerals from old sample collections of former Poços de Caldas mining sites, many of which are not properly documented to date. Prof. Daniel Atencio gave us a preview of the bewildering mineralogy of the Araxa and Jacupiranga carbonatites.

After lunch and an enjoyable visit to the local mineral museum, Prof. Hermi Felinto de Brito from the Institute of Chemistry (USP) talked about the luminescent properties of RE³⁺ compounds and the synthesis of persistent luminescent Eu, Tb and Tm materials which can luminesce up to 24 hours after being excited, offering many applications in for example traffic and emergency signalization. Prof. Brito also demonstrated how they synthesize RE³⁺compounds at high temperature using just a simple microwave oven.

Prof. Henrique Kahn of the Mining & Engineering department of the LCT-Polytechnic School (USP) presented work on metallurgical processing and mineralogical characterization of REE-rich lateritic soils from various Brazilian carbonatite localities. The last three talks were given by us from St Andrews. Prof. Adrian Finch spoke about REE and HFSE mineralisation in magmatic roof zones and applications of luminescence studies to understand hydrothermal alteration and mineralization processes. I presented on the pseudomorphic replacement of eudialyte in the Ilímaussaq complex, including new evidence for late-magmatic REE-HFSE remobilisation from trace element and Sm/Nd isotopic data of microdrilled pseudomorphs (work by my MSc student Mathijs vd Ven). Nicky Horsburgh gave the last talk, on luminescence studies of REE minerals. Nicky demonstrated that mineral luminescence is strongly provenance dependent, illustrating the need for site-specific luminescence studies if we are to apply luminescence as an automated sorting or core logging tool.

Keen to bring out our geological hammers, we ventured north of São Paulo on day two to see some rocks in the field. After a long bus journey, enjoying the luscious green scenery, we arrived at an amazing lujavrite outcrop in the northern part of the Poços de Caldas alkaline complex. This is one of the few places with good solid rock exposures, not obscured by the thick tropical weathering profile that covers much of the complex. The coarse grained lujavrite shows strong magmatic foliation fabrics defined by coarse feldspar laths wrapped in fine needles of aegirine (photo), which is a testament of the low viscosity melt and possibly subsolidus deformation and recrystallisation. The rock is peppered with large (5–6 cm) purple to pink eudialyte which overgrow the foliation fabric, resembling textures seen in the naujaite of the Ilímaussaq complex. We managed to collect a number of samples for further mineralogical studies and comparison to Greenland samples.

St Andrews Team: Nicky, Adrian, Me

Araxa, a lateritised carbonatite and the worlds largest Nb mine

Villiaumite (NaF) – a water soluble agpaitic mineral and yellow Hainite-(Y)

Large poikilitic eudialyte in nepheline syenites from Pocos de Caldas, Brazil

SoS RARE consortium

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My current position is funded by the SoS RARE consortium, which has now entered its third and final year.

SoS RARE is a consortium project funded by NERC and EPSRC under the Security of Supply of Mineral Resources (SoS Minerals) science programme, running from 2015 to 2019. The research team includes 17 investigators from six UK universities and research institutes (Camborne School of Mines, Brighton, Sheffield, Leeds, St Andrews, Sao Paolo, BGS), with ten industry partners and eight core international research collaborators.

More information about SoS RARE can be found on the official website.

My research on eudialyte and rare earths

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[Photo credit: Ole Johnsen]

Much of my research focuses on a rare breed of magmatic rocks known as agpaitic nepheline syenites. These rocks are fascinating to geologists, mineralogists and geeks alike, for many reasons. To me, the most obvious reason is their incredible mineralogical diversity. Hundreds of minerals were first discovered from these rocks; sodalite, aegirine, arfvedsonite, eudialyte are only a few examples. Famous agpaitic complexes in terms of the number of new mineral discoveries, include Mont St Hilaire in Canada, Lovozero and Khibina in Russia, and Ilímaussaq in Greenland. And when I say mineralogically diverse, I mean that if you pick up any rock from these locations, chances are it contains a mineral that no one has yet identified or named. Also, they’re very pretty and colourful (especially under UV light).

Sodalite syenite with analcime and steenstrupine, Taseq Slope, under long wave UV

Another reason why we are interested in these peculiar rock types is that agpaitic rocks present one of very few examples where magmatic enrichment processes alone led to the formation of potentially economic ore deposits of elements like Zr, Nb, Ta, Hf, and Rare Earth Elements. For a magma to become so enriched these elements, the magma needs to fractionate extensively and become highly enriched sodium and halogens. This requires a rather unique set of conditions. Normally, sodium and halogens are lost as soon as a fluid phase exsolves from the magma. Only in certain geodynamic settings, such as in continental rifts, magmas may be so reduced that volatiles remain dissolved in the melt until the very last stages. This subsequently increases the solubility of incompatible elements and significantly lowers the crystallisation temperatures. This is partly why agpaitic rocks are relatively rare in the rock record.

The most diagnostic ‘hallmark’ mineral of agpaitic rocks is eudialyte. Eudialyte group minerals are complex sodium-rich zirconosilicates with calcium, iron, manganese, niobium, and rare earth elements. Where most igneous rocks contain zircon or ilmenite as the main hosts for zirconium and titanium (i.e. high field strength elements), agpaitic rocks contain complex sodium and halogen bearing minerals like eudialyte, rinkite (Na-REE-Ti-silicate) and aenigmatite (Na-Fe-Ti-silicate). Eudialyte most commonly occurs as brown, red to pink crystals, such as on the pictures below, but orange and yellow varieties are also known.

Eudialyte group minerals were first discovered in 1819, in the layered Ilímaussaq complex where they occur in large quantities. The mineral has now been reported from over 100 localities world-wide. Because they occur in such large quantities, eudialyte group minerals are considered as potential alternative resources for a range of technology metals, notably the heavy rare earths and niobium. These metals are crucial components in modern-day technologies, ranging from permanent magnets used in smart phone speakers, car engines or big wind-turbines [made of NdFeB], to rare-earth phosphors giving colour to the screens in our electronic devices [using Ce, Eu, Gd, Tb and Y]. Niobium has important anticorrosive properties and significantly enhances the strength, flexibility and general lifetime of steel.

The problem with rare earth elements, as well as niobium, is that their supply chain is controlled by single producing countries. Most of the world’s heavy rare earths come from China, and most niobium comes from a single mine in Brazil. Needless to say, monopoly market positions are risky because disruptions in the supply chain of these metals could strangle global hi-tech industries. For this reason, governments around the world are working closely with geologists and exploration companies to seek and develop alternative resources and to safe-guard global supply chains of these so-called ‘critical’ or ‘strategic’ metals.

Eudialyte-hosted REE deposits, such as in the Ilímaussaq complex, form an attractive alternative and current work focusses on developing cheap and environmentally friendly ways to extract the metals from these minerals.

My research specifically aims to understand how zoned crystals of eudialyte can be used to trace the evolution of the highly evolved magmas from which they crystallised, how they are replaced by secondary minerals when late-magmatic fluids percolate through the rocks after they crystallised, and how this affects the ore potential.

In more recent work, I’ve worked out where inside the complex crystal structure of eudialyte the REE’s are hiding, using synchrotron-based techniques such as XANES and EXAFS. These techniques allow me to probe the type, number and distance of atoms surrounding the REE atoms inside the crystal lattice.

Publications

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Kalikone, C., Borst, A. M., Nahimana, L., Nzolang, C., Nimpagaritse, G., Batumike, J. M., Rumanya, R., Kezimana, L. F., Delvaux, D., & Dewaele, S. (2023). Pegmatite zonation and the use of muscovite as a geochemical indicator for tin-tantalum-tungsten mineralization: Case studies from the Kalehe and Idjwi areas, Democratic Republic of Congo. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 105067. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JAFREARSCI.2023.105067

Acke J., Kwizera. D., Goodship A., Dewaele S., Barros R., Burlet C., Nachtergale S., Borst A.M., (2023) Spodumene textural variations in a deformed LCT-type pegmatite. A case study from the Musha-Ntunga area, Rwanda. SGA 17th Biennial Meeting, Zurich 2023, Vol 1, p. 208-211, ISBN: 9 782839 940443, https://e-sga.org/index.php?eID=tx_nawsecuredl&u=0&g=0&t=1712248427&hash=ddf6b119166f062c6a719939411d1abf8537ce91&file=fileadmin/sga/Shop_-_Downloads/SGA_Abstract_Volumes/2023_Zurich/SGA_2023_Zurich_Volume_1.pdf

Thomsen, T.B, Heredia, B., Ryznar, J., Zygo, W., O’Brien, H., Goodey, M, Tapster, S., Borst, A.M., Keulen, N., Malkki S., Rosa, D (2023) U-Pb dating and trace-element characterisation of potential cassiterite referencematerials applicable to Sn-W mineralisation systems, SGA 17th Biennial meeting, Zurich, Vol 3, p. 336-338 sga2023.ch/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SGA2023_Volume-3.pdf

Beard, C. D., Goodenough, K. M., Borst, A.M., Wall, F, Deady, E., Hutchison, W., Marks, M. A. W., Walter, B. F, Finch, A., Pohl, C., Siegfried, P. R., Elliott, H.A.L., Brauch, K., (2022) Alkaline silicate HFSE-REE systems, Economic Geology, https://doi.org/10.5382/econgeo.4956

Sokół, K., Finch, A.A., Hutchison, W., Cloutier, J., Borst, A.M, & Humphreys, M. (2021) Quantifying metasomatic HFSE-REE transport from alkaline magmas. Geology https://doi.org/10.1130/G49471.1

Hutchison, W., Finch, A. A., Borst, A. M., Marks, M. A. W., Upton, B. G. J., Zerkle, A. L., Stüeken, E. E., & Boyce, A. J. (2021). Mantle sources and magma evolution in Europe’s largest rare earth element belt (Gardar Province, SW Greenland): New insights from sulfur isotopes. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 568, 117034. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EPSL.2021.117034

Borst, A. M., Smith, M. P., Finch, A. A., Estrade, G., Villanova-de-Benavent, C., Nason, P., Marquis, E., Horsburgh, N. J., Goodenough, K. M., Xu, C., Kynicky, J. & Geraki, K. (2020) Adsorption of rare earth elements in regolith-hosted clay deposits, Nature Communications 11, Article number: 4386, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-17801-5

Borst, A.M., Finch, A.A. Horsburgh, N.J.H. Friis, H., Gamaletsos, P.N., Goettlicher, J., Steiniger, R., Geraki, K. (2019) Structural State of Heavy Rare Earths in Eudialyte-Group Minerals, Mineralogical Magazine p. 1-16, http://doi.org/10.1180/mgm.2019.50

Finch A.A, Hutchison W. & Borst A.M. (2019) How Volcanoes Recycle the Earth’s Crust to Uncover Rare Metals that are Vital to Green Technology. The Conversation, article 125159.

Hutchison, W., Babiel, R. J., Finch, A. A., Marks, M. A. W., Markl, G., Boyce, A. J., Stueeken, E. E., Friis, H., Borst A.M., Horsburgh, N. J. (2019) Sulphur isotopes of alkaline magmas support deep recycling of Earth’s crust. Nature Communications 10, 4208 (2019), p. 1-12

Van de Ven, M., Borst, A.M., Davies, G.R, Hunt, E.J., Finch, A.A. (2019), Hydrothermal Alteration of Eudialyte-Hosted Critical Metal Deposits: Fluid Source and Implications for Deposit Grade. Minerals 9(7), 422; http://doi.org/10.3390/min9070422

A.M. Borst, T.E. Waight, A.A. Finch, M. Storey, P.J. Le Roux (2019) Dating agpaitic rocks: A multi-system (U/Pb, Sm/Nd, Rb/Sr and 40Ar/39Ar) isotopic study of layered nepheline syenites from the Ilímaussaq complex, Greenland, Lithos 324-325, p. 74-88, doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2018.10.037

A.M. Borst, H. Friis, T.E. Waight, T.F.D. Nielsen (2018) Bulk and mush melt evolution in agpaitic systems: Insights from compositional variations in eudialyte-group minerals of the Ilímaussaq complex, South Greenland, Journal of Petrology, 59 (4), p. 589–612, doi: 10.1093/petrology/egy038

A.M. Borst, H. Friis, T. Andersen, T.E. Waight, T.F.D. Nielsen, M. Smit (2016) Zirconosilicates in the kakortokites of the Ilímaussaq complex, South Greenland: Implications for fluid evolution and HFSE-REE mineralisation in agpaitic systems, Mineralogical Magazine 80(1), p. 1-26, doi: 10.1180/minmag.2016.080.046

Kolb, A. Bartels, A.M. Borst, R-M. Bell (2013) Excursion Guidebook: GRE1. Geological Excursion to South Greenland. SGU (Geological Survey of Sweden), 12^th Biennial SGA Meeting, Mineral deposit research for a high-tech world, Uppsala Sweden 12-15 August 2013. Chapters: A.M. Borst, The Ilímaussaq Complex, p. 42-50 and A.M. Borst and A. Bartels, Metallogeny of the Gardar Province, p. 50-51

A.M. Borst, B.H. Foing, G.R. Davies, W. van Westrenen (2012) Surface mineralogy and stratigraphy of the lunar South Pole-Aitken basin determined from Clementine UV/VIS and NIR data, Planetary and Space Science 68, Terrestrial Planets 1, p. 76-85, doi:10.1016/j.pss.2011.07.020

B.H. Foing, C. Stoker, J. Zavaleta, P. Ehrenfreund C. Thiel, P. Sarrazin, D. Blake, J. Page, V. Pletser, J. Hendrikse, S. Direito, M. Kotler, Z. Martins, G. Orzechowska, C. Gross, L. Wendt, J. Clarke, A.M. Borst, S.T.M. Peters, M.-B.Wilhelm, G.R. Davies & ILEWG EuroGeoMars 2009 team (2011) Field Astrobiology Research in Moon-Mars Analogue Environment: Instruments & Methods, International Journal of Astrobiology 10(3), p. 141-160

Pletser, V. and EuroGeoMars 2009 team (2010) A Mars Human Habitat: Recommendations on Crew Time Utilization, and Habitat Interfaces, Journal of Cosmology, Vol 12, p. 3928-3945

MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION

Kasay, G., Giebel, J. R, Borst; A.M., Bolarinwa A. T. Beranoaguirre; A Kluge; T.. Aromolaran O. K; Raza M., Eiche E.; Kolb J.; Nzolang C.; Walter B. F. (submitted to Precambrian Geology) Petrogenesis and whole-rock geochemistry of the Bingo carbon carbonatite Complex, Democratic Republic of Congo

Beard, C. D., Finch, A, Borst, A.M, Hutchison, W, Goodenough, K. M., Millar, I., Andersen, T, Williams, H., Weller, O.M. (revised version submitted to EPSL) Mantle sources for Europe’s largest REE belt, Gardar Province, SW Greenland: Insights from Nd-Hf isotopes, Earth and Planetary Science Letters

Acke, Barros, Burlet, Nachtergaele, Uwiringiymana, Dewaele, Borst, A.M. (submitted to Economic Geology special issue) Petrography, microtextures and lithium distribution of deformed LCT-type pegmatites from the Musha-Ntunga area (Rwanda)

Goodenough, K, Shaw, R., Kinnaird, J., Nex, P., Borst A.M., (submitted to Economic Geology special issue, on invitation), Lithium pegmatites in Africa: A review

Borst A.M., Finch A.A., Siegfried, P.R., Vasilieva, E., Thomson, T., Bambi A. (In preparation) Mixing, mingling and metasomatism: Late-stage HFSE mobility and carbothermal in the Nejoio alkaline silicate complex, Angola

CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTIONS

Anouk Borst, Juan Sebastian Rodriguez, Jolan Acke, Stijn Dewaele (2024) Incremental emplacement of the giant Manono-Kitotolo spodumene pegmatites, Democratic Republic of the Congo, GAC-MAC-PEG 2024, Brandon University, Manitoba, Canada

Jolan Acke, Simon Nachtergaele, Christian Burlet, Renata Barros, Stijn Dewaele, Anouk Borst (2024) High-resolution elemental mapping and quantification of lithium-rich minerals in LCT-type pegmatites with LIBS and LA-ICP-MS, GAC-MAC-PEG 2024, Brandon University, Manitoba, Canada

Jolan Acke, Justin Uwiringiyimana, Stijn Dewaele, Anouk Borst (2024) Petrography, microtextures and lithium distribution of deformed LCT-type pegmatites from the Musha-Ntunga area (Rwanda), GAC-MAC-PEG 2024, Brandon University, Manitoba, Canada

Safari E., Nahimana L., Borst. A.M., Delvaux, D. (2023) Carte geologique detaille a léchelle 1/50.000 de líle d’Idjwi, Province du Sud-Kivu, République Démocratique du Congo : Contribution a l’etude de la chaine de Karagwe-Ankole d’Afrique Centrale., Conférence internationale Géologie et ressources naturelles en Afrique centrale – Brazzaville – Dec2023

Kalikone, C., Borst, A.M., Nahimana, L., Nzolang, C. , Nimpagaritse, G., Batumike, J.M., Rumanya, R., Delvaux, D., Dewaele, S. (2023) Zonation des pegmatites et utilisation de la muscovite comme indicateur géochimique de la minéralisation en étain-tantale-tungstène : Études de cas dans les régions de Kalehe et d’Idjwi, République Démocratique du Congo, Conférence internationale Géologie et ressources naturelles en Afrique centrale – Brazzaville – Dec 2023

Borst, AM, Acke, J. Rodriguez, J.S., Verstrepen, A., Mees, F., Dewaele, S. (2023) “Lithium pegmatites in the Karagwe-Ankole and Kibara belts of Central Africa” CAG2023, Windhoek Namibia, Book of Abstracts p. 134. https://www.mme.gov.na/files/publications/643_29th%20COLLOQUIUM%20OF%20AFRICAN%20GEOLOGY%20BOOK%20OF%20ABSTRACT-09-2023.pdf

Borst A.M., Finch A.A., Siegfried, P.R., Bambi A. (2023) Mixing, mingling and metasomatism: Late-stage HFSE mobility and carbothermalism in the Nejoio alkaline silicate complex, Angola. Goldschmidt Lyon, France https://doi.org/10.7185/gold2023.16582

Beard, C. D., Finch, A, Borst, A.M, Hutchison, W, Goodenough, K. M., Millar, I., Andersen, T, Williams, H., Weller, O.M., Mantle sources for Europe’s largest REE belt, Gardar Province, SW Greenland: Insights from Nd-Hf isotopes. Goldschmidt Lyon, France https://doi.org/10.7185/gold2023.19911

Borst, AM, Acke, J. Rodriguez, J.S., Verstrepen, A., Dewaele, S. (2023) “Lithium potential of the 3T belt in Central Africa” CRITCON2023 Adelaide, Australia. (Keynote) .

Borst, AM, Acke, J. Rodriguez, J.S., Verstrepen, A., Dewaele, S. (2023) “Lithium potential of in Central Africa” Greenpeg SIM meeting (Invited) .

Borst, AM., Acke, J., Van der Does, L., Goodship, A., Kwizera., D. (2022) 3Ts and Li-batteries: Regional zonation and Li potential of rare metal pegmatites in the Great Lakes Region of Central Africa. Goldschmidt Hawaii 2022 (Keynote) https://doi.org/10.46427/gold2022.12152

Borst, A.M., Finch, A.A., Nielson, G., Siegfried, P.R., Lopes, E., Eugenio, A. and Bambi, A.C.J.M. (2021) Alkaline magmatism and critical metals in Angola: Field observations and petrography of the Nejoio nepheline syenite complex. Pp. 30–31 in: Geologica Belgica. Africa Museum, Tervuren.

Borst, A.M., Finch, A.A., Horsburgh, N., Smith, M., Geraki, K., (2021) Mineralogical effects of alteration and weathering in peralkaline silicate hosted REE-HFSE deposits, Goldschmidt Online 2021 (Invited) https://doi.org/10.7185/gold2021.5981

McIlquham J, Borst AM, Allender EJ, Foing. B. Geological context of recent lunar landing sites using multispectral analysis, vEGU2021 (online) April 2021

Hutchison W, Finch AA, Borst AM, Stüeken EE, Zerkle AL & Boyce AJ (2020) Using S isotopes of alkaline magmas to unlock long-term records of crustal recycling on Earth. Geol Soc of London Sulfur Conference (online) Dec 2020.

Hutchison W, Finch AA, Borst AM, Marks MAW, Zerkle AL, Stüeken EE & Boyce AJ (2020) Mantle Sources and Magma Evolution in Europe’s Largest Rare Earth Element Belt: Gardar Province, SW Greenland. AGU Innovative Session (online).

Goodenough KM, Wall F, Deady E, Beard C, Borst AM, Finch AA, Smith MP, Estrade G and Marquis E (2020) “Primary rare earth element resources: a decade of research and development” European Rare Earth Resources 2020, 6-9 October 2020 (Keynote)

A.M Borst, A.A Finch, P.R Siegfried, A. Bambi, G. Tchimbali, A. Dos Santos, E Lopes, A Eugenio., E Jeremias and S Azevedo (2020) Looking for hi-tech metals in Angola: the Nejoio alkaline complex, MDSG2020, London NHM

Beard, C. D., Goodenough, K. M., Borst, A.M., Finch, A.A., Hutchison, W., Marks, M. A. W., Walter, B. F, Wall, F., Broom-Fendley, S., Siegfried, P. R., Elliott, H.A.L., Speiser, A. Woolley, A. R., Humphreys-Williams, E.,. Banks, G. J, Pohl, C., Brauch, K., and the HiTechAlkCarb consortium (2020) Geomodels for Hi-tech raw materials in alkaline and carbonatite systems, MDSG2020, London NHM

P.N. Gamaletsos, A.M. Borst, T. Kasama, A.A. Finch, A. Godelitsas, I.T. Tzifas, Y. Pontikes, A. Filippidis, (2019) Studying the Local Distribution of Thorium in Eudialyte Deposits Associated with Peralkaline Igneous Rocks (Greenland) by Electron Microscopy & Spectroscopic Techniques, 15^th International Congress of the Geologial Society of Greece, Athens, Extended Abstract

Finch, A. A., Hutchison, W., Borst, A. M., Horsburgh, N. J. & Stuecken, E. E. (2019) The architecture and geochemistry of magmatic roof zones – implications for mineralisation and exploration. in 5th SGA Biennial Meeting 1712–1715.

A.M. Borst, M. Smith, A. Finch, N.J. Horsburgh, G. Estrade, E. Marquis, J. Kynicky, C. Xu, K. Geraki (2019) Resolving the structural state of heavy rare earth elements in lateritic ion adsorption clays, 15^th SGA Biennial Meeting, Glasgow

C.D. Beard, K M. Goodenough, S. Broom-Fendley, A.M. Borst, N.M.W. Roberts, A. A. Finch, E.A. Deady (2019) Subducted sediments as a source for REE in mineralised post-collisional alkaline-carbonatite systems, Goldschmidt Barcelona

A.M. Borst, A.A. Finch, N.J.H. Horsburgh, H. Friis, P.N. Gamaletsos, J. Goettlicher, R. Steiniger, K. Geraki (2019) Structural state of REE in Eudialyte-Hosted Critical Metal Deposits. Goldschmidt Barcelona

A.M. Borst, A.A. Finch, M. van de Ven, N.J. Horsburgh, H. Friis, W. Hutchison, K. Sokol (2019) Peralkaline-hosted Critical Metal Deposits: From magmatic enrichment to hydrothermal mobilisation, 3^rd International Critical Metal Conference, Edinburgh (Keynote)

A.M. Borst, A.A. Finch, N.J.H. Horsburgh, H. Friis, P.N. Gamaletsos, J. Goettlicher, R. Steiniger, K. Geraki (2019) Rare Earth element substitution in Eudialyte Group Minerals, An X-ray Absorption study. VMSG2019 St Andrews

A.M. Borst, M. Smith, A. Finch, E. Marquis, G. Estrade, J. Kynicky, C. Xu, K. Geraki (2018) Structural state of REE in ion adsorption deposits: A XANES/EXAFS study of laterites from Madagascar and China, RFG 2018, Vancouver, June 2018, Abstract 2141 (Oral)

A.M. Borst, P.N. Gamaletsos, A. A. Finch, N.J.H. Horsburgh, H. Friis, T. Kasama, J. Goettlicher, R. Steiniger, K. Geraki (2018) Probing the structural state of Y and Nd in eudialyte using X-ray absorption spectroscopy, NGWM Copenhagen (Oral)

A.M. Borst, A. A. Finch, H. Friis, N.J.H. Horsburgh, P.N. Gamaletsos, J. Goettlicher, R. Steiniger, K. Geraki (2018) Structural state of Y and Nd in eudialyte using X-ray absorption spectroscopy, MDSG Brighton (Oral)

M. van de Ven, A.M. Borst, G. Davies, A. Finch (2018) Trace element and Nd-isotope data of eudialyte from the Kakortokite sequence of the Ilímaussaq complex suggest subsolidus remobilization of rare earth elements by magmatic fluids, NGWM Copenhagen, Abstract

A. Finch, A. M. Borst, W. Hutchison, N. J. Horsburgh, T. Andersen, S. Simonsen (2018) The Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Hf isotopes in the Gardar: Evidence for Mid-Proterozoic Crustal Recycling? NGWM Copenhagen

N. Gamaletsos, A.M. Borst, T. Kasama, A. A. Finch, J. Goettlicher, R. Steiniger, B. Wenzell, Z.I. Balogh, A. Godelitsas (2018) Thorium in eudialyte ore deposits from Greenland studied by synchrotron radiation (μ-XRF/-XAFS) and electron microscopic techniques (SEM, TEM), NGWM Copenhagen

G.R. Davies, Q. van der Meer, M. Klaver, A.M. Borst, B. Davidheiser, T.J. Meulemans, S. de Jong, C.S. Nooitgedacht, C.M. de Heij (2017) The genesis and evolution of the subcontinental lithosphere beneath Botswana and N. South Africa, 11^th International Kimberlite Conference 2017, Gabarone Botswana

Nason, M. Smith, A. Borst, A. Finch, G. Estrade, E. Marquis, T. Geraki, (2017) REE enrichment processes in the Ambohimirahavavy Complex ion adsorption deposit, Madagascar using Y-Nd μ-XANES Spectroscopy, Goldschmidt 2017, Paris

Hutchison, A.A. Finch, A.J. Boyce, H. Friis, A. M. Borst, N. J. Horsburgh (2017) New insights into magma ascent and emplacement from alkaline roof zones of Southern Greenland, VMSG 2017 Leeds

A. Finch , A. M. Borst, W. Hutchison, N. J. Horsburgh, T. Andersen, S. Simonsen, (2017) The Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Rift Magmatism: Insights from Hf in Gardar Magmas, VMSG 2017 Leeds

A.M. Borst, H. Friis, A.A. Finch, (2016) Optimising the REE-Zr-Nb potential of eudialyte and its alteration products in the Ilímaussaq complex, South Greenland, MDSG 2016 Abstract, Bristol (Poster), Applied Earth Science, 126:2, 43-44, DOI: 10.1080/03717453.2017.1306233

A.M. Borst, H. Friis, T.E. Waight (2015) Fractionation of agpaitic magmas from compositional zoning in kakortokite-hosted eudialyte, Ilímaussaq Complex, Greenland. Goldschmidt Prague, Abstract 2384 p. 347 (Oral presentation)

A.M. Borst, H. Friis, T. Andersen, T.E. Waight, T.F.D. Nielsen, M. Smit (2015) Chemographic modelling of secondary zirconosilicates: Implications on late-stage fluid evolution in agpaitic nepheline syenites of the Ilímaussaq Complex, South Greenland, Dansk Geologisk Foregning General Assembly (Poster presentation, Best PhD Poster)

A.M. Borst (2014) REE mineralisation in the Ilímaussaq Complex, South Greenland, IGN PhD Conference, Copenhagen University, November 2014 (Oral presentation)

A.M. Borst, M. Smit, H. Friis, T.E. Waight, T.F.D. Nielsen (2014) Alteration of eudialyte and implications on the REE, Zr, and Nb resources of the layered kakortokite sequence in the Ilímaussaq Complex, South West Greenland, ERES Conference, Milos Greece, September 2014, Conference Proceedings p.325-332 (Oral presentation/Extended Abstract)

A.M. Borst, T.E. Waight, T.F.D. Nielsen, P. Kalvig (2014) Eudialyte decomposition and REE – HFSE fractionation in the kakortokite series of the peralkaline Ilímaussaq Complex, South Greenland, 31^st Nordic Geological Winter Meeting Lund, 2014, Abstract, p.52 (Poster presentation)

A.M. Borst, B. Davidheiser, T. Meulemans, M. Klaver, G. Davies (2012), The origin and evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Makondi Fold Belt in Botswana; an extensive geochemical study on peridotite xenoliths from the Letlhakane diamond mine, 10^th International Kimberlite Conference, India, Extended Abstract (Poster presentation)

Meulemans, A.M. Borst, B. Davidheiser, G.R. Davies (2012) The origin and modification of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle of Botswana: constraints from peridotite xenoliths of the Orapa mine Botswana, 10^th International Kimberlite Conference, India, 2012 (Oral presentation by G. Davies)

Hendrikse, B. H. Foing, E. Monaghan, C. Stoker, J. Zavaleta, F. Selch, P. Ehrenfreund, L. Wendt, C. Gross, C. Thiel, S. Peters, A.M. Borst, P. Sarrazin, D. Blake, L. Boche-Sauvan, J. Page, V. Pletser, P. Mahapatra, D. Wills, C. McKay, G. Davies, W. van Westrenen, P. Batenburg, G. Drijkoningen, E. Slob, P. Poulakis, G. Visentin, A. Noroozi, E. Gill, M. Guglielmi, M. Freire, R. Walker, ExoGeoLab Team, EuroGeoMars Team (2010), Highlights from Remote Controlled Rover for EuroGeoMars MDRS Campaign, 41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #2435

Boche-Sauvan, B. H. Foing, C. Stoker, P. Ehrenfreund, L. Wendt, C. Gross, C. Thiel, S. Peters, A.M. Borst, J. Zavaleta, P. Sarrazin, D. Blake, J. Page, V. Pletser, E. Monaghan, P. Mahapatra, A. Noroozi, P. Giannopoulos, A. Calzada, R. Walker, T. Zegers, ExoGeoLab, ILEWG ExoHab Team, EuroGeoMars Team (2010), ILEWG ExoHab & EuroGeoMars Campaigns: Habitability & Human Operations, 41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #1759

B.H. Foing, L. Boche-Sauvan, C. Stoker, P. Ehrenfreund, L. Wendt, C. Gross, C. Thiel, S. Peters, A.M. Borst, J. Zavaleta, P. Sarrazin, D. Blake, J. Page, V. Pletser, E. Monaghan, P. Mahapatra, D. Wills, A. Noroozi, R. Walker, T. Zegers, Exolab and Exohab Team EuroGeoMars Team (2010), Exohab and EuroGeoMars Campaigns: Human Exploration and Astrobiology, Astrobiology Science Conference, Abstract # 5625

Foing B. H. Mahapatra P. Boche-Sauvan L. Som S. Page J. Stoker C. Zhavaleta J. Sarrazin P. Blake D. Poulakis P. Visentin G. Noroozi A. Ehrenfreund P. Barton A. Lebreton J. P. Zegers T. Koschny D. Peters S. Borst A.M. Monaghan E. Wills D. Thiel C. Wendt L. Gross C. Nijman F. Pletser V. McKay C. Davies G. van Westrenen W. Batenburg P. Drijkoningen G. Slob E. Gill E. Guglielmi M. Freire M. Walker R. ExoGeoLab Team (2010), ExoGeoLab Test Bench for Landers, Rovers and Astrobiology Instrument, Astrobiology Science Conference, Abstract #5477

A.M. Borst, S. Peters, B.H. Foing, C. Stoker, L. Wendt, C. Gross, J. Zhavaleta, P. Sarrazin, D. Blake, P. Ehrenfreund, L. Boche-Sauvan, J. Page, C. McKay, P. Batenburg, G. Drijkoningen, E. Slob, P. Poulakis, G. Visentin, A. Noroozi, E. Gill, M. Guglielmi, M. Freire, R. Walker, M. Sabbatini, V. Pletser, E. Monaghan, R. Ernst, J. Oosthoek, P. Mahapatra, D. Wills, C. Thiel, J.P. Lebreton, T. Zegers, A. Chicarro, D. Koschny, J. Vago, H.Svedhem, G. Davies, A. Westenberg, J. Edwards, ExoGeoLab team & EuroGeoMars team (2009) Geochemistry of Utah Morrison formation from EuroGeoMars campaign, Int. Conf. Comparative Planetology: Venus – Earth – Mars, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands (Oral Presentation)

A.M. Borst, F. Bexkens, B. Foing, D. Koschny, G. Davies and W. van Westrenen (2009) Geological and geochemical analysis of stratigraphic units in the South Pole – Aitken Basin, Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 11, EGU General Assembly, Abstract 12255-2 (Oral presentation)

B.H. Foing, S. Peters, A.M. Borst, L. Wendt, C. Gross, C. Stoker, J. Zhavaleta, P. Sarrazin, D. Blake, P. Ehrenfreund, L. Boche-Sauvan, J. Page, C. McKay, P. Batenburg, G. Drijkoningen, E. Slob, P. Poulakis, G. Visentin, A. Noroozi, E. Gill, M. Guglielmi, M. Freire, R. Walker, V. Pletser, E. Monaghan, R. Ernst, J. Oosthoek, P. Mahapatra , D. Wills, C. Thiel, J.P. Lebreton, T. Zegers, A. Chicarro, D. Koschny, J. Vago, H.Svedhem, G. Davies, A. Westenberg, J. Edwards, ExoGeoLab team & EuroGeoMars team (2009). Geology and geochemistry highlights from EuroGeomars MDRS campaign, Int. Conf. Comparative Planetology: Venus – Earth – Mars, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

P.A.W. Batenburg, B.H. Foing, G.G. Drijkoningen, E.K.A. Gill, P. Poulakis, G. Visentin, J. Page, V. Pletser, S. Peters, A.M.Borst, P. Mahapatra, ExoGeoLab Team, EuroGeoMars Team (2009), “Reflection Seismology Systems for Planetary Geology: First Tests at ESTEC ExoGeoLab and MDRS, Utah”, 40^th Lunar and Planetary Science Congress, Abstract #2536

B.H. Foing, J. Page, P. Poulakis, G. Visentin, A. Noroozi, E. Gill, P. Batenburg, G. Drijkoningen, E. Slob, M. Guglielmi, M. Freire, R. Walker, M. Sabbatini, V. Pletser, E. Monaghan, L. Boche-Sauvan, R. Ernst, J. Oosthoek, S. Peters, A.M. Borst, P. Mahapatra, D. Wills, C. Thiel, L. Wendt, C. Gross, J.P. Lebreton, T. Zegers, C. Stoker, J. Zhavaleta, P. Sarrazin, C. Blake, C. McKay, P. Ehrenfreund, A. Chicarro, D. Koschny, J. Vago, H.Svedhem, G. Davies, ExoGeoLab team & EuroGeoMars team (2009) ExoGeoLab lander and rover instruments, Int. Conf. Comparative Planetology: Venus – Earth – Mars, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Hendrikse, B.H. Foing, C. Stoker, J. Zavaleta, F. Selch, P. Ehrenfreund, L. Wendt, C. Gross, C. Thiel, S. Peters, A.M. Borst, P. Sarrazin, D. Blake, L. Boche-Sauvan, J. Page, V. Pletser, E. Monaghan, P. Mahapatra , D. Wills, C. McKay, G. Davies, W. van Westrenen, P. Batenburg, G. Drijkoningen, E. Slob, P. Poulakis, G. Visentin, A. Noroozi, E. Gill, M. Guglielmi, M. Freire, R. Walker, ExoGeoLab team & EuroGeoMars team (2009). Highlights from Remote Controlled Rover for EuroGeoMars MDRS Campaign, European Planetary Science Congress, EPSC Abstracts, Vol. 4

Foing B. H. Koschny D. Grieger B. Josset J.-L. Beauvivre S. Grande M. Huovelin J. Keller H. U. Mall U. Nathues A. Malkki A. Noci G. Sodnik Z. Kellett B. Pinet P. Chevrel S. Cerroni P. de Sanctis M. C. Barucci M. A. Erard S. Despan D. Muinonen K. Shevchenko V. Shkuratov Y. Ellouzi M. Peters S. Borst A.M.. Bexkens F. Boche-Sauvan L. Mahapatra P. Almeida M. Frew D. Volp J. Heather D. McMannamon P. Camino O. Racca G., (2009) SMART-1 Results and Targets for LRO, LRO Science Target Meeting, Abtract #6049

Wendt, L., Mahapatra, P., Gross, C., Borst, A.M., Foing, B. H., ExoGeoLab Team, EuroGeoMars Team (2009), Raman investigations of the EuroGeoMars Campaign, EPSC, Abstract #457

S.T.M. Peters, A.M. Borst, L. Wendt, C. Gross, C. Stoker, J. Zhavaleta, P. Sarrazin, E. Slob, V. Pletser, B. Foing, and the ExoGeoLab team & EuroGeoMars Team (2009) EuroGeoMars mission and techniques: First results for geology and geochemistry, Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 11, EGU2009-13353, EGU General Assembly

Le Gac, K. Ammon, N. Gortsas and the Orange Team (2009) PALISA-Observation and Sample Return Mission to the M-Type Asteroid (216) Kleopatra, Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 11, EGU2009-8828, EGU General Assembly

Ammon and the Orange Team (2009) PALISA-OBSERVATION AND SAMPLE RETURN MISSION TO THE M-TYPE ASTEROID (216) KLEOPATRA, 59^th International Astronautical Congress 2008, IAC-08.A3.2.INT25, Abstract #2748

A.M. Borst, F. Bexkens, B.H. Foing, D. Koschny, S.T.M. Peters (2008) Geochemical analysis of units within the South Pole-Aitken Basin, EPSC, Muenster, Germany, Abstract 00129, (Oral presentation)

S.T.M. Peters, B.H. Foing, A.M. Borst, F. Bexkens, D. Koschny, A. Rossi, J.L. Josset, S. Beauvivre, (2008) Smart-1/Clementine Study of Humorum, Procellarum & South-Pole Aitken Basins: Coupling between impacts, volcanism and tectonics, LPSCI, Abstract #2115

F.S. Bexkens, A.M. Borst, B.H. Foing, S.T.M. Peters, D. Koschny (2008), The Global Geological context and impact signatures in the Lunar SPA Basin; the biggest cataclysm in the solar system, ESLAB abstract, ESRIN Frascatti Italy,

B.H. Foing, D. Koschny, B. Grieger, J.-L. Josset, S. Beauvivre, M. Grande, I. Crawford, B. Swinyard, J. Huovelin, L. Alha, H.U. Keller, U. Mall, A. Nathues, A. Malkki, G. Noci, Z. Sodnik, B. Kellett, P. Pinet, S. Chevrel, P. Cerroni, M.C. de Sanctis, M.A. Barucci, S. Erard, D. Despan, K. Muinonen, J. Naranen, V. Shevchenko, Y. Shkuratov, M. Ellouzi, S. Peters, F. Bexkens, A. Borst, C. Odum, L. Boche-Sauvan, E. Monaghan, D. Wills, M. Almeida, D. Frew, J.Volp, D. Heather, P. McMannamon, O. Camino, G.Racca, (2008) SMART-1 RESULTS AND LESSONS LEARNED FOR PREPARING FUTURE EXPLORATION, LEAG-ICEUM-SRR, Florida, Abstract #4099

POPULAR SCIENCE/OUTREACH

Interviewed for Chemistry World by Ahthony King “Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found” https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/lithium-discovery-in-us-volcano-could-be-biggest-deposit-ever-found/4018032.article (This interview and personal quotes were picked up by over 100 news outlets around the world, with coverage in Dutch, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Finnish, Croatian, Indonesian, Vietnamese and more).
Interviewed for DW by Rosie Birchard “Von der Leyen talks raw materials, Ukraine in Canada, US https://www.dw.com/en/von-der-leyen-talks-raw-materials-ukraine-in-canada-us/a-64903085?mobileApp=true Mar 2023
TV Interview on Belgian Live TV, news show: ‘VRT NWS Laat’ about ‘Lithium discovery in India’: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnu/a-z/vrt-nws-laat/2023/vrt-nws-laat-d20230210/ Feb 2023
Interview in NRC Handelsblad: “Ligt de groene toekomst van Europa in een Zweedse mijn? Dat staat nog te bezien” by Marcel aan de Brugh, 9-02-2023. https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2023/02/09/ligt-de-groene-toekomst-van-europa-in-een-zweedse-mijn-dat-staat-nog-te-bezien-a4156532
TV Interview on Belgian Live TV about ‘Sweden discovers deposit of Rare Earth Elements’ LKAB, Kiruna deposit. ‘VRT NWS Laat’ Live TV: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnu/a-z/vrt-nws-laat/2023/vrt-nws-laat-d20230112/ , Jan 2023
Phone Interview for De Morgen Newspaper article on Kiruna discovery of REE. Printed article in ‘De Morgen’ newspaper. Het kortste interview, Anouk Borst. ‘Die aardmetalen zijn nodig voor de groene transitie’ Jan 2023
Interview about Global Lithium supply chains, by Anthony King, science journalist, for a short news item ‘EVs drive Li demand’ published in Chemistry & Industry, Volume 86, Issue 12, p. 15: DOI:10.1002/cind.10034 Nov 2022
RMCA outreach event – Flanders Science Days: Guided tour through the mineral display cabinets of the Africa Museum Nov 2022
Private interview with Resource Matters (Cristian Trujillo and Sophia Pickels), an NGO based in Brussels, for research for the European Union on strategic minerals located in DRC: Challenges and/or opportunities for lithium mining in central Africa. The report was not for publication. Sept 2022
Interview with Anthony King, science journalist, for an item on the European ‘Critical Raw Materials Act’ published in magazine Sept 2022 Chemistry World, Royal Society of Chemistry: https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/eu-plots-course-to-secure-raw-materials-vital-to-a-low-carbon-economy/4016263.article?adredir=1
Off record interview with journalists (Sophia Pickels and Jack Wolf) working for the United Nations, for an article on Lithium mining in the DRC, for an internal European report Aug 2022
MinSoc UK, Applied Mineralogist special issue. Online blog: Lithium potential of tin-tantalum-niobium pegmatites in Rwanda, Applied Mineralogist 2022 7(2), p. 3-5 minersoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AppliedMineralogist_June2022.pdf JUNE 2022
Special Feature in Applied Mineralogy group newsletter (Mineralogical Society UK & Ireland) ‘Lithium potential of tin-tantalum-niobium pegmatites in Rwanda‘ Applied Mineralogist 7(2), 3-5, June 2022
News item: Critical minerals in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa, Africa Museum, April 2022
Borst, A. M. (2021). Searching for new sources of rare earth elements. Diamond Light Source Annual Review 2020/2021, p. 96–97; https://www.diamond.ac.uk/docroot/flippingbooks/DiamondAnnualReview2021/index.html
Interview SIM2 ‘Meet our new colleagues’: “Mining of critical metals has to bring economic and social benefits to Africa, Oct 2021
Special feature in the Applied Mineralogy Group Newsletter (Mineralogical Society UK & Ireland) ‘New frontiers of critical metal exploration: Alkaline igneous rocks of Angola’ Applied Mineralogist, Dec 2019, Vol 4(4), p. 3-4
Finch, A.A., Hutchison, W & Borst A.M. (2019) ‘How volcanoes recycle the Earth’s crust to uncover rare metals that are vital to green technology’, The Conversation, Oct 30, 2019
Featured in book on MDRS simulations (as part of the EuroGeoMars Team 2009) ‘On To Mars’ Nov 2017 by Vladimir Pletser (Ed. Springer Singapore, 256 p. ISBN 9789811070303)
Blog for SOSRARE page ‘Brazilian symposium on rare-earth elements’ Nov 2017
News item in Daily Record on ‘Women shaping Scotlands’ environment’, Oct 2017
EGU-GMPV blog ‘The Fractional Crystallization Freak Zone’, with Will Hutchison, 2017
Article ‘Petrology and mineralogy of the Ilímaussaq complex’ for student newsletter – 2015– Stockholm University Student Chapter
Article in Dutch magazine for amateur geologists and mineral collectors: Anouk Borst (2010) ‘Op Mars expeditie in Utah, VS’, GEA ‘Stichting Geologische Activiteiten’ 43, p. 40-43
Interview in Natuur, Wetenschap en Techniek Magazine (Nature, Science and Technology): Stefan Peters and Anouk Borst (2009) ‘Martians in the desert’, nr. 5, p. 42-46,
Online blog on the MDRS Campaign. Anouk Borst (2009) ‘Students on Mars’, VU University webpage (www.falw.vu.nl)
Skype interview live from MDRS on Dutch popular scientific television program ‘Nieuwslicht’ (VARA), 2009
Co-operated in a documentary (1 hour) of our crew rotation at MDRS, aired on a Belgian popular scientific television program. Directed by Francois Hubert