The Fen Carbonatite Complex in Telemark represents the feeding conduit of a ca. 580 Ma-old carbonatite volcano. The Fen Complex hosts concentrations of minerals of economic interest, such as REE-bearing minerals, Nb-bearing minerals, phosphates, and hematite. Recently, the growing interest in REEs as critical raw materials for the high-tech industry and the Green Transition has made the Fen Complex an important target for geological studies.
Ongoing research at Fen highlights that the geological evolution of the complex has been characterized by episodes of brittle and ductile deformation, which likely played a significant role in facilitating fluid-rock interaction and element transport. The aim of this MSc project is to develop a conceptual model of the role of deformation and fluid-rock reactions in the generation of high-grade concentrations of REEs in Fen, Europe’s largest deposit of REEs, by integrating field mapping with core logging, sampling, and analytical techniques (scanning electron microscopy – SEM, electron microprobe analysis – EMPA, image analysis, and stable isotopes).
