TRANSITION · Breaking new frontiers in the use of NanoSIMS as an analytical tool for inferring the isotopic and critical metal geochemistry of clay-rich geological materials

In line with the European Union strategies, the TRANSITION project aims to advance the scientific knowledge of past climates and evaluate critical metal resources. The first objective of the project is to reconstruct palaeoclimatic conditions by analysing the oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition of clay minerals and oxides in Lower Cretaceous aluminium-rich rocks (laterites and bauxites) from NE Spain. Current limitations in isotopic analysis due to the nanometric scale of these minerals will be overcoming by developing an advanced analytical procedure using NanoSIMS (nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry), thus enhancing Europe's capabilities in this area. TRANSITION also aligns with the European Commission's 2023 recognition of certain metals as critical for the energy transition, since laterites, bauxites, and red muds (bauxite by-products after industrial processing) are valuable sources of such metals. The second objective of the project is the NanoSIMS high-resolution grain-scale mapping of the minerals containing critical metals in laterites, bauxites and red muds , thereby determining the sub-micron distribution and specific location of these metals within these materials. The successful implementation of the project, based on the expertise in geological and analytical chemistry of the applicant and supervisor, respectively, will contribute to the research prowess of Europe. The projects outcome will be of global significance, inspiring geoscientists worldwide to use NanoSIMS and expand our understanding of past climatic conditions. TRANSITION will also contribute to complementing the Lower Cretaceous paleoclimatic record in Western Europe and will report fundamental data for the future design of critical metals extraction strategies, allowing to consider laterites and bauxites as a source of critical metals, as well as the recycling of red muds as repositories of these metals.