Featured Media
Science4Parliament
Episode Six - Dr. Nicholas Vafeas - Geothermal Energy
Irish Examiner
Energy from the ground has always been around
Business Post
Urgent change in policy needed for geothermal energy resources to be tapped
Irish Farmers Journal
Heat pumps “one tool in the toolbox” for on-farm renewable energy
Published Books
The Art of Parenting: A Field Guide to Calm Connections & Smart Tactics for Developing Minds
Inspired by Sun Tzu’s timeless wisdom, The Art of Parenting transforms ancient battlefield strategy into everyday guidance for raising kids from toddlers to tweens. In 10 concise chapters - mirroring the structure of The Art of War - you’ll discover 160 bite‑sized tactics that help you build calm, connection, and confidence at home.
Parliamentary Reports
Geothermal Energy - Barriers and advantages to adoption in Ireland. 2021. Oireachtas Library and Research Service.
Irish parliamentary policy report on geothermal energy. It provided evidence-based insights to national policymakers, directly informing subsequent geothermal strategies in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The report catalysed cross-departmental dialogue on geothermal potential and regulatory reform, and was presented to Members of Parliament.
Featured Blogs
Scientific Publications
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This study provides the first quantitative geochemical study of “Transvaal Jade”, bringing scientific clarity to a locally valued ornamental stone from a resource-intensive mining area. The work couples state-of the-art Electron Microprobe (EMPA), SEM-EDS, and LA-ICP-MS workflows with cultural context, illustrating how analytical evidence can inform both heritage and critical-raw-material narratives
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The first comprehensive assessment for CO2 storage in onshore and offshore Ireland. This work informs ongoing national policy investigating carbon storage in line with national and EU climate mandates. https://doi.org/10.1144/esss2024-016
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A critical evaluation of EU policies governing the retention of critical raw materials (CRMs) in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). It highlights systemic gaps and institutional blind spots in current frameworks that risk undermining both environmental justice and strategic autonomy. The paper introduces the concept of “Forwardcycling,” a novel policy paradigm aimed at enhancing CRM recovery and traceability, and emphasises the need for socially accountable, transparent circular economy planning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.105380
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A concise, cross‑disciplinary synthesis of Ireland’s deep‑geothermal potential, linking subsurface geology and temperature gradients to feasible end‑uses (district heating, industry, and horticulture). The paper identifies prospective reservoir types and regions, highlights data and regulatory gaps, and outlines practical steps for pilot projects—establishing a baseline reference for policy, industry, and research planning across the island. http://hdl.handle.net/10197/25189
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Demonstrates that ore‑forming manganese at Montaña de Manganeso derived from multiple sources and processes, integrating mineralogical observations with major/trace element and isotopic datasets. The model moves beyond single‑source interpretations to a mixed fluid–rock interaction system, improving genetic understanding and providing geochemical vectors relevant to exploration in analogous carbonate‑hosted Mn deposits on the Mexican Plateau. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemer.2021.125789
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Establishes an integrated geochemical framework for the genesis of the Montaña de Manganeso vein-type deposit, constraining fluid sources, redox evolution, and fluid–rock interaction. The results clarify metal transport and precipitation mechanisms, provide a reference paragenesis for regional Mn mineralization, and lay the foundation for subsequent modeling and targeting in central Mexico. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2020.103680
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Vafeas, N.A., Slezak, P., Chew, D., Brodbeck, M., Hitzman, M.W. and Hnatyshin, D., 2023. U-Pb dating of apatite from Silvermines deposit, Ireland: A model for hydrothermal ore genesis. Economic Geology, 118(6), pp.1521-1527. DOI:10.5382/econgeo.5016
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Gold in South Africa is a topic of deep technical and cultural discussion. This study provided the first detailed geochemical and structural characterisation of orogenic gold mineralisation in the Giyani Goldfield, refining exploration models for the northern Kaapvaal Craton. https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.122.0037
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This study introduced a novel geochemical discrimination scheme using arsenic as a proxy to distinguish alteration events in the Kalahari Manganese Field. The approach enabled the identification of the previously unrecognised Mukulu Enrichment, offering a powerful tool for exploration and improving ore targeting strategies in manganese deposits. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2019.103146
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This study represents the first application of the Rb-Sr radiogenic system to date manganese deposition in the Kalahari Manganese Field. The resulting age aligns with prior petrographic and cross-cutting relationships, providing a robust geochronological benchmark and strengthening regional geological models. https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.122.0016
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The first U-Pb age date for erosion along the Kalahari unconformity, an age that until then, had been estimated based on geological relationships. The refined age redefined boundaries of erosion that therefore had implications for alluvial diamond mining along the interior and west on South African. https://doi.org/10.25131/sajg.121.0012
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In this study, uniquely large and globally rare manganese mineral phases from the Kalahari Manganese Field were analysed and characterised both mineralogically and geochemically, expanding on the limited global understanding of todorokite-cryptomelane assemblages. The findings provide critical insights into low-temperature manganese ore genesis and crystallographic transformations relevant to both academic and industrial mineral processing. https://doi.org/10.3749/canmin.1700043
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This paper provided the first detailed mineralogical evidence supporting the identification of a secondary enrichment event, termed the “Mukulu Enrichment”, above the Blackridge Thrust Fault. The findings contributed to a revised genetic model for manganese mineralisation in the Kalahari Manganese Field and supported subsequent resource targeting in structurally complex zones. The findings contributed directly to the industrial exploitation of a newly identified manganese ore deposit. https://doi.org/10.1111/iar.12280