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DoctorIvan Belousov

Senior Research Fellow in Mineralogy and Geochemistry

CODES ARC

Orcid identifier0000-0002-9224-6408 (opens in a new tab)⁠
  • Senior Research Fellow in Mineralogy and Geochemistry
    CODES ARC
  • +61 3 6226 7489 (Work)
  • School of Natural Sciences, CODES ARC, 333 Geology-Geography Building, Sandy Bay Campus, TAS

RESEARCH SUMMARy

Expertise
LA-ICP-MS instrumentation and method development
Development of calibration standards for LA-ICP-MS
U/Pb geochronology
Vectoring for ore deposits based on mineral chemistry
Mantle melting and melt transport in mantle conditions
Subduction zone magmatism

Research Themes
Ivan's research aligns to the University's research theme of Environment, Resources and Sustainability. His research interests include understanding fundamentals of LA-ICP-MS, LA-ICP-MS method development and development of calibration standards for LA-ICP-MS. His other interests include 1) geochemistry of ore deposits, in particular vectoring towards ore deposits using mineral chemistry and 2) origin and evolution of magmas via processes of mantle melting and melt/fluid transport in the mantle above subduction zones.

Collaboration
Ivan was involved in collaborative project with Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) looking at pyrite and magnetite chemistry variation for orogenic Au and VHMS deposits of Western Australia. He was also part of ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub – Transforming the Mining Value Chain.

Ivan is collaborating with several LA-ICP-MS labs on LA-ICP-MS instrumentation and method development as well as development of calibration standards for LA-ICP-MS. He is responsible for production and supply of STDGL3 standard used for sulphide minerals analyses by LA-ICP-MS.

Current projects
Amira Global P1249: Exploring, characterising and optimising complex orebodies- upscaling orebody knowledge to add value across the Mining Value Chain
Regional Research Collaboration project: Building capacity in Regional Australia to enhance Australia’s Economy through research, training, and environmentally sustainable production of critical metals
Development of calibration standards for LA-ICP-MS
Microinclusions in porphyry Cu deposits

Fields of Research
Exploration geochemistry (370301)
Geochronology (370502)
Resource geoscience (370508)
Igneous and metamorphic petrology (370503)
Inorganic geochemistry (370302)
Geochemistry (370399)
Analytical spectrometry (340101)
Volcanology (370512)
Structural geology and tectonics (370511)
Mineral processing/beneficiation (401904)
Mineralogy and crystallography (370505)
Professional education and training (390305)
Isotope geochemistry (370303)

Research Objectives
Copper ore exploration (250302)
Mining and extraction of copper ores (250402)
Precious (noble) metal ore exploration (250305)
Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences (280107)
Mineral exploration (250399)
Other mineral resources (excl. energy resources) (259999)
Iron ore exploration (250304)
Mining and extraction of precious (noble) metal ores (250405)
Mining and extraction of titanium minerals, zircon, and rare earth metal ores (e.g. monazite) (250407)
Aluminium ore exploration (250301)
Other education and training (169999)
Management of solid waste from mineral resource activities (250103)
Professional development and adult education (160104)

FUNDED PROJECTS

  • GRANT
    Building capacity in Regional Australia to enhance Australias Economy through research, training, and environmentally sustainable production of critical metals
    22 Nov 2022 - 31 Dec 2027
    People funded by this grant:
    • Cooke D,
    • Missen O,
    • Hunt J,
    • Fraser S,
    • Armistead S
    Project Total: $3,537,047; This research project involves collaboration between STEM and Social Science researchers at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and academic, industry, and government partners. Through its three research Elements, the project will provide novel tools for characterisation of critical metals deportment, optimise methods, and devise new workflows for critical metals processing, develop new waste management strategies, and deliver innovative community education, training, and outreach strategies that build a local, skilled jobs-ready local workforce for regional industry. Funded by: Department of Education, Skills and Employment - Grant-Regional Research Collaboration ($3,537,047); MMG Australia LImited ($30,000); University of Tasmania ($315,238).
  • CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Exploring, characterising and optimising complex orebodies- upscaling orebody knowledge to add value across the Mining Value Chain (P1249)
    1 Feb 2022 - 1 Feb 2028
    People funded by this grant:
    • Cooke D,
    • Danyushevsky L,
    • Escolme A,
    • Cracknell M,
    • Baker M
    Project Total: $3,973,684; As explorers search large, high-grade resources at greater depths, and mining operations are required to manage mineralogically and texturally complex orebodies, it is more critical than ever to develop effective exploration and characterisation tools that can be applied at the earliest stages of exploration and resource definition to reduce cost and risk. AMIRA Global's P1249 research project will embrace the challenges and realise the opportunities provided by complex orebodies of copper, gold, critical and other metals by developing new tools, methodologies and workflows for early mineralogical characterisation of complex orebodies and their alteration halos that can be upscaled to facilitate exploration for and domaining of complex orebodies Funded by: AMIRA International Ltd ($3,973,684); University of Tasmania.
  • CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
    The tectonic significant of mafic/ultramafic igneous rocks in western Tasmania
    Department of State Growth (Tas)2 Dec 2019 - 31 Dec 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    • Belousov I,
    • Olin P,
    • Le'Gallais B
    Project Total: $18,800; Geochemistry of igneous rocks is an important indicator of the tectonic settings of their formation used to constrain both the origin of geological formations in ancient terrains and geodynamic models of Earth evolution. The project will be undertaken in close collaboration with Mineral Resources Tasmania. The project will focus on detailed understanding of geochemical features and field relationships of several mafic/ultramafic magmatic series occurring within Cambrian orogenic sequences in western Tasmania formed during the Tyennan Orogeny when the proto-Tasmanian continental block had collided with an intra-oceanic subduction zone. Funded by: Department of State Growth (Tas) ($18,800); University of Tasmania.
  • GRANT
    Determination of magma ascent rates for a subduction zone volcano
    University of Tasmania21 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2015
    People funded by this grant:
    • Belousov I
    Project Total: $10,010; Funded by: University of Tasmania - Grant-Research Enhancement (REGS); University of Tasmania ($10,010).
  • CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Pyrite and Phrrhotite as Ore Vectors and Stratigraphic Markers for Orogenic Gold, Carlin Gold, VHMS, IOCG, Sediment-Hosted Copper, and Stratiform Zinc targets
    Argent Minerals Limited1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2017
    People funded by this grant:
    • Steadman J,
    • Belousov I,
    • Large R
    Project Total: $306,000; Funded by: Argent Minerals Limited ($51,000); Boliden AB ($51,000); Sandfire matsa ($51,000); Enterprise Metals Ltd ($51,000); Pioneer Resources Limited ($51,000); Intrepid Mines Limited ($51,000); University of Tasmania.
  • GRANT
    American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California
    University of Tasmania1 Jan 2014 - 31 Dec 2014
    People funded by this grant:
    • Belousov I
    Project Total: $2,500; Funded by: University of Tasmania - Grant-Conference Support Scheme; University of Tasmania ($2,500).
  • CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Determination of epidote and chlorite chemistry for porphyry vectoring
    Vale Exploration Pty Ltd1 Jan 2013 - 31 Dec 2015
    People funded by this grant:
    • Meffre S,
    • Danyushevsky L,
    • Cooke D,
    • Belousov I
    Project Total: $74,348; This project will use epidote and chlorite chemistry to help discriminate between fertile and barren porphyry environments. It will use new techniques to investigate proximity of drill holes to mineralisation. Funded by: Vale Exploration Pty Ltd ($74,348); University of Tasmania.
  • CONSULTANCY/CONTRACT RESEARCH
    Development and Application of a Yilgarn Pyrite and Magnetite Fingerprint Database
    Department of Mines and Petroleum1 Jul 2012 - 31 Dec 2015
    People funded by this grant:
    • Large R,
    • Davidson G,
    • Meffre S,
    • Belousov I
    Project Total: $204,000; Funded by: Department of Mines and Petroleum ($204,000); University of Tasmania.