Young Professionals

Smart Exploration project has several young professionals from academia, SMEs and mining companies. They will not work only on research part but also play key roles in certain task groups.
Lena Schreiter

Lena Schreiter

TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany (Institute of Geophysics and Geoinformatics)

Within the Smart Exploration project Lena is dealing with the seismic characterization of mineral deposits. She will focus on the application of advanced seismic depth imaging approaches using existing as well as new acquired seismic data in order to reveal high-resolution seismic images of the deposits.
Florencia Balestrini

Florencia Balestrini

Applied Geophysics and Petrophysics, TU Delft

Florencia is a new PhD student of the Smart Exploration Project at TU Delft, under Dr. Draganov supervision. She will be applying seismic interferometry for high-resolution imaging of deeper mining targets.
Tuomas Kauti

Tuomas Kauti

Ph.D. student, University of Turku

Tuomas’ first task is to produce comprehensive 3D-model about the diabase dyke network of one of the sites. The final goal of his task is to join together all the new geophysical and geological data into a Common Earth Model, which is then used to provide information about the depth extent of the ore body.
Marko Riedel

Marko Riedel

Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Helsinki

Marko will work on testing and application of machine learning algorithms for mineral exploration. His goal is to facilitate data integration (common earth modeling) and target generation.
Bláthnaid McKevitt

Bláthnaid McKevitt

MSc student, University of Helsinki

Bláthnaid is working on processing and interpretation of 2D active-source reflection seismic profiles that were acquired as part of Smart Exploration at the Yara Siilinjärvi phosphate mine site. The end goal is to use the reflection seismic data, along with other geophysical and geological data, to determine the depth and the lateral extent of the southern continuation of the phospate-bearing Siilinjärvi carbonatite complex.

Viveka Laakso

Viveka Laakso

MSc Student, University of Helsinki

Viveka is working on processing and interpretation of 2D active-source reflection seismic, ground penetrating radar and magnetic data from the Siilinjärvi phospate mine site operated by Yara. Her MSc thesis focuses on combined interpretation and geological modeling of these data, with particular emphasis on the waste-rock dyke network that cross-cuts the phospate-bearing Siilinjärvi carbonatite complex.

Emma Bäckström

Emma Bäckström

Project Geologist, Nordic Iron Ore AB

Emma is employed by Nordic Iron Ore AB and stationed in Ludvika, Sweden. She is involved in reopening the brown field sites of Blötberget mine and Håksberg mine. Furthermore she is involved in the exploration of the area situated in between the two brown field mines.
Jimmy Jakobsson

Jimmy Jakobsson

Project Geologist, Nordic Iron Ore AB

Jimmy is employed by Nordic Iron Ore AB and stationed in Ludvika, Sweden. He is involved in reopening the brown field sites of Blötberget mine and Håksberg mine. Furthermore he is involved in the exploration of the area situated in between the two brown field mines.

Magdalena Markovic

Magdalena Markovic

Ph.D. student, Uppsala University

Magdalena’s PhD work will deal with high-fold active-source reflection seismic data for deep iron-oxide deposit targeting and high-resolution imaging challenges due to the near-surface conditions. She will then take part in the planning, acquisition and processing of a 3D active-passive surface reflection seismic experiment to study survey design and processing approaches for deep iron-oxide deposit targeting. The focus area will be the Ludvika mines in Sweden.
George Donoso

George Donoso

Ph.D. student, Uppsala University

George’ task is to work with reprocessing legacy 2D and 3D active-source reflection seismic data to illustrate their potentials for deep targeting. He will also work with some in-mine seismic experiments planned in the project. The focus area will be the Neves-Corvo mine in Portugal.
Paula Rulff

Paula Rulff

Ph.D. student, Uppsala University

Paula is developing a 3D forward modelling and inversion code for controlled source electromegnetic (CSEM) data in frequency domain using unstructured finite element meshes.

Her PhD project is supervised by Dr. Thomas Kalscheuer at Uppsala University. Paula is focusing on the inclusion of surface and borehole measurement configurations and variable magnetic permeability.

Bojan Brodic

Bojan Brodic

Postdoctoral Researcher, Uppsala University

Bojan’s role within the project will be analysis of active- and passive-seismic data with a focus on active mines. His primary task is related to the development and testing new instruments and methods for improving refraction static solutions in mining environments.
Chiara Colombero

Chiara Colombero

Fixed-term Researcher, DIATI – Politecnico di Torino

Chiara will work within WP3, testing both passive and active surface-wave based methods for the characterization of the shallow parts of the investigated sites.
Federico Da Col

Federico Da Col

Post-Doc Researcher, DIATI – Politecnico di Torino

Federico is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Technical University of Torino (PoliTO), Italy. He is developing innovative methods for surface wave retrieval, processing and inversion from active and passive data (Tasks 3.1 and 4.4).

Myrto Papadopoulou

Myrto Papadopoulou

Ph.D Student, Politecnico di Torino

Myrto is a PhD student at Politecnico di Torino. She will focus on near-surface characterization implementing and developing new surface-wave analysis methods on active data.
Katerina Polychronopoulou

Katerina Polychronopoulou

PhD student, National Technical University of Athens [NTUA] & Head of Processing Team, Seismotech S.A.

Katerina is a PhD student of the Smart Exploration Project at the National Technical University of Athens. Her research will focus on exploring the limits and capabilities of passive seismic methodologies, in the context of mining exploration. She is also employed by Seismotech S.A., as Head of its Processing Team, and will participate in the acquisition and processing of passive seismic data at the Gerolekas bauxite mining site of Delphi-Distomon S.A., in Greece.
Brij Singh

Brij Singh

Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Brij Singh is a first-year student at the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences. His research will be focused primarily on the application of full-waveform inversion technique to 2D/3D data acquired for mineral exploration purposes. Part of the work will involve novel reprocessing of legacy 2D seismic data.
Dr. Christos Orfanos

Dr. Christos Orfanos

Post-doctoral Researcher, National Technical University of Athens

Dr. Christos Orfanos is a Mining Engineer currently working as Senior Geophysicist in Seismotech SA. Within the Smart Exploration project Christos is dealing with the acquisition, processing and interpretation of different geophysical methods (gravity, MT, passive seismic) as well as the exploitation of all geological and geotechnical data at Delphi-Distomo bauxite mines at Gerolekas region, Greece. The final goal of his task is to integrate all available information in a common Unified Geophysical –Geological model using a multi-parameter analysis.
Dr. Konstantinos Leontarakis

Dr. Konstantinos Leontarakis

Post-doctoral Researcher, National Technical University of Athens

Dr. Konstantinos Leontarakis is Mining Engineer and Senior Geophysicist in Seismotech SA. His role within the project is the application of Gravity, MT and Passive Seismic methods and the exploitation of all geological, geophysical and geotechnical data. The focus area will be the Delphi-Distomo bauxite mines at Gerolekas region, Greece. Konstantinos’ primary task is related to the development of a multi-parameter analysis algorithm, in cooperation with Dr. Christos Orfanos, for the integration of all available information in a common Unified Geophysical –Geological model.
Anna Donczew

Anna Donczew

MSc Student, Uppsala University

Anna’s MSc Degree Project focuses on employing an in-tunnel seismic dataset from the Siilinjärvi apatite mine, central Finland. The main aim of the study is to image a major shear zone running on the eastern side the main pit in order to characterize its geometry and relationship(s) with the mineralization. First break traveltime tomography as well as reflection imaging will be implemented using the data.
Georgiana Maries

Georgiana Maries

Ph. D. student, Uppsala University

Georgiana works with seismic methods for near-surface applications and mineral exploration in Scandinavia. Within Smart Exploration, she focuses on 3D seismic imaging of the iron-oxide mineralization at Ludvika mines, Sweden, from cross-profile 2D recording performed in the area.
Pedro Dias

Pedro Dias

National Laboratory of Energy and Geology (LNEG)

Pedro is a Research Fellow at National Laboratory of Energy and Geology (LNEG). His research will focus on the 3D forward modeling of time-domain electromagnetic data in the Neves Corvo mine area.
Simo Piippo

Simo Piippo

PhD Student, University of Turku

Simo is using self-organizing maps to analyze existing multivariate datasets, in order to recognize geochemical and geophysical signatures related to known mineral deposits and various ore-forming processes. The results will be used in 3D prospectivity modelling and in the generation of new exploration targets.
Linnea Johansson

Linnea Johansson

Geophysicist, GeoVista

Linnéa is employed by GeoVista AB and stationed in Luleå, Sweden. She will mainly be involved in the work package that focuses on data & target generation, using existing gravity, magnetic and electromagnetic data for integration and modelling.
Tatiana Pertuz Puentes

Tatiana Pertuz Puentes

PhD Candidate, Uppsala University

Tatiana’s PhD work is focused on reflection seismic imaging solutions for deep targeting mineral deposits with a special case study on iron-oxide mineralization in the Ludvika Mines of Sweden. Her work will involve evaluating the performance of the electric vibrator developed in the project, processing, developing new attributes in hard rock environment. 

Bo Zhang

Bo Zhang

Postdoctoral Researcher, Aarhus University

Bo will take part in the development of 3D TEM data inversion code. He will be focusing on solving the large scale 3D inversion problem using domain decomposition. He will also be optimizing and parallelizing the 3D algorithms for making the code efficient and fast.
Yinshuai Ding

Yinshuai Ding

Postdoctoral Researcher, Uppsala University

Yinshuai’s work is to apply both conventional and novel seismic imaging methods for targeting deep ore deposits. His research goal is to deliver high-resolution and high-fidelity seismic images for assisting mining exploration. 

Ewelina Hornicka

Ewelina Hornicka

Geophysicist, Geopartner Geofizyka Ltd.

Ewelina works as a geophysicist in Geopartner Geofizyka Ltd. based in Cracow, Poland. She is involved in data & target generation tasks through processing and geophysical inversion of ERT data acquired in search of chromite deposits.

Kim Wann Engebretsen

Kim Wann Engebretsen

Ph.D. student, Aarhus University

Kim takes part in developing the 3D modelling and imaging technique used for groundbased and airborne transient electromagnetic methods. He will also be developing a 2D inversion code usable for long acquisition lines spaced far apart from each other.
Emmanuel Damola Alofe

Emmanuel Damola Alofe

MSc student, Uppsala University

Emmanuel’s master thesis involves using sparse reflection seismic data for characterization and deep targeting. Hosted by Uppsala University, he will focus on the high-resolution imaging of an obscure area of the Blötberget iron-oxide deposit underlying the tailing area as well as the geomechanical characterization of the historical tailings at in the area.

Albina Kaleshova

Albina Kaleshova

MSc student, Politecnico di Torino

Albina is a Postgraduate MSc student at Politecnico di Torino. Her MSc thesis project is related to static corrections estimation with surface-wave tomography on the Siilinjärvi site in Finland. She assessed the feasibility of SW tomography for the estimation of near surface velocity model to be used for static correction of seismic reflection data for mineral exploration.

Ross Armstrong

Ross Armstrong

MSc student, Uppsala University

As a proponent of sustainable mineral exploration techniques, Ross is working with UAV-based magnetic data for 2D and 3D modelling of the Blötberget apatite-bearing iron-oxide deposits near Ludvika, central Sweden. The models produced during his MSc thesis will better constrain the geometry of the ore bodies and host rock, thereby allowing for an updated estimation of mineral resources to be given.

Elshan Chalabiyev

Elshan Chalabiyev

Postgraduate MSc in Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Politecnico di Torino.

Elshan’s thesis is based on the validation of automatic dispersion curve picking in exploration data as a part of Smart Exploration. He has been testing the performance of an automatic dispersion curve picking method by implementing a tool for the automatic comparison of the DCs which were manually and automatically picked corresponding to the same receiver-pair and source sets.

Richard Kramer

Richard Kramer

MSc. Student in Geophysics, TU Freiberg

While completing his Masters Thesis, Richard implemented a workflow for Full Waveform Sonic Logs in order to derive a high-resolution internal image of the ore body in Ludvika. In general, surface seismics are used to investigate the depth and lateral extent of a deposit in 3D. To gain more precise information about the ore quantity/quality, it is important to map the internal structure of the deposit with the highest resolution.

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Smart Exploration has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No.775971