Former PhD student, Tobias Bamforth, discusses the underrepresented mineral Rhabdophane in a new article.

We are proud to announce that Tobias G. Bamforth, a distinguished former PhD student of the School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry & Physics, has achieved a remarkable milestone in the field of geology. His latest research, recently published in Nature Geoscience, sheds light on the underappreciated mineral rhabdophane and its significant role in rare earth element (REE) mineralization.

Bamforth's study highlights rhabdophane, a hydrous phosphate mineral rich in REEs, as a crucial host of these critical metals. Despite its relative obscurity compared to its more famous sibling, monazite, rhabdophane has shown immense potential in understanding rare earth mineralization processes, especially in regolith-hosted deposits and low-temperature hydrothermal systems.

During his time at Murdoch University, Bamforth was known for his dedication, intellectual curiosity, and innovative approach to research. In 2024 he was named winner of the Murdoch University 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Final for his talk titled 'Rhabdophane: the Dark Horse of Critical Minerals'.

Bamforth's achievement is a testament to the high-quality education and research support provided by the School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry & Physics. We congratulate him on this significant accomplishment and look forward to his continued contributions to the scientific community.