Professor Wolfgang Maier

Biography

Academia

• MSc (Hauptdiplom) (Munich), 1987
• PhD "Geochemistry and petrology of UG2-Merensky Reef interval, Western Bushveld Complex" (Rhodes University, South Africa), 1992

Affiliations

• GSSA (Geological Society of South Africa)
• SEG (Society of Economic Geologists)
• SGA (Society of Geologists Applied to Mineral Deposits)
• IAGOD (International Association of Geologists working on Ore Deposits)

Summary of administrative activities

• Member of Research Committee, Faculty of Science, Uni Oulu (2010-2013)
• Member of Doctoral Training Committee, Faculty of Science, Oulu University
• Member of Council of the Geological Society of South Africa (2000-2005)
• Member of Council, Mineralogical Association of South Africa (2001-2004)
• Convener of the Scientific Awards Committee of the Geological Society of South Africa (2001)

Research students

•  Mathew Newell (PhD, from April 2020): Evaluating the battery mineral potential of Wales
• Will Smith (PhD, 2017-present): Magmatic ore prospectivity of the Labrador Trough, Canada
• Kate Jillings (PhD, 2015-present): Origin of the Flatreef PGE deposit, Bushveld Complex, South Africa
• Bartosz Karykowski (PhD, 2014-2017): Petrogenesis of the Monchepluton, Kola Peninsula, Russia 
• Dr Shenghong Yang (postdoc, 2011-2013): Petrogenesis of magmatic ore deposits
• Dr Belinda Godel, Postdoc (October 2007 – 2009): Geochemistry of dykes at Nebo-Babel, and implications for Ni exploration in the Musgrave Block, Australia
• Dr Ignacio Gonzalez-Alvarez, Postdoc (November 2007-2009): Global Ni assessment
• Fangfang Guo (PhD (2011- present): Ni-PGE prospectivity of Finnish mafic-ultramafic rocks
• Kirsi Luolavirta (PhD, 2011-2017): Petrogenesis of the Kevitsa Ni-Cu sulfide deposit, Lapland
• Karolina.Björklund, PhD (2011-2016): Origin of Kleva Ni deposit, Sweden
• Said Nuru, PhD (September 2007-Dec 2008): Petrogenesis of 2.7-2.9Ga basaltic and komatiitic dykes on the Yilgarn craton
• Tawanda Manyeruke, PhD (September 2003-2007): Petrogenesis of the Platreef on the farm Nonnenwerth, northern Bushveld Complex.
• Edward. Curl, PhD (1998 - 2001): Isotope, PGE and trace element characteristics of the parental melts to the Bushveld Complex: Significance with respect to plume-lithosphere interaction in the early Proterozoic and the genesis of magmatic sulphide deposits (Monash University).
• Christoph Gauert, PhD (1996-1998): The petrogenesis of the Uitkomst Complex, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
• Arttu Taipale MSc: The Mustavaara V deposit, Finland
• Ilkka Seppänen (MSc 2011-present): Geochemistry of mafic-ultramafic lavas in the Oijärvi greenstone belt, Finland
• Sanna Määttää (MSc, 2010-2012): Petrogenesis of Ni rich ore at Keivitsa, Finland
• Kimmo Koppström (MSc, 2012): Host phases for Au mineralisation at Suurikuusikko Au mine, Kittilä
• Markku Moilanen (MSc, 2010): Petrogenesis of the Lomalampi PGE deposit, Lapland
• Tawanda Manyeruke, MSc (April 2002-August 2003): Petrogenesis of the Platreef on the farm Townlands.
• Tafadzwa Gomwe, MSc (Jan. 2000 - March 2002): Isotope and trace element geochemistry of the Uitkomst Complex intersected by deep borehole SH 176.
• Vierah Hulley, MSc (May 2000 – 2005) : Reaction relationships between country rock xenoliths and magma in the Uitkomst Complex.
• Bart Albrechtsen, MSc (August 2000 - December 2002): The geology of the Ingeli lobe, Insizwa Complex, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Honours and awards

- Most downloaded paper in Mineralium Deposita 2019

- SGA award for best paper in Mineralium Deposita 2013-2014

- Adjunct Professorship: Oulu University, Finland (2014-present)   

- Visiting scientist, University of Rennes, France (August-September 1999)

- University of Pretoria, Faculty of Science medal: Young Researcher of the Year 1998

Academic positions

Professor: School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, since Sept. 2013

Professor: Dep. of Geology, University of Oulu, Finland, April 2009-August 2013

Senior Research Fellow: Centre for Exploration Targeting, Univ. Western Australia, July  2006 - March 2009

Research Professor: Univ. Québec at Chicoutimi, Canada, Dec 2004-June 2006

Lecturer (since July 1997), Senior Lecturer (since Jan. 2000), Associate Professor, (since Jan. 2001), Professor (Jan. 2004-Dec. 2005), Dept. of Geology, Univ of Pretoria, South Africa, July 1997 – November 2004

Lecturer: Dept. of Geology, Univ. of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Feb 1996-June 1997

Research Fellow: CERM, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Canada, Sep 1994 - Jan 1996

Post Doctoral Research Fellow: Dept. of Geology, Rhodes University, South Africa, March 1992 – June 1994

Speaking engagements

Maier et al. (2018) Origin of PGE reefs in the Penikat intrusion, Finland, 13th Platinum Symposium, Polokwane, South Africa

Maier et al. (2018) The Merensky Reef as exposed in the Flatreef, northern limb of the Bushveld Complex: implications for the origin of the PGE and Cr mineralization, 13th Platinum Symposium, Polokwane, South Africa

Maier WD, Halkoaho T, Huhma H, Hanski E, Barnes S-J (2017) Petrogenesis of PGE reefs in the Penikat intrusion, Finland, SGA conference, Quebec City, Canada  

Maier WD (2017) Sluggish equilibration of the Archean mantle with meteoritic late veneer (invited talk), Goldschmidt Conference, Paris, France

Maier W.D., O’Brien, H. and Barnes, S-J. (2016) Platinum-group element contents of some Karelian and Kaapvaal kimberlites: implications for the PGE budget of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle. Abstract, IGC Cape Town, August.

Maier WD, Spaggiari CV, Smithies RH, Barnes SJ (2016) Petrogenesis and Ni-Cu-PGE prospectivity of the Fraser Zone, Albany Fraser orogen, Western Australia. Int Ni symposium, Perth, Australia

Maier WD, Barnes S-J, Karykowski B (2016) A chilled komatiitic margin of the Bushveld Complex: implications for the nature of mantle sources. Symposium on Highly Siderophile Elements, Durham

Maier WD, Barnes S-J, Karykowsky B (2015) A Mg-basaltic chilled margin of the western Bushveld Complex: evidence for magma derivation from the sub-continental lithospheric mantle, ICDP Bushveld workshop, Potsdam, Germany

Maier WD, Prevec S, Barnes S-J, Gomwe T, (2015) The Nkomati Ni-Cu-Cr-PGE deposit of the Uitkomst Complex, South Africa: downward collapse of magmatic silicate-sulfide-chromite slurries into a devolatising dolomitic footwall, ICDP Bushveld workshop, Potsdam, Germany

Maier WD, Smithies RH, Howard HM, Yang S and Barnes S-J (2014) Mafic-ultramafic intrusions of the Giles Event, Western Australia: Petrogenesis and prospectivity for magmatic ore deposits, 12th Int Platinum Symposium, Jekaterinburg, Russia

Maier WD (2014) Layered Intrusions: Still many rivers to cross, North Atlantic Craton Conference, St Andrews, UK

Maier WD, Smithies RH, Spaggiari CV, Yang S and Lahaye Y (2014) Petrogenesis and Ni-Cu sulphide potential of mafic-ultramafic rocks in the Mesoproterozoic Fraser Zone, Albany Fraser Orogen, Western Australia, Mineral Deposits Study Group, Oxford

Maier WD, McDonald I, Le Roex A (2013) PGE contents in kimberlites: constraints on mantle sources. 12th biennial SGA meeting, Uppsala, Sweden

Maier WD, Vaillancourt C (2013) PGE mineralization in the Highbank Lake layered intrusion, northern Ontario, Canada. GAC MAC Winnipeg, Canada

Maier WD, Barnes S-J, Groves DI (2013) The petrogenesis of the Bushveld Complex and its PGE-Cr-V deposits. GAC MAC Winnipeg, Canada

Maier WD, Bliss I (2012) Highbank Lake – a PGE greenfields exploration project in northern Ontario. Geochemistry of Ore Deposits Models Seminar, Oulu

Maier WD, Rasmussen B, Flecher I, Yang S (2012) Direct precipitation of Pt alloys from basaltic magma in the 2.77 Ga Monts de Cristal Complex, Gabon. 12th Int Ni-Cu-PGE symp, Guiyang, China

Maier WD,Kontinen A, McDonald I (2011) Gold contents of the cratonic sub-continental lithospheric mantle: implications for orogenic gold deposits. Goldschmidt Conference, Prague

Maier WD, Peltonen P, Kontinen A, McDonald I, Barnes S-J (2010) Comparison between PGE in the Kaapvaal and Kerelian sub-continental lithospheric mantle, based on kimberlite xenoliths and ophiolite samples. Lithosphere 2010, Helsinki, Finland, October

Maier WD, Peltonen P, Kontinen A, Barnes S-J (2010) PGE in the Jormua ophiolite, Finland:implications for the PGE budget of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle, Goldschmidt Conference 2010, Knoxville, USA, June

Maier WD, Barnes S-J, Groves DI (2010). Formation of Bushveld PGE reefs in response to magma chamber subsidence and mobilization of cumulate slurries, 11th Int. Platinum Symp, Sudbury, Canada

Maier WD, Peltonen P, McDonald I, Barnes SJ, Barnes S-J, Hatton C, Viljoen F (2010). The PGE budget of the Kaapvaal and Karelian sub-continental lithospheric mantle: Implications for secular mantle evolution and the composition of the primitive upper mantle. 5th ArcheanSymposium, Perth, Australia, August

Maier WD (2009) Does lithogeochemistry have a role in exploration for komatiite-hosted Ni sulfide

deposits? 7th Fennoscandian Exploration and Mining, Rovaniemi, Dec

Maier WD, Kontinen A, Peltonen P (2009) Immobile behavior of PGE in highly altered ophiolitic mantle rocks from Outokumpu, Finland. Int. Ni-Cu-PGE symposium, Xi’an, China.

Committees and reviewing

- Convener of the Scientific Awards Committee of the Geol Soc South Africa (2001)

- Outer Board Assessor for the 2019 Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme,

- Assessor for Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships 2019

- Reviewing research proposals: National Science and Engineering Council (Canada),  National Science Foundation (USA), Natural Environment Research Council (UK),  National Research Foundation (SA), American Chemical Soc. (USA), DFG (Germany)

- DFG review panel for SPP 2238 “Dynamics of Ore Meals Enrichment - DOME”

Publications

• Date
• Type
• Selected

Teaching

My teaching interests span a relatively wide field. Throughout my career, I have been heavily involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching of igneous petrology, geochemistry, economic geology, mineralogy, and metamorphic petrology. I have co-led the annual mapping camp of the University of Pretoria (UP) Geology Department between 1998-2003, and organized and led several international field trips (South Africa and Cyprus several times, Kola peninsula).

Curriculum development has been one of my key responsibilities as a teacher during the last decade. In order to respond to the minerals boom in Scandinavia which has become the exploration and mining powerhouse of Europe, requiring an increasing number of geologists, I designed a new International Master Course that started in September 2012 at the Geology Department at Oulu University.

In addition to tertiary education, I have also been keenly interested in pre-university geological teaching and education. Between 1998-2001, I have participated in the University of Pretoria's geological education programme for final-year pupils at Pretoria secondary schools. South Africa's education system is in transformation and the programme is particularly aimed to enhance the scientific background of students from formerly disadvantaged backgrounds, a challenging but inspiring task.

Present Courses 

3rd year Ores and Ore Genesis 

3rd year Cyprus and North Wales excursions

2nd year Cornwall field excursion 

2nd year Exploration Case Studies

 

 

Supervision

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:

- Magmatic ore deposits

- Petroloogy of mafic and ultramafic rocks

Past projects

Main Supervisor

- M. Newell (PhD 2020-present), Mapping the battery mineral potential of Wales, (CU)

- W. Smith (PhD, 2017-present) Ni-Cu-PGE prospectivity of the Labrador trough, Canada (CU)

- K. Jillings (PhD, 2015- 2019) The role of contamination in ore formation in layered intrusions, as represented by the Bushveld complex (CU)

- J. Rogers (MESci 2018-19) Prospectivity of the Tete Complex, Mocambique (CU)

- P. Skotnicki (MESci 2015-2016) PGE reefs in the Koitelainen intrusion, Finland (CU)

- R. Cauley (MESci 2015-2016) A chilled margin of the Bushveld Complex (CU)

- G. Roberts (MESci, 2015): PGE contents in the Pyroxenite Unit of the Uitkomst Complex, South Africa (CU)

- I. Hywel (MESci, 2015) Element maps of the Merensky Reef, Bushveld Complex (CU)

- B. Karykowski (PhD, 2014-2017) Petrogenesis of the Monchegorsk layered intrusion (CU)

- S. Yang (postdoc, 2011-2014): Petrogenesis of magmatic ore deposits (OU)

- F. Guo (PhD (2011- present): Ni-PGE prospectivity of Finnish mafic-ultramafic rocks (OU)

- K. Suvanto MSc: Ultramafic sills in the footwall of the Kevitsa Ni deposit (OU)

- A. Taipale MSc: The Mustavaara V deposit (OU)

- I. Seppänen (MSc 2011-2013): Geochemistry of mafic-ultramafic lavas in the Oijärvi greenstone belt, Finland (OU)

- S. Määttä (MSc, 2010-2012): Petrogenesis of Ni rich ore at Keivitsa, Finland (OU)

- K. Koppström (MSc, 2012): Host phases for Au mineralisation at Suurikuusikko Au mine, Kittilä (OU)

- M. Moilanen (MSc, 2010): Petrogenesis of the Lomalampi PGE deposit, Lapland (OU)

- B. Godel, Postdoc (October 2007 – 2009): Geochemistry of dykes at Nebo-Babel, and implications for Ni exploration in the Musgrave Block (UWA)

- T. Manyeruke, PhD (September 2003-2007): Petrogenesis of the Platreef on the farm Nonnenwerth, northern Bushveld Complex (UP)

- T. Manyeruke, MSc (April 2002-August 2003): Petrogenesis of the Platreef on the farm Townlands (UP)

- T. Gomwe, MSc (Jan. 2000 - March 2002): Isotope and trace element geochemistry of the Uitkomst Complex intersected by deep borehole SH 176 (UP) 

- V. Hulley, MSc (May 2000 – 2005): Reaction relationships between country rock xenoliths and magma in the Uitkomst Complex (UP)

- B. Albrechtsen, MSc (August 2000 - December 2002): The geology of the Ingeli lobe, Insizwa Complex, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa (UP)

- C. Gauert, PhD (1996-1998): The petrogenesis of the Uitkomst Complex, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa (UP)

As co-supervisor

-  J. Konnunaho (PhD, 2011-2015): Komatiite hosted Ni-Cu-PGE deposits in Finland: their characterization, PGE content and petrogenesis (OU)

-  H. Raapana, MSc (2013-2014): Au mineralization in the Kuusamo schist belt (OU)

-  K. Luolavirta (PhD, 2011-present): Petrogenesis of the Kevitsa Ni-Cu sulfide deposit (OU)

-  K.Björklund, PhD (2012-2015): Origin of the Kleva Ni deposit (Lund University, Sweden)

-  I. Gonzalez-Alvarez, Postdoc (November 2007-2008): Global Ni assessment (UWA)

-  S. Nuru, PhD (2005-2008): Petrogenesis of 2.7-2.9 Ga basaltic and komatiitic dykes on the Yilgarn craton (UWA)

- B. Godel, PhD (2004-2007) Microstructures in the Merensky and J-M reefs: implications for ore petrogenesis (University of Quebec)

- C. Dionne-Foster, MSc (2004-2007) Ore petrology in the Frontier Zone, Raglan belt, Northern Quebec (Universite du Quebec)

- E. Curl, PhD (1998 - 2001): Isotope, PGE and trace element characteristics of the parental melts to the Bushveld Complex (Monash University).

Impact

Metals such as copper, nickel and platinum-group elements (PGE) are essential in confronting some of the world’s greatest societal and industrial challenges. However, long-term resource depletion and decreasing explorable and mineable terrain threaten their availability and security of supply.  Cardiff University (CU) research has led to a greater understanding of the formation of magmatic ore deposits – formed from the crystallisation and solidification of molten magma or lava and lie within igneous rocks – and the generation of new exploration strategies and targets. This work has been conducted with partners across the globe, including Ivanplats in South Africa, Northern Shield in Canada, the Geological Survey of Western Australia and the Geological Survey of Finland. The research has directly resulted in the discovery of several large deposits and in more efficient exploration and mining, with important cost savings and reduced social and environmental impact.