Ignacio Gonzalez-Alvarez

Ignacio Gonzalez-Alvarez is an Assistant Professor and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia's School of Earth and Oceans. He also serves as a Principal Geochemist at CSIRO Mineral Resources in Australia. His expertise spans geochemistry of sedimentary systems, trace element mobility (especially REE and HFSE), regolith studies, and mineral exploration strategies in deeply covered terrains.

Education:

• BSc in Geology, University of Oviedo
• MSc in Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, University of Oviedo
• PhD in Geochemistry of Sedimentary Systems, University of Saskatchewan

Research Focus:

• REE and HFSE geochemistry in sedimentary and regolith systems
• Mineral exploration under cover using geochemical and geophysical integration
• Carbonatite-related critical metal deposits
• Landscape evolution and neotectonics impacts on mineral systems
• Machine learning applications in exploration targeting

Professional Roles:

• Chair, Australian Regolith Geoscientists Association (2021–2023)
• Advisory Board Member, Australia-India Critical Minerals Research Hub (2023–present)
• Associate Editor, Ore Geology Reviews (2012–2020) and Frontiers in Earth Sciences (2019–2022)
• CSIRO STEM representative since 2018

Key Contributions:

• Developed methodologies linking regolith geochemistry to subsurface mineral systems
• Pioneered use of ML in prospectivity mapping for REE deposits
• Advanced understanding of uranium and REE mobility in lateritic environments
• Coordinated multinational projects in over 20 countries

Labs/Teams:

• CSIRO Mineral Resources Division
• Australia-India Critical Minerals Research Hub
• National Exploration Undercover School (NExUS)