Dr Laura Morrissey is a geologist specialising in metamorphic petrology and its application to understanding tectonics, crustal evolution, and the processes that concentrate critical minerals. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons), Bachelor of Laws (Hons), a Diploma of Language (Spanish), and a PhD in Geology from the University of Adelaide (2017).
Laura’s research focuses on using mineral assemblages and rock chemistry to reconstruct the pressures, temperatures and processes that have shaped Earth’s crust over billions of years. Her expertise spans high-temperature metamorphism, crustal melting, chemically driven differentiation, and the role of fluids in ore deposit formation. She has interests in ancient tectonics and continental reconstructions of Australia and Antarctica, as well as the mineral potential implications of these systems.
Laura is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher with the MinEx CRC, following an ARC Linkage postdoctoral appointment at UniSA Her research projects include Rare Earth Element distribution in weathering profiles, with a focus on the Koppamurra deposit (South Australia), examining mineral hosts and pathways of REE mobility and enrichment..
Her expertise strongly complements CCRF’s mission, contributing to Theme 1: Accelerating Discovery and Theme 2: Accelerating Characterisation, particularly through her work on metamorphic processes, crustal evolution, and the redistribution of critical elements.
