Maria Cherdantseva is a geologist specialising in magmatic petrology, mineralogy, and ore geology, with a particular focus on the composition and behaviour of base metal sulphides and platinum group element (PGE) mineralisation. Her work investigates metal distribution and partitioning processes in Cu–Ni–PGE systems, with an emphasis on understanding the mechanisms controlling ore formation. Through detailed analytical studies of natural samples, Maria has examined trace element distributions within sulphide droplets from gabbroic intrusions in Mongolia and Kazakhstan, contributing to the broader understanding of magmatic ore-forming processes.
Her research has important implications for mineral exploration and the evaluation of magmatic sulphide and porphyry systems, particularly in relation to the formation and concentration of economically significant metals.
Maria completed her Bachelor of Science (2013) and Master of Science (2015) at Novosibirsk State University. During her studies, she was actively involved in the geoscience community, serving as President of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA) Siberian Student Chapter for five years, where she organised and led field excursions to mineral deposits across Russia.
Following her graduation, Maria joined Norilskgeologia (a subsidiary of Norilsk Nickel, St Petersburg, Russia) as an exploration geologist. In this role, she managed exploration and research projects focused on Cu-porphyry systems in the Russian Far East, developing strong expertise in field geology, project management, and resource evaluation.
In addition to her research, Maria is actively engaged in graduate supervision. She currently supervises PhD candidate Jonathan at the University of Western Australia, within the Centre for Exploration Targeting and the ARC Centre for Critical Resources for the Future (CCRF). His research investigates rare earth element (REE) and niobium (Nb) mineral systems in the Upper Gascoyne region of Western Australia and the Aileron Province, with a focus on mineral processing, deposit evaluation, and the geological and technical factors influencing the development potential of critical mineral resources.
