Dr Stefan Loehr is an earth scientist specialising in geochemistry, sedimentary geology, and (palaeo)oceanography, with a strong foundation in soil and environmental science. Based at the University of Adelaide, Stephan’s research focuses on surface weathering processes and the potential for clay-hosted critical mineral deposits, particularly rare earth elements (REEs), in Australia.
His work combines field studies, microbeam analytical techniques, experimental methods, and modelling to investigate the formation and alteration of secondary minerals in terrestrial environments. Stefan’s broader research interests include reconstructing palaeoenvironmental and climatic changes from marine and lacustrine sedimentary records, understanding element cycling and biospheric evolution, and exploring novel applications of sedimentary petrography and isotope geochemistry. His current projects aim to unravel the mechanisms behind REE enrichment in weathering profiles, providing valuable insights for critical resource exploration at the Centre.
