Dr Sara Burness

Process mineralogy, geometallurgy, diamonds & mantle xenoliths

Research

Research interests: Process mineralogy, geometallurgy, diamonds and mantle-derived xenoliths, base-metal sulphides and stable isotopes

Selected Publications

More on GoogleScholar 

  • Burness, S., Thomassot, E., Smart, K. A., & Tappe, S. (2021). Sulphur isotopes (δ34S and Δ33S) in sulphides from cratonic mantle eclogites: A glimpse of volatile cycling in ancient subduction zones. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 572, 117118.

  • Burness, S. (2019). The role of sulphur in siderophile and chalcophile element enrichment of the lithospheric mantle: constraints from Kaapvaal mantle xenoliths and high-pressure partial melting experiments of S±C-bearing eclogite (Doctoral dissertation).

  • Letete, K., Smit, K. V., & Burness, S. (2024, July). Age and origin of the lithospheric mantle below the Ancient Gneiss Complex, Eswatini. In International Kimberlite Conference: Extended Abstracts (Vol. 12).

Courses Lectured

  • GEO2006S

Biography

Sara completed her undergraduate and master’s studies in Earth Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch. In 2016, Sara enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand for a PhD in Geology with a research focus on sulphur cycling in ancient subduction zones with implications for PGE remobilisation in the crust-mantle system. Sara then worked as an LA-ICP-MS Instrument Scientist at the University of Johannesburg and continued her investigations into the origins of diamonds and metallogenesis as a Research Fellow at both UJ and Wits, before taking up a lecturer position which is cross-disciplinary post between the Chemical Engineering and Geological Sciences Departments at UCT in 2023. Sara’s role is funded by the South African Minerals Qualification Authority. This position is designed to enhance collaboration between the Chemical Engineering and Geological Sciences departments. Sara is working closely with Dr. Geoffrey Howarth and A.Prof. Philip Janney, as well as Profs. Megan Becker and Aubrey Mainza in Chemical Engineering, on various projects.

Qualifications

  • BSc Earth Sciences, Stellenbosch University (2012)

  • BSc Honours Earth Sciences, Stellenbosch University (2013)

  • MSc Geology, Stellenbosch University (2015)

  • PhD Geology, University of the Witwatersrand (2019)

 

Professional Associations

  • Member, Geological Society of South Africa
  • Centre for Minerals Research (CMR)