Romy Matthies

Romy Matthies

Background:

Before coming to Newcastle University, in September 2007, I worked for two years in Wales and one year in Chile as an environmental geochemist in mining related projects based in Chile, Kazakhstan, Greenland and Colombia. During this time I finalized my MSc on Environmental Management and Ecoaudit hosted by the University of Leon, Spain and Funiber and in collaboration with Cardiff University. Prior to that, I got a BSc and an MSc in Geoecology from the Technical University, Mining Academy of Freiberg, Germany, and studied one year of Environmental Sciences at the University Autonoma of Madrid, Spain.

Academic history:

  • MSc Environmental Management and Ecoaudit, University of Leon, Spain, 2007.
  • MSc Geoecology, Technical University and Mining Academy Freiberg, Germany, 2005.
  • BSc Geoecology, Technical University and Mining Academy Freiberg, Germany, 2000.

PhD title:

  • Biogeochemical processes involved in the remediation of acid-mine drainage.

Research Interests:

My major research interests are broadly speaking environmental geochemistry, with a main focus on environmental impacts related to mining activities which includes the prediction and remediation of mine drainage.

In my doctorate I focus on sulphur, iron and carbon cycling and their isotope fractionation in a constructed reducing and alkalinity-producing system in the North East of England which was designed to mitigate coal mining derived acid mine drainage.

Conferences attended:

  • EXPOMIN, Santiago de Chile, Chile (April, 2004).
  • El Agua en el Cierre de Explotaciones Mineras, Oviedo, Spain (June, 2006).
  • 23rd IAGS Symposium, Oviedo, Spain (June, 2007)

Publications:

  • Matthies, R, Bowell, R J, Williams, K P, Geochemical assessment of tailings proposed for marine tailings disposal. Marine Environmental Research, submitted.
  • Matthies, R, Jarvis, A P, Aplin, A C, (2009) Performance evaluation of two Reducing and Alkalinity Producing systems for coal mine drainage remediation after 4 years of operation, International Mine Water Conference, Pretoria, South Africa.
  • Matthies, R, Aplin, A C, Boyce, A J, Jarvis, A P, (2009) Is bacterial sulfate reduction a dominant process for the removal of iron in Reducing and Alkalinity Producing Systems?, 8th ICARD, Skellefteå, Sweden.
  • Kelm, U, Helle, S, Matthies, R, Morales, A, (2009) Distribution of trace elements in soils surrounding the El Teniente porphyry copper deposit, Chile: The influence of smelter emissions and a tailings deposit. Environmental Geology, 57(2): 365-376.
  • Matthies, R. (2008) Mine water: Passively treatable or not ? PGR Conference, School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle upon Tyne.
  • Matthies, R. (2007) Geochemical assessment of tailings proposed for Marine Tailings Disposal (MTD). University of Leon. Master Thesis.
  • Matthies, R., Bowell, B., Williams, K. (2007) Geochemical assessment of the reactivity of tailings proposed for marine tailings disposal (MTD). 23rd International Applied Geochemistry Symposium (IAGS), Oviedo, Departamento de Explotación y Prospección de Minas, University of Oviedo.
  • Matthies, R. (2005) Geochemical and mineralogical changes in soils under prolonged sulphuric acid influences, El Teniente, Chile. Technical University and Mining Academy Freiberg. Master Thesis.
  • Kelm, U. Helle, S., Matthies, R., Morales, A. (2005) The relationship of Cu, As and SO4 contents and soil mineralogy at six locations of the El Teniente Sector, VI Region, Chile. International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment ICHMET 2005, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
  • Matthies, R. (2000) Geology and Deposits in Springs and Far East Regions, Witwatersrand, South Africa. Technical University and Mining Academy Freiberg. Bachelor Thesis.

Esteem Indicators:

  • Royal Academy of Engineering International Travel Grant, June 2009
  • Member of the Scientific Committee of the International Mine Water Conference 2009, Pretoria, South Africa
  • Travel Grant from the Freunde and Förder der TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Jan 2005

Memberships:

  • International Mine Water Association (member and graphics editor)
  • Geochemical Society (member)

Languages:

German (mother tongue); English (fluent); Spanish (fluent); Portuguese (intermediate); French (basic)

For more information please e-mail Romy or visit Romy's web site.