8 Research Projects, Three Continents, 10 years
From the fluid pathways that formed Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide deposits in Oman, to lithium brines in the US, to the fractured reservoirs targeted for Swiss geothermal energy and CO2 storage, my research follows the fluids that form, and flow through, georesources. It spans structural geology, geochemistry, petrophysics, geo-risk and the interdisciplinary science of responsible resource development. Explore my active, recently completed, and past projects.
Current Research Home – The DeTect Group, University of Lausanne
I am a Premier Assistant (postdoctoral researcher and junior lecturer) in the DeTect: Deformation and Tectonics group at the Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, led by Prof. Anindita Samsu. DeTect studies brittle deformation of the Earth’s crust and its links to regional tectonics and geodynamics, and characterises fracture networks in outcrop and the subsurface for applications in the energy transition. The team combines multi-scale mapping of field and remotely sensed digital datasets with novel geostatistical and deep-learning approaches to interpret 2D and 3D data, to better understand how fluids flow through the crust and to reduce risk in geo-energy projects.
Partners & Collaborators
swisstopo · Schweizer Salinen · Canton of Vaud (DGE) · University of Bern · Colorado School of Mines
Active Projects
Swiss Muschelkalk
Characterising fracture networks in a key northeastern Swiss target for geothermal energy and CO2 storage. Combines multiscale outcrop and drill hole data to map fluid pathway controls move underground. Based at UNIL, collaborating with swisstopo and the University of Bern.
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Barrier and Conduits to Flow
Investigating the geometry of fracture aperture and “pull-apart” structures in drill core and their implication for permeability. Matterhorn Grant – FGSE-UNIL.
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Fluid pathways for brines from dissolution salt mining: Open MSc project – ELSTE, UNIL
An open MSc project mapping sub-seismic fracture networks that control brine and groundwater flow near Basel. Supports responsible management of Schweizer Salinen’s salt solution mining. Hosted at UNIL in collaboration with Schweizer Salinen and University of Bern, co-supervised by Joshua Richard, UNIBE.
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Recently Completed Projects
Lithium Production in the US
A socio-technical review of lithium production sites across the United States. Pairs the technical extraction picture with environmental impacts and social acceptance. Published on SSRN, 2024.
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Direct Lithium Extraction in Arkansas
An interdisciplinary review of direct lithium extraction from Arkansas oilfield brines. Weighs resource potential against economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Published in Environmental Research: Energy, 2026.
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Geothermal Risk Assessment Tool (INGRA)
Supervised development of INGRA, a new framework for assessing geothermal project risk in the Canton of Vaud. Combines geological, environmental, monitoring, and social factors into one transparent scoring system. MSc thesis, University of Lausanne, 2025–2026.
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Past Projects
Fluid Pathways in the Semail Ophiolite, Oman
PhD research mapping how hydrothermal fluids moved through ancient oceanic crust, preserved in Oman’s Semail Ophiolite. Produced three papers on porosity, permeability, and the alteration reactions that create fluid pathways. University of Bern, 2017–2021.
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CO2 Injection Feasibility, Trüllikon (CITru)
Contributed the discrete fracture network analysis and permeability scenarios for Switzerland’s first CO2 injection pilot feasibility study. Assessed whether the Trüllikon borehole could safely support CO2 storage. Published as a swisstopo report, 2023.
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Publications
- Malone, A, Brett, AC, Spiller, E, Battalora, L, Holley, EA, Fitzgerald, F, Ruppert, C, Reyes, A, Jann, J (2026). Geotechnical, economic, social, and environmental dimensions of direct lithium extraction (DLE) from Smackover brines in Arkansas. Environmental Research: Energy. doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/ae3e91
- Brett, AC, Holley, EA, Deberdt, R, Fahle, L, & Smith, NM (2024). Lithium Production in the United States: Socio-Technical Review of Sites, Environmental Impacts, and Social Acceptance. Resources Policy. doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4980674
- Diamond, LW, Alt-Epping, P, Brett, AC, Aschwanden, L, & Wanner, C (2023). Geochemical–hydrogeological study of a proposed CO2 injection pilot at Trüllikon, Switzerland. Pre-feasibility study, open access on Zenodo. doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.10938102
- Brett-Adams, AC, Diamond, LW, Weber, S, Gilgen, S (2023). Rock-matrix porosity and permeability in the hydrothermally altered, upper oceanic crust, Oman ophiolite. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JB024948
- Weber, S, Diamond, LW, Alt-Epping, P, Brett-Adams, AC (2021). Reaction Mechanism and Water/Rock Ratios Involved in Epidosite Alteration of the Oceanic Crust. JGR Solid Earth, 126, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB021540
- Brett-Adams, AC, Diamond, LW, Petrini, C, Madonna, C (2021). Influence of in-situ temperatures and pressures on the permeability of hydrothermally altered basalts in the oceanic crust. Tectonophysics, 815, 1–15. 10.1016/j.tecto.2021.228994
Publications in Prep
- Brett, AC, Diamond, LW, Habermüller, M, Frieg, B, Madritsch, H. Tectonic fracture distribution in the deep saline Muschelkalk aquifer (Schinznach Formation): insights from a horizontal exploration well in Schlattingen (northern Switzerland). In preparation.
- Brett, AC, Diamond, LW, Hyman, JD. Permeability of hydrothermally altered and fractured lavas in the oceanic crust at centimetre to kilometre scales, Oman ophiolite: from field mapping to flow simulations. In preparation.
Methods & Data
- Field: structural, metamorphic and hydrothermal-alteration mapping; digital field mapping on tablets; photogrammetry and remote-sensing-supported field campaigns
- Subsurface data: drill-core logging and sampling; analysis of borehole image and geophysical logs
- Petrophysics: porosity and permeability measurement; fracture aperture and connectivity analysis
- Geochemistry & mineralogy: alteration petrography; whole-rock and mineral chemistry (XRF, SEM, EPMA, LA-ICP-MS)
- Modelling & data: discrete fracture network modelling (dfnWorks); 3D geological and structural modelling (Move); Python-based analysis of large fracture datasets; HPC workflows
- Socio-technical: geo-risk scoring frameworks; social-acceptance surveys; resource-development reviews