Post by Sheree Armistead

Back from an incredible University of Tasmania undergraduate field trip to New Caledonia ran by Sebastien Meffre and myself (with Karin Orth & Tahlia Thomas coming along this year as well)! 🏔️🥾🤿 This trip was about far more than rocks. We visited a nickel mine rehabilitation site, seeing first-hand how land restoration is approached on nickel-rich lateritic soils. We also spent time in the mangroves, exploring how the island's geology shapes and sustains its coastal ecosystems. Of course, we couldn't visit New Caledonia without getting into the geology that makes it so special. We got to see an ophiolite sequence, with peridotite bodies exposed right at the surface, standing on rocks that were once part of the Earth's mantle. None of this would have been possible without the generosity and expertise of Pierre MAURIZOT, Lilian ALIZERT, Léna Payandi, Sarah Robin, jean-baptiste Parmentier, Yael GUYOMARD, France PATTIER who gave their time and knowledge to make this such a rich learning experience for our students. And of course, thank you to our students for their curiosity, sharp questions, and genuine enthusiasm throughout. #Geology #FieldGeology #EarthScience #Petrology #Geoscience #CriticalMetals #MineRehabilitation #NewCaledonia