Lecturers bios

Krister Sundblad defended his PhD degree at Stockholm University in 1981 on a VMS ore deposit in the Swedish Caledonides. After being engaged by the Geological Survey of Sweden from 1974, he was an exploration geologist in Latin America in 1983 as well as a professor and associate professor in mineral resources at five universities in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia from 1987 to 2022. His first visit to the Arbavere drill core storage took place in April 1990.

Tiit Kaasik is the Head of the Mineral Resources Department at the Estonian Geological Survey. He obtained a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology with a specialisation in Geotechnology from the University of Tartu in 2008. For nearly 20 years, he has worked in the public sector in various positions related to mineral resources and, among other responsibilities, coordinated the preparation of Estonia´s mineral resources policy document, General principles of Earth’s crust policy until 2050.

Matīss Brants is a PhD student in University of Latvia, specializing in magnetic field studies. He is researching the magnetic anomalies correlated with the iron ores in the Precambrian basement of Central Latvia. He also has industry experience working with UAV-based magnetic surveying and data interpretation from around the world employing various leading geophysics software packages.

Laurynas Šiliauskas defended his PhD thesis in 2019 (Vilnius University) on the Varena Iron Ore deposit in southern Lithuania. In 2022-2023, he held a postdoctoral position at Silesia University, working on age constraints for diamictites from South Africa and Namibia. For the past three years, Laurynas has been working as a senior researcher at the Nature Research Centre in Lithuania, focusing on the evolution of the southern part of the Lithuanian crystalline basement.

Grazina Skridlaite defended her PhD thesis in 1993 and is working as a Head of the Bedrock Geology Department at the State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre and as a professor at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas. For four years has been mapping crystalline rocks in Kola Peninsula, for several years was involved in scientific projects in Sweden, taught petrology at Vilnius University. Interests: petrology, geochemistry, geochronology, geological education, geoheritage. Currently working on regional reconstructions of the western East European Craton and Precambrian mineral resources with special emphasis to Critical Row Materials (CRM).

Wade Johnson is Managing Director of Iceni Gold Limited, an Australian gold exploration company focused on the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. A geologist with over 30 years of experience, he has extensive expertise in gold exploration within the Yilgarn region. He previously served as Managing Director of Lefroy Exploration Limited, where he led the company’s growth from a junior explorer to defining over 1 million ounces of gold resources through discovery and acquisition. Earlier in his career, Wade held senior exploration roles at Newmont Australia, including Exploration Manager for Australia and Asia Pacific, overseeing major greenfields programs across Australia. He has also worked with companies such as Wiluna Mines, ASARCO, St Barbara Mines, and Normandy Mining. At Iceni Gold, he is leading the development of the company’s flagship 14 Mile Well Gold Project.

Jüri Plado is Associate Professor of Geophysics and Petrophysics at the University of Tartu, where he has been active as a researcher and lecturer since 1999. He teaches courses in applied geophysics and solid Earth physics, and his research spans a wide range of geophysical applications, including magnetic and gravity methods, impact structures, and subsurface investigations. His work combines field studies, experimental research, and geophysical modelling, with contributions to topics such as meteorite impact processes, ore-related magnetic anomalies, and ground-penetrating radar studies. He brings both academic and applied perspectives to understanding the structure and evolution of the Earth’s crust, including the Baltic region.

Johannes Vind is a senior geologist at the Geological Survey of Estonia and a researcher at the University of Tartu, specializing in geochemistry and the resource potential of sedimentary and crystalline basement systems. He holds a PhD from the National Technical University of Athens and has a strong background in critical raw materials, including rare earth elements and metal-rich black shales. His work combines laboratory-based geochemical analysis with broader geological interpretation, contributing to projects on phosphorite, graptolite argillite, and the metallogenic potential of the Estonian basement. He is actively involved in national and international research initiatives focused on critical minerals and subsurface resources, bringing an applied perspective to resource evaluation and exploration in the Baltic region.

Siim Nirgi is a geologist with the Geological Survey of Estonia, where he has been involved in crystalline basement research and mineral exploration for over a decade. His work focuses on the metallogenic potential and evolution of the Estonian Precambrian basement, with particular emphasis on critical raw materials and ore-forming processes. He has extensive experience in basement exploration, including studies of magnetic anomalies, drill core investigations, and polymetallic mineralisation in northeastern Estonia. Siim has contributed to numerous national and international projects and publications related to mineral resources and exploration, bringing a strong applied perspective to understanding and evaluating the resource potential of the Baltic crystalline basement.

Alvar Soesoo earned his PhD from Monash University, Australia, and completed postdoctoral research on Cu–Ni formations in Labrador, Canada. He led the Institute of Geology at TalTech for a decade from 2002 and later served as Director of the Geological Survey of Estonia. He is currently the Science Advisor to the Geological Survey of Estonia, a professor at TalTech, and a visiting professor at the University of Tartu. His research focuses on Precambrian geology and modelling of geological processes, with over 35 years of work on the Estonian Precambrian basement.

Dmitrijs Vorobjovs is a PhD student in geology at the University of Latvia and also holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. His field of work includes mineralogy/petrology, geochemistry, and teaching. He is currently researching the origin of the iron ores in the Precambrian basement of Central Latvia, as well as their mineralogical and chemical composition. This involves everything from describing and analysing drill cores using various methods, such as XRD, XRF, SEM-EDX, and others, to preparing thin sections, classifying rock types, and interpreting the conditions under which they formed.