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Max Frenzel

Assistant Professor, Earth Systems Science and Engineering

Physical Science and Engineering Division

m.frenzel@hzdr.de


Affiliations

Education Profile

  • DAAD Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Adelaide, 2017
  • PhD Economic Geology, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, 2016
  • MSc Geological Sciences, University of Cambridge, 2012
  • BA Mineral Science, University of Cambridge, 2011

Research Interests

In his research, Professor Frenzel aims to address the issues and opportunities associated with rapidly growing global mineral demand. He does so by examining various aspects of mineral supply chains, focusing on two central questions: 

1) How can geological and mineralogical insights enhance the efficiency of mineral exploration and extraction? 

2) What implications do geological, technological, and economic constraints have for the availability of primary raw materials for the energy transition?

He combines a variety of data types (geological, mineralogical, geochemical, technological, and economic) with data analysis and numerical modelling methods to answer these questions.

At KAUST, he will mostly focus on the mineral potential of Saudi Arabia, i.e., where significant untapped mineral resources may exist and how can they be discovered and utilized efficiently to sustainably generate value.

Selected Publications

  • Frenzel M, Röhner M, Cook NJ, Gilbert S, Ciobanu CL, Güven JF (2025) Mineralogy, mineral chemistry, and genesis of Cu-Ni-As-rich ores at Lisheen, Ireland. Mineralium Deposita 60:113-143

  • Blannin R, Frenzel M, Tolosana-Delgado R, Bachmann K, Escobar A, Pereira L, Gutzmer J (2024) A quantitative particle-based approach for the geometallurgical assessment of tailings deposits. Earth Science, Systems and Society 4:10102

  • Buarque Andrade L, Frenzel M, Bookhagen B, Kresse C, Schmidt M, Nassar N, Alonso E, Shojaeddini E, Sandmann D (2024) From exploration to production: Understanding the development dynamics of lithium mining projects. Resources Policy 99C:105423

  • Frenzel M (2023) Making sense of mineral trace-element data – How to avoid common pitfalls in statistical analysis and interpretation. Ore Geology Reviews 159:105566

  • Frenzel M, Baumgartner R, Tolosana-Delgado R, Gutzmer J (2023) Geometallurgy: Present and Future. Elements 19:345-351