Because of the pandemic, the 11th Geoanalysis conference due to be held in 2021 was postponed until a year later. The organizing committee at Helmholtz Institute Freiberg and TU Bergakademie Freiberg overcame an enormous number of logistical hurdles in making it possible to hold the conference as a hybrid event that took place from 6th-12th August 2022 in Freiberg, a small town in the Saxony region of Germany known for its rich mining history. In fact, Freiberg’s Mining University can claim to be the birthplace of analytical geochemistry as it was there during the late Middle Ages that ore from Saxon silver mines was subjected to quantitative chemical analyses.
With 137 delegates from 25 countries attending in person and 29 conference participants on-line, Geoanalysis 2022 was a forum for the exchange of knowledge in areas such as instrumentation, reference materials, automated analytical methods, and imaging with elements and isotopes. Parallel sessions were avoided, with three-quarters of the contributions presented in oral format. The programme was complemented by short presentations by exhibitors and poster pitches. For more details, please consult the Geoanalysis 2022 website.
A post-conference excursion visited the mining districts and current exploration areas in the Erzgebirge, well-known for its Sn, Ag, Pb, Zn, and U deposits. The participants also had the opportunity to take part in a variety of pre- and post-conference workshops and short courses focused on SIMS analysis, field portable analytical instruments, automated mineralogy, commercial geoanalysis, and analytical geochemistry quality assurance.
The philosophy of Geoanalysis conference series is to provide an intimate gathering of ca. 200 delegates with an all-inclusive program of scientific and cultural activities, with accommodation situated close to the conference center so that opportunities for networking are maximized. Geoanalysis 2022 was exemplary in meeting all these characteristics with a non-stop supply of refreshments to assist making new friends.