Work with CarbonMat

CarbonMat works with people and organisations through research partnerships, specialist interpretation, scientific review, and training in organic petrology and natural carbon materials.

Project Collaboration

CarbonMat works with researchers, universities, laboratories, companies and other organisations on projects involving coal petrography, dispersed organic matter, thermally altered coal and natural graphite.

How CarbonMat can contribute

  • Refining scientific questions and developing hypotheses

  • Designing analytical approaches

  • Interpreting petrographic and microstructural evidence

  • Integrating results from different analytical techniques

  • Examining uncertainties and alternative explanations

  • Contributing to reports, presentations and publications

  • Providing continued scientific input as a project develops

The exact role of CarbonMat will depend on the project. Some collaborations may involve a defined piece of interpretation or review. Others may require continued involvement from the early planning stages through to the final discussion of results.

Starting a conversation

Initial enquiriesare welcome. A short introductory discussion can be used to establish whether the project is a good fit. Where more detailed scientific input is required, including hypothesis development, analytical planning or assessment of existing data, this will form part of a paid scoping engagement or research partnership.

Scope of Work

CarbonMat contributes specialist knowledge, scientific interpretation and critical discussion. Routine sample analysis, instrument operation, certification, accreditation and JORC compliance are not provided.

Specialist Interpretation and Scientific Review

Not every scientific question requires a full research partnership. Sometimes the data already exist, but the interpretation needs another set of eyes.

CarbonMat provides independent interpretation and scientific review for projects involving coal petrography, dispersed organic matter, thermally altered coal and natural graphite. The work is based on images, analytical results, reports and other information supplied by the client.

How CarbonMat can contribute

  • Interpret petrographic images, data and analytical results

  • Review methods, classifications and scientific reasoning

  • Integrate evidence from different analytical techniques

  • Identify uncertainties, inconsistencies and alternative explanations

  • Comment on technical reports, manuscripts and presentations

  • Provide annotated images, written comments or technical memoranda

  • Discuss results through an online consultation

The scope and form of the work will depend on the question being addressed. It may involve a focused review of one dataset, a broader interpretation combining several lines of evidence, or continued discussion as the project develops.

The purpose is not simply to describe the results, but to examine what they support, where the limitations lie and whether other interpretations should be considered.

Training and Education

CarbonMat offers training in coal petrography, dispersed organic matter, thermally altered coal and natural graphite.

Training may be developed for universities, research groups, laboratories, companies or other organisations. It can be designed for people encountering these subjects for the first time or for those who already have experience and want to examine a particular problem in greater depth.

Training may include

  • Short courses and technical workshops

  • Online seminars and discussion sessions

  • Training in petrographic concepts and interpretation

  • Maceral identification and classification

  • Interpretation of thermally altered coal

  • Introduction to natural graphite and its microstructural evolution

  • Review and discussion of client-supplied images or datasets

  • Training tailored to a particular project, team or level of experience

The content, depth and format are agreed in advance so that the training is appropriate for the people attending and the questions they need to address.

Public courses developed by CarbonMat will appear under Courses. Tailored training for organisations, research groups and technical teams can be arranged through Work with CarbonMat.

Connect with CarbonMat

Ready to work together? 

Send a short description of your material, objectives, and timeline.
I will review feasibility and outline a practical approach.