Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco (TCD)
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jdrodrigueztcd.bsky.social
Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco (TCD)
@jdrodrigueztcd.bsky.social
Ussher Associate Professor in Nanomineralogy
Trinity College Dublin
[Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Planetary Geology, Astrophysics]
{Asimovian, book lover, amateur astronomer}
New paper! We show that rare earth elements don’t just replace carbonate minerals — they start by growing as highly ordered layers on their surfaces. Fascinating step in understanding REE behavior! Funded @researchireland.ie
@geolsurvie.bsky.social @epaireland.bsky.social @tcddublin.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 6:51 PM
How do volcanic rocks lock away CO2? Hydrothermal carbonates in #Svalbard basalts show natural Ca-Mg–Fe trapping of carbon, offering clues for climate tech in basalt-based storage. #ClimateSolutions
doi.org/10.1016/j.cc...
Research funded by @researchireland.ie & @geolsurvie.bsky.social via iCRAG.
September 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Honored to receive a Certificate & Special Commendation as runner-up for the Award for Excellence in Supervision at @tcddublin.bsky.social.
Thanks Prof. Martine Smith & Provost Prof. Linda Doyle for the recognition — and my students & colleagues from the Sch. of Natural Sciences for the inspiration!
September 8, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Fantastic Teaching Awards ceremony Trinity College Dublin, with our President and Provost, Prof. Linda Doyle, and great colleagues from SNS, Martin Sokol. Beautiful academic atmosphere. Proud to be part of this dynamic and inspiring institution.
June 6, 2025 at 12:02 PM
I am deeply honoured to receive the Inspiring Educator Award from @tcddublin.bsky.social today. I want to sincerely thank our students for their curiosity, engagement, and generosity of spirit for this wonderful recognition, as well as to the Centre for Academic Practice at TCD. Thanks you all!
June 5, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Impressive and beautiful solar halo this morning in Dublin. Cirrus clouds containing ice crystals and sunlight refraction and scattering produce this phenomenon. Easier (and safer) to see with sunglasses, of course.
May 23, 2025 at 12:22 PM
NEW PAPER: Nanophase REE phosphate crystallization induced by vivianite oxidation: mechanistic insights and mineralogical implications by Maddin et al from @tcddublin.bsky.social
Funding @researchireland.bsky.social @epaireland.bsky.social @geolsurvie.bsky.social
Paper:
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...
April 9, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Microplastics pollution from glitter can disrupt marine biomineralization. This raises fresh concerns about the long-term environmental impact of microplastic pollution on marine ecosystems.

News release:
www.tcd.ie/news_events/...

Paper:
enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10....
April 1, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Some fun with SEM and crystals…
March 16, 2025 at 1:12 AM
NEW open-access PAPER — “Mechanistic Insights into the Early-Stage Crystallization and Nanophase Formation of Metastable Light Rare-Earth Carbonates”
doi.org/10.1021/acs....
funded by Research Ireland, Geological Survey Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency.
February 9, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Happy to announce that my @tcddublin.bsky.social PhD student Luca Terribili has passed his PhD viva with minor corrections. Great science discussion!
His research was funded by @researchireland.bsky.social, Geological Survey Ireland & EPA-Ireland as part of the Frontiers for the Future programme.
November 20, 2024 at 8:44 PM
Spotted comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) after the sunset earlier today, from Clontarf, Dublin. If the horizon is clean it can be found with the naked eye.

#CometA3 #TsuchinshanATLAS #CometATLAS
October 14, 2024 at 9:55 PM
Beautiful Northern Lights from #Clontarf area, #Dublin — just an hour ago. #northernlights #geomagneticstorm
October 11, 2024 at 12:02 AM
NEW open-access PAPER: "Chemical Textures on Rare Earth Carbonates: An Experimental Approach to Mimic the Formation of Bastnäsite" in Global Challenges, by Melanie Maddin et al.
1st study showing how the mineral bastnäsite forms from complex fluids.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
May 20, 2024 at 3:06 PM
So many images obtained of the northern lights with two different cameras. I don’t even know where to begin… #aurora #Auroraborealis #NorthernLights #Solarstorm #Solarstorm2024
May 12, 2024 at 8:55 PM
More Northern light pictures from home. Dublin, Ireland.
May 12, 2024 at 3:58 PM
A quick view taken 30 mins ago of the group of solar active group (sunspots) that originated the current solar storm and northern lights these days.
May 11, 2024 at 6:01 PM
Thanks proton-proton cycle, solar wind, magnetosphere and visible radiation (among others) for the beautiful display of #NorthernLights in the sky of Dublin.
May 11, 2024 at 6:01 PM