From 5–9 January 2026, I visited Geosciences Montpellier as part of an initiative funded by the Australian Critical Minerals Hub to strengthen collaborations with French research teams working on critical metals. Hosted by Bénédicte, the visit provided an excellent opportunity for scientific exchange.

During the week, we held productive discussions focused on ore‑forming processes and the behaviour of Ge, Ga, In, Cd and Tl in sediment‑hosted Zn‑Pb deposits. I also delivered a presentation highlighting recent critical‑metals research undertaken by the CSIRO Discovery Team.

The visit concluded with a field trip to several key geological sites in the region—an enjoyable and fitting way to wrap up a rewarding week.

Many thanks to Bénédicte and the Geosciences Montpellier team for their warm welcome and valuable discussions.

Coralie Siegel, senior research scientist from the Discovery Program, Mineral Resources at CSIRO based in Perth, Australia