Education:

Area of Specialization & Interest:

• Focus on ultramafic rocks, with emphasis on post-magmatic alterations and related mineralization.
• Specialization in the spectrochemical characterization and genesis of magnesite deposits in southern Peninsular India.
• Comparative study of terrestrial and Martian analogues to understand planetary processes.
• Multidisciplinary approach aimed at advancing knowledge of carbonate mineralization and its role in natural carbon sequestration.

Professional Career:

Honors/Awards/Fellowships/Recognitions :

1. KSCSTE Research Fellowship – 2017 (Second Rank): Awarded by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Kerala, for securing second rank in the state-level selection. Grant Ref. No.: KSCSTE/2110/2018/-FSHP-Eart.
2. International Open Badge – Global Field Science Research Program (Long-term), Niigata University, Japan (2022–2023). Successfully completed the long-term Global Field Science Research Program under the Human Resource Development initiative in the Indo-Pacific Region. This program is endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan, as part of the FY2022 Inter-University Exchange Project.
3. Best Poster Award – International Association for Gondwana Research (IAGR), 2023. Received the Third Best Poster Award at the 2023 Annual Convention of the IAGR and the 20th International Conference on Gondwana to Asia, held at Niigata University, Japan (7–12 October 2023).
4. GeoHost Awardee – 37th International Geological Congress (IGC), 2024. Awarded the GeoHost Support to participate and present research at the 37th IGC held in Busan, South Korea. The program supports meritorious young geoscientists and students globally.
5. Goldschmidt 2025 Travel Grant Recipient. Selected for a grant from European Association of Geochemist to participate in the Goldschmidt 2025 Conference. The award includes coverage for abstract submission, registration fees, and €1000 towards travel expenses.

SCI Publications :

1. Haritha, A., Rajesh, V. J., Kumar, S., Santosh, M., Thesniya, P. M. (2022). Spectrochemical and stable isotopic characteristics of magnesite deposit from Salem, Southern India: CO2 repository through supergene processes. Ore Geology Reviews, 145, 105016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2022.105016 .
2. Haritha, A., Kakkassery, A. I., Rajesh, V. J., Kumar, S., Khedr, M. Z. (2024). Magnesite hosted by the Neoarchean ultramafic rocks in Attappadi, southern India: Insights from spectral and stable isotope investigation. Geological Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/gj.4952 .
3. Kakkassery, A. I., Haritha, A., Rajesh, V. J. (2022). Serpentine–magnesite association of Salem Ultramafic Complex, Southern India: A potential analogue for Mars. Planetary and Space Science, 221, 105528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2022.105528 .
4. Deepchand, V., Haritha, A., Mohan, M., Rajesh, V. J., Sajinkumar, K. S., Binoj Kumar, R. B. (2024). Multi-sensor analytics for mapping chromite mineralization zones in Nuggihalli Schist Belt, Southern India: Inferences from ASTER, Sentinel-2A, and Landsat 8 satellite images. Advances in Space Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2024.12.041 .
5. Deepchand, V., Haritha, A., Thesniya, P. M., Rajesh, V. J., Binoj Kumar, R. B. (2024). A comprehensive characterization of texturally diverse chromites in the Nuggihalli Schist Belt, Southern India: Insights from petrographic and spectrochemical analyses. Spectroscopic Letters. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00387010.2025.2451720 .

Conferences/Seminars/Symposia:

1. Haritha, A., Satish-Kumar, M., Rajesh, V.J. (2025). Macro- to microscale C- and O- isotope investigation of magnesite deposits in ultramafic rocks of Southern Peninsular India: Implications for natural CO₂ sequestration. Goldschmidt 2025, Prague, Czech Republic, 6–11 July 2025.
2. Haritha, A., Satish-Kumar, M., Rajesh, V.J. (2025). Petrogenesis of carbonated ultramafic lenses from Thennilai, Southern India. Third Frontiers in Geosciences Research Conference (FGRC-2025), PRL, Ahmedabad, 5–7 February 2025.
3. Rajesh, V.J., Haritha, A., Satish-Kumar, M. (2025). Magmatism and post-magmatic alteration of ultramafic rocks in Salem, Southern India. National Conference on Magmatism, Metamorphism and Metallogeny, NCESS, 16–18 February 2025.
4. Haritha, A., Satish-Kumar, M., Rajesh, V.J. (2024). Petrogenesis, serpentinization, and carbonation of mafic–ultramafic rocks in Salem, Southern India. 5th International Congress on Natural Sciences (ICNS2024), Niigata University, Japan, 28 September 2024.
5. Haritha, A., Rajesh, V.J., Satish-Kumar, M. (2024). Ultramafic-hosted magnesite deposits in Southern Peninsular India: Spectral and stable isotopic insights. 37th International Geological Congress, Busan, South Korea, 25–31 August 2024.
6. Haritha, A., Rajesh, V.J., Satish-Kumar, M. (2023). Ultramafic-hosted magnesite of Salem mafic–ultramafic complex, Southern India: Insights from spectral and stable isotope studies. 20th International Conference on Gondwana to Asia, Niigata University, Japan, 7–12 October 2024.
7. Haritha, A., Rajesh, V.J. (2023) Spectral and stable isotopic studies of magnesites from Salem, Southern India: Implications for the origin and potential industrial applications. 35th Kerala Science Congress, Kuttikanam, Idukki. February 2023.
8. Haritha, A., Rajesh, V.J. (2023)Comprehensive investigation of the ultramafic-hosted magnesites from Southern Peninsular India. Frontiers in Geosciences Research Conference (FGRC), PRL, Ahmedabad. 1-3 February 2023.
9. Haritha, A., Rajesh, V.J. (2023). Comprehensive spectral and C- and O-isotopic investigation of ultramafic-hosted magnesites from Salem, Southern India. 3rd International Conference on Geology: Emerging Methods and Applications (GEM2023), Christ College, Irinjalakuda. January 23-25, 2023.
10. Haritha, A., Rajesh, V.J. (2022). Spectral and stable isotopic (C–O) studies of magnesite deposits in Salem mafic–ultramafic complex, Southern India. Current Trends in Earth System Sciences (CTESS), University of Kerala, 19–21 January 2023.
11. Haritha, A., Rajesh, V.J. (2022). Spectroscopic techniques as a tool to characterize naturally occurring magnesite and its applications. National Conference on Recent Trends in Material Science and Technology (NCMST 2022), IIST, Thiruvananthapuram.
12. Haritha, A., Thesniya, P.M., Rajesh, V.J. (2022). Mineralogical characterization and genesis of dunite-hosted magnesites of Salem, Tamil Nadu. 6th National Geo-Research Scholars Meet (NGRSM-2022), University of Ladakh & WIHG. June 7-10, 2022.
13. Haritha, A., Rajesh, V.J., Kumar, S., Kakkassery, A.I. (2020). Spectral-chemical characterization and genesis of magnesite at Attappadi region, Northern Kerala. 6th Shear Zones and Crustal Blocks of Southern India Conference, University of Kerala. November 2020.
14. Deepchand, V., Rajesh, V.J., Haritha, A., Binoj Kumar, R.B. (2023). Exsolution micro-textures in Cr-V-Ti magnetite (lodestones) of Southern India: Remnants of complex magmatic processes. GEM2023, Christ College, Irinjalakuda. January 23-25, 2023.
15. Deepchand, V., Haritha, A., Rajesh, V.J., Binoj Kumar, R.B. (2022). Spectral and chemical studies on chromites from Nuggihalli Region, Karnataka: Potential industrial applications. NCMST 2022, IIST, Thiruvananthapuram.
16. Deepchand, V., Haritha, A., Rajesh, V.J., Binoj Kumar, R.B. (2022). Textural, chemical, and spectral characterization of chromites and its comparison with ASTER indices: A case study from Archean greenstone belts in Western Dharwar Craton. CTESS 2022–2023, University of Kerala. 19–21 January 2023.
17. Deepchand, V., Haritha, A., Thesniya, P.M., Rajesh, V.J., Binoj Kumar, R.B. (2022). Comparative textural, chemical, and spectral characterization of chromites from Nuggihalli Schist Belt, Southern India: Implications for ore quality estimation. NGRSM-2022, University of Ladakh & WIHG. June 7-10, 2022.
18. Deepchand, B., Haritha, A., Thesniya, P.M., Rajesh, V.J., Binoj Kumar, R.B. (2021). Comparative chemical and spectral characterization of chromites in Nuggihalli Schist Belt, Western Dharwar Craton (Southern India). Indian Planetary Science Conference (IPSC-2021), PRL, Ahmedabad.
19. Kakkassery, A.I., Haritha, A., Rajesh, V.J. (2021). Olivine–serpentine–magnesite association in Salem ultramafic complex, Southern India: A potential terrestrial analogue for Mars. IPSC-2021, PRL, Ahmedabad.
20. Deepchand, B., Haritha, A., Thesniya, P.M., Rajesh, V.J., Binoj Kumar, R.B. (2019). Chemical and spectral characterization of chromites in Nuggihalli Schist Belt, Western Dharwar Craton: Implications for spinel detection on the Moon. National Seminar on Advances in Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, 20 September 2019.
21. Haritha, A., Rajesh, V.J., Kumar, S., Kakkassery, A.I., Santosh, M. (2020). Chemical, spectral and C–O isotope characterization of magnesite deposits in Salem mafic–ultramafic complex, Southern India. IAGR 2020 Convention and 17th International Conference. May 2020.

Google Scholar Links:

• https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=d3kjlKgAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao .

ORCID:

• 0009-0001-2738-1478

Other Professional Activities (Professional Training/Committees/Editorial Services):

• International Exchange Student Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Niigata University, Japan Jul 2023 – Oct 2023 Niigata, Japan.
• On-site lecture and Global field training programme Organized by Niigata University, Japan from 9th to 23rd July 2023. The program, fully funded by MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology) in Japan, aims to foster collaboration among students and young researchers in Earth and Planetary Sciences. Jul 2023 Niigata, Japan Summer Internship.