My internship took place in Oslo during November and December of 2024, giving me the opportunity to engage in six weeks of research in the paleomagnetism laboratory at PHAB (The Centre for Planetary Habitability – UiO). The main goal of this study was to characterize the fabric and magnetic mineralogy of an Ediacaran granitic unit and its coeval mafic rocks from southern Brazil.
The paleomagnetic lab is probably the safest place in the entire building—it’s located in a bunker underground (where I hit my head on the ceiling corridors more times than I’d like to admit). In fact, the chosen location is not random—it shields the lab from the Earth’s magnetic field, ensuring the equipment works properly and minimizing errors in our analyses. Professor Mathew Domeier, who was my advisor during the internship, was incredibly patient in teaching me how to use all the equipment, how the data is generated, and what it physically represents. This approach was the best way for me to solidify my understanding and, for now on, be able to interpret the data.
For my research on magnetic fabric, we used anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) techniques, which help reveal the preferential alignment of minerals in rocks. This technique allows us to understand the internal geometry of a geological body and identify magmatic structures within the pluton. This type of rock magnetism analysis takes time, but I managed to finish it just in time. We obtained interesting data showing that the body’s internal fabric is regionally partitioned into contrasting shallow and steep magnetic foliation angles, likely related to different wall rock structures that controlled its emplacement. The magnetic mineralogy was primarily controlled by biotite-oriented crystals, indicating that it’s a paramagnetic type of granite. Thankfully, the oriented core samples were prepared and labeled before I left Brazil, giving us time to adjust the schedule to demagnetize selected samples and work on paleomagnetism. For the upcoming year, we will continue the collaboration to discuss the data and its geological significance.
But, of course, not everything happened in the lab! As the last months of the year approached, the city began to fill with Christmas decorations, and the anticipation for the season’s first snowfall (Sadly, no one won the bet on when the first snow day would happen). As part of PHAB’s annual tradition, I participated in a two-night cruise to Kiel, Germany, to explore the street markets and celebrate Christmas. On the first day, we attended seminars about the lab’s ongoing and future projects. And, in our last night I had my first-ever Julebord (the Norwegian word for the Christmas banquet). I must admit, while the hot food was delicious, I wasn’t brave enough to try all the traditional Norwegian fish dishes—sorry!
I stayed in the Majorstuen neighborhood in Oslo, sharing an apartment with Maria, the host, and her very kind family, who helped me find the best grocery stores nearby and gave me great tips on places to visit around the city. Thanks to them, I visited the Munch Museum, where I saw the famous painting The Scream, and the Fram Museum, home to an enormous ship that participated in Arctic and Antarctic expeditions in the late 19th century. On my last internship day, the family gave me a bottle of Aquavit, an herb-infused distilled spirit (which I hadn’t been able to buy the day before). It became a highlight of my family’s Christmas dinner in Brazil.
With all the data I produced in Oslo, I was able to complete my final project and graduate as a geologist—so, of course, I had to celebrate! With some free time, I traveled to Bergen by train, taking the scenic route through the mountains. I left at 6:30 AM, and it was the best decision ever! As the sun rose during the day, the snow-covered mountains were bathed in golden light. When we reached the highest point, everything was blanketed in snow. I also visited the fjords in Flåm and Aurland on the same day.
In Bergen, the first thing I did was buy an umbrella (never forget your own!). Then, I explored the Julemarked to buy the best Christmas socks I’ve ever bought. As the rain came and went, it unveiled the scenic city of Bergen, with its high hills dotted with colorful houses. On my last day in the city, I booked a boat trip to visit a fjord on the way to Mostraumen. As we navigated the fjord, the mountains rose gradually, and waterfalls began to appear everywhere—best decision ever to feel like being in a Lord of the Rings movie.
From being randomly invited to a birthday bingo, where I won a Christmas tree (which is now decorating my home), to some walking with snow at the Holmenkollen park on Sundays, every moment of this experience brought me incredible memories and breathtaking views. And to top off this internship at PHAB, I’m going back home more confident in continuing my research in paleomagnetism and applying for a master’s degree in geology. Tusen takk, Norway!