Happy New Year to alumni, students, collaborators and friends, and welcome to to the electronic newsletter of the Harquail School of Earth Sciences (HES). In this issue we will update you on advances in HES over the past year and introduce you to a few of the many new faces we see in the halls of the Willet Green Miller Centre this year.
Since the announcement of the donation to the Department of Earth Sciences by the Harquail family's Midas Touch Foundation and the announcement of funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund for the Metal Earth project led by the Mineral Exploration Research Centre, HES has experienced significant growth in our research and education capacity by increasing our number of faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students. We are also enhancing our research capability through the addition of a new multi-collector laser ablation ICP-MS and triple-quad laser ablation ICP-MS. Both were installed this fall and are operational. Stay tuned for details of analytical advancements in a future issue. We'd also like to give a special thanks to one of our alumni, Dan Innes, for donating a significant economic geology library to HES. There are many gems in this library and our students appreciate access to this library right here in the WGMC.
It is an exciting time as we experience unprecedented growth and we start the next chapter in the story of Earth Sciences at Laurentian University. Stay tuned for more details of this unfolding story and feel free to tell your friends and colleagues to sign up for this electronic newsletter on our new website. Let us know via email or on our Facebook page if you like this new electronic newsletter format. Future issues will be shorter and released more frequently if it is popular.
Doug Tinkham
Director, Harquail School of Earth Sciences
Laurentian University
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Students, faculty, research scientists and staff at the Harquail School of Earth Sciences at the beginning of the Fall 2017 term
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The Harquail School is growing! Five new faculty members have now arrived and our graduate student population is still growing. The addition of new faculty and students enhances both our education and research capacity, and marks the beginning of the next chapter for Earth Sciences at Laurentian University. In addition to these five newly hired faculty members, we are happy to announce that Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk is now cross-appointed with HES and that we are interviewing for a new tenure-track Geochemist this month. Let's welcome these new faculty members to the Earth Sciences family:
Dr. Jeremy Richards, Tier I Canada Research Chair in Metallogeny, has arrived on July 1, 2017. He has extensive research experience in the fields of economic geology and metallogeny, and has worked on a wide variety of hydrothermal deposits, particularly porphyry copper deposits, and on the regional tectonic and magmatic controls on mineralization.
Dr. Ross Sherlock, Research Chair in Exploration, has arrived on August 1, as incoming Director of Mineral Exploration Research Centre and to help oversee and lead the Metal Earth research project; he will assume the additional role of Metal Earth Director on July 01, 2018.
Dr. Mostafa Naghizadeh, Assistant Professor, Seismic Methods in Exploration Geophysics, has arrived and started working on September 1. Dr. Naghizadeh obtained his PhD in Geophysics from the University of Alberta in 2009 and comes to us from Shell Energy Canada, where he was working as a processing geophysicist.
Dr. Stéphane Perrouty, Assistant Professor, Precambrian Geology, has arrived and starts work on the Metal Earth project on January 3, 2018. Dr. Perrouty comes to us with a PhD from the University of Toulouse, France, and is specialized in structural geology, mineralogy, lithogeochemistry, applied geophysics, and three-dimensional modeling to understand tectonic processes associated with Precambrian ore deposits.
Dr. Leonardo Feltrin, Associate Professor, Earth Systems Modelling, arrived on January 3, 2018 to start work on the Metal Earth project. Dr. Feltrin's research involves machine learning and data mining applications to ore deposits, GIS-based mineral prospectivity mapping and earth systems modelling application.
Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, Assistant Professor and Industrial Research Chair in Biomining, Bioremediation and Science Communication, has been cross-appointed to HES. Dr. Mykytczuk received her PhD in Boreal Ecology from Laurentian University in 2009. Her interdisciplinary research in biogeochemistry focuses on developing, optimizing and prototyping biomining and bioremediation technology.
These new faculty all bring complementing expertise and experience to HES, and will be instrumental in helping HES become the leading academic unit in the world for mineral exploration research and education. Every one of the 20 faculty now present at HES have a profile on the new website.
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The Harquail School welcomed the following M.Sc. and PhD students and Research Scientists from across the world in 2017. These graduate students are adding to the high-quality roster of researchers already present at the Harquail School of Earth Sciences:
M.Sc. Geology
Thomas Bagley - Acadia University, NS
Sean Brace - University of Waterloo, ON
Thomas Gore - Laurentian University, ON
Well-Shen Lee - University of British Columbia, BC
Amir Maleki - Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran
William McNeice - University of Toronto, ON
Robert Meek - Laurentian University, ON
Sophie Michel - Laurentian University, ON
Sharlotte Mkhonto - University of Limpopo, South Africa
Blake Mowbray - Carleton University, ON
Adrian Rehm - University of Waterloo, ON
Brendon Samson - University of Saskatchewan, SK
Nkele Selemela - University of Limpopo, South Africa
Danielle Shirriff - University of Toronto, ON
Nadia St-Jean - University of Ottawa, ON
Jonathan Sutton - Laurentian University, ON
PhD Mineral Deposits & Precambrian Geology
Fabiano Della Justina - University of Sao Paolo, Brazil
David Edwards - University of Exeter, United Kingdom
Ahmad Ijaz - University of Peshawar, Pakistan
Michael Langa - University of Limpopo, South Africa
Francisca Maepa - University of Limpopo, South Africa
Maleseia Mapeka - University of the Free State, South Africa
Xuyang Meng - China University of Geosciences, China
Eric Roots - University of Ottawa, ON
Marina Schofield - University of Auckland, New Zealand
Research Scientists
Esmaeil Eshagi - Research Associate, Metal Earth
Rasmus Haugaard - Research Associate, Metal Earth
Taus Jørgensen - Research Associate, Metal Earth
Jeff Marsh - Post-Doctoral Fellow & LA-ICP-MS Laboratory Technician
David Mole - Research Associate, Metal Earth
Rémy Poulin - Research Scientist
Xiaohui Zhou - Research Associate, Metal Earth
Jingjing Zhu - Post-Doctoral Fellow, Metallogeny
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Dr. Taus Jørgensen and Dr. Robert Craig Stewart both graduated with their PhD in Mineral Deposits and Precambrian Geology from Laurentian University in the spring of 2017.
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Nkholo Kevin Baloyi (Dr. Smith) - Applied M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration; Geological Interpretation of Aeromagnetic Data from the Swayze Greenstone Belt, Abitibi Subprovince, ON, Canada
Michael Burns (Dr. Kontak) - The role of fluids in the evolution of the LNPG LCT-type pegmatites, NWT, Canada
Jaime Caplette (Dr. Schindler, Dr. Spiers) - The mineralogical and geochemical characterization of Sb in Black Rock Coatings and the Brunisols surrounding the Trail, British Columbia Pb-Zn smelters, Canada
Anders Carlson (Dr. Kontak) - Applied M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration; Geochemistry of Mafic-Ultramafic Rocks in the Winnipegosis Komatiite Belt, MB, Canada
Steven Flank (Dr. Kontak) - Applied M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration; The Petrography, Geochemistry and Stratigraphy of the Sunday Lake Intrusion, Jacques Township, ON, Canada
Frédéric Gaucher (Dr. Smith) - Developing a method for electromagnetic exploration of copper-gold deposits
Nikolas Gazo (Dr. Smith) - Detection of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal from shallow groundwater using an airborne electromagnetic prospecting system
Martin Huber (Dr. Kontak) - Applied M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration; Exploration for LCT Type Pegmatites on the Troilus Property in Frotet-Evans Greenstone Belt, QC, Canada
Michelle Joyette (Dr. Kontak) - Applied M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration; Using Spectral Analysis to Track Alteration at the 2740 Ma Côté Au(-Cu) Deposit, ON, Canada
Ashley Kirwan (Dr. Jugo) - Applied M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration; Lithological controls on gold mineralization of the Loma Larga high-sulfidation epithermal deposit, Azuay province, Ecuador
Luc Christian Makang I (Dr. Tinkham) - Applied M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration; Characterization of alteration, mineralogy and fabric in a gold-rich horizon of the Lalor Deposit, Snow Lake, Manitoba, Canada
Ian Newman (Dr. Kontak) - Applied M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration; Chemical Analysis of Fluid Inclusin Evaporate Mounds Across the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, ON & QC, Canada
Evan Slater (Dr. Kontak, Dr. McDonald) - Understanding the formation of unusual Ag-Zn-Sn-In mineralization at the Pirquitas Mine, NW Argentina
Charles Spath (Dr. Lesher, Dr. Houlé) - Intrusive ultramafic magmatic breccia and the hybridization of coeval magmatic bodies
Ramona Verma (Dr. McDonald) - Applied M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration; Spatial distribution of hexagonal pyrrhotite
Dr. Taus Jørgensen (Dr. Tinkham, Dr. Lesher) - Evolution of the Sudbury Igneous Complex Contact Metamorphic Aureole and Controls on Anatexis
Dr. Craig Stewart (Dr. Kontak) - Assessment and characterization of alteration in the footwall and granophyre of the Sudbury Igneous Complex, Ontario, Canada
Dr. Yongxing Li (Dr. Smith) - Modelling and Data Interpretation for Radio Imaging Method
Dr. Monika Haring (Dr. McDonald) - A Study of the Late-Stage Mineralogy of Agpaitic Environments: Borosilicates, Niobate Hydrates and Development of Laser Ablation ICP-MS as a Tool to Analyze for High Concentrations of Light Elements (Li, Be, and B)
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This video is from when the Metal Earth Seismic Survey came through Sudbury in October 2017.
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In September 2016, Laurentian University received a $49,269,000 grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) for the seven-year Metal Earth project that is led by MERC. In addition, MERC's twenty-two partners on the Metal Earth Project from academia, industry and government, have contributed an additional $55 million in cash and in-kind contributions for this $104 million effort.
The field component of Metal Earth was launched in early June 2017 with field work conducted by new graduate students, undergraduate students, and post-doctoral research scientists. Geologic mapping and gravity surveys were conducted along the Chibougamau, Malartic, Rouyn-Noranda, Larder Lake-Ben Nevis and Swayze transects.
The 2D seismic survey acquisition program started on August 9th with four vibroseis trucks, support trailers and 44 crew members for a 24 hr-per-day operation that surveyed twelve different transects from Chibougamau, Quebec, westward to Dryden, Ontario over this fall. This is a big step forward for Metal Earth. A contract for Magnetotelluric surveys on these transects has been tendered and that work will start early next year.
Metal Earth is focused on Precambrian greenstone belt rocks that lie mostly in Canada’s North and contain 48% of our country’s metal wealth. By evaluating the endowment for metallic mineral resources on an unprecedented scale, it will help make Canada the global leader in mineral exploration research. With new knowledge, highly qualified personnel, new protocols, and tools to focus exploration in areas with the highest metal endowment, Metal Earth is transforming how we explore for metals. This will help the mineral industry increase discovery rates and help make lower-risk exploration investments, leading to Canada’s next generation of mines.
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David Harquail, President and CEO of Franco-Nevada Corporation, was named Chair of the World Gold Council in September 2017
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Congratulations to David Harquail, Franco-Nevada's President and CEO, for his appointment as new Chair of the World Gold Council (WGC) in October 2017. Faculty, students, researchers and staff at HES and its Mineral Exploration Research Centre were thrilled to hear this news and are wishing him all the best. The WGC has made an excellent choice in naming David as its next Chair.
David Harquail's contribution to Laurentian University and our students has gone well above the financial donation in 2016: first, he serves on both the Goodman School of Mines’ International Advisory Board and the Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) Advisory Board; moreover, our students, faculty and staff shared a few great memorable events with David in the past year, notably at our Annual Alumni & Friends Reception at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention in March; David was also the keynote speaker at the School's Year End Banquet in April, where he offered an informative perspective to our graduating class about opportunities that may await them in today's global mineral exploration industry. We would all like to thank David Harquail for his dedication, passion and the gift - the book "Get Smarter: Life and Business Lessons", written by his mentor Seymour Schulich - that he brought with him for each one of our graduating students.
In September 2016, David Harquail and Birgitta Sigfridsson, along with their children, Sofia, James and Peter invested $10 million to support Laurentian University’s Department of Earth Sciences. This funding enables our School to research innovative concepts and generate new ideas that will help industry find new ore bodies and lead to the next generation of mines. In recognition of David's leadership the School has been renamed the Harquail School of Earth Sciences.
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South African students at Laurentian University (from left to right): Michael Malose Langa, Ethel Tsakani Sarila, Edward Molantoa Moswane, Francisca Maepa, Kevin Nkholo Baloyi, Charmaine Shihlomule
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As of Fall 2017, the Harquail School of Earth Sciences had accepted eleven students from the University of Limpopo in South Africa into its programs. The students have arrived as part of a five-year educational agreement between the two universities and Ivanhoe Mines, that is spearheaded by the Goodman School of Mines. Two of the students were at HES for one semester from January to April 2017 to upgrade their Honours B.Sc.. Two other students arrived in January 2017 to complete a one-year Applied M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration. Another two students who were enrolled in two year M.Sc. programs in mineral exploration have upgraded to our PhD program as of September 2017. Two new students have started their two-year Applied M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration in August 2017. Another two PhD students are currently employed by Ivanhoe Mines and are pursuing a PhD degree at HES on a part-time basis. More students are expected in 2018, 2019 and 2020, for a total of about 50 South African and 12 Canadian students embarking on the exchange. The students work with professors Pedro Jugo and Phil Thurston on projects related to Ivanhoe’s Platreef deposit in South Africa, on an Archean mapping project in Canada with professor Phil Thurston, on a variety of remote sensing and geophysics projects in Canada with professor Richard Smith and on groundwater environmental projects with professor Graeme Spiers.
In Fall 2016, three Canadian students joined Laurentian’s professor Elizabeth Turner at Ivanhoe’s Kamoa-Kakula copper project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These students and an additional PhD student are researching the genesis of this world-class copper deposit, with the findings having far-reaching implications for the formation of this deposit type worldwide. The research work on Platreef and Kamoa-Kakula vaults Laurentian researchers into the forefront of research on new and world-class base metal discoveries in West Africa.
In return, Laurentian students take on summer jobs and research projects on the world-class Platreef and Kamoa-Kakula deposits and fulfill teaching assignments at Limpopo’s Geology Department and community outreach projects at Limpopo’s Science Centre. This educational initiative has been made possible with funding from Ivanhoe Mines, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship and the International Development and Research Centre Scholarship, and is supported by the Goodman School of Mines.
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Dr. Harold Gibson receives the Research Excellence Award from Steve Paikin, Chancellor of Laurentian University, and Dominic Giroux, former President and Vice-Chancellor of Laurentian University on June 9, 2017.
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Dr. Harold Gibson, Director of Metal Earth and professor of volcanology and economic geology, was presented the Laurentian University’s Research Excellence Award in June 2017 in recognition of a career of research excellence in economic geology and volcanology. One of Dr. Gibson's latest endeavours was spearheading the development and proposal of the 7-year $104 million Metal Earth research project.
Dr. Elizabeth Turner, professor of carbonate sedimentology, was awarded an NSERC Discovery Grant and Accelerator supplement in 2016, which attests to her outstanding research program. The Accelerator supplement is given to less than 1% of all Discovery grantees, and is designed to provide substantial and timely resources to researchers who have a superior research program, and who show strong potential to become international leaders within their field. Dr. Turner's research on Arctic sedimentary basins and their economic potential is the focus of this award. Dr. Turner is only the second person in Laurentian University's history to be given this award.
Dr. Daniel Kontak, professor of ore deposit geology, is the recipient of the 2016 Duncan Derry Medal. This prestigious annual award is given by the Geological Association of Canada's Mineral Deposits Division to an outstanding economic geologist who has made significant contributions to the science of ore deposit geology in Canada. Dr. Kontak has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, as well as numerous book chapters, abstracts and government reports. He has trained nine PhD students and 18 M.Sc. students, and has won other significant awards for his work, including the Peacock Medal (2011) from the Mineralogical Association of Canada, the Julian Boldy Award (2015, 2011) and the Gesner Medal from the Atlantic Geoscience Society (2011). Previous winners of the Duncan Derry Medal at Laurentian University include Dr. Harold Gibson (2012) and Dr. C. Michael Lesher (2007).
Dr. Andrew McDonald and Sarah C. Gordon (M.Sc. Geology from Laurentian in 2013) were awarded the Hawley Medal of the Mineralogical Association of Canada for the paper "A study of the composition, distribution, and genesis of pyrrhotite in the Copper Cliff Offset, Sudbury, Ontario", Canadian Mineralogist, 53(5), http://www.canmin.org/content/early/2015/05/08/canmin.1400040.full. The Hawley Medal is awarded to the authors of the best paper to appear in The Canadian Mineralogist in a given year. The award is named in honour of Dr. J.E. Hawley (1897-1965) who was distinguished professor of mineralogy at Queen's University. The paper is selected by a committee of three members selected by the Chair of the Nominating Committee.
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Mar 4 - 7, 2018
PDAC 2018
(Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada)
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Contact Tobias Roth: tm_roth@laurentian.ca
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