The University of British Columbia

I am interested in controls on hydrothermal mineral deposits and improving exploration methodology.

My current M.Sc. project aims to determine the structural, lithogeochemical and stratigraphic controls on and extents of hypogene and supergene fluid flow within the Long Canyon deposit, NE Nevada.
This is approached through dense sampling of drill core, assay pulps and surface samples across long and cross-sections of the deposit for stable isotope analysis of carbonates (d¹⁸O and d¹³C), lithogeochemistry, petrography, and XRD and SEM analysis. The goal of the sampling is to better define zonation of hypogene hydrothermal fluid flow, hypogene and supergene clay alteration, and the nature and extent of oxidation, and possible supergene enrichment. Of particular note, approximately 3,000 samples will be analyzed for stable isotopes to map oxygen isotope depletion from hypogene fluid flow within host carbonates.

This project and I are funded primarily by Fronteer Gold Inc, an NSERC IPS scholarship and an SEGF Goldfields Scholar Fellowship.