The University of British Columbia

My MSc research will establish geologic criteria that can be used to distinguish gold-rich from barren skarn at a range of scales, as well as determine the 3D distribution of trace elements and understand how this distribution relates to gold mineralization. The research also aims to determine the age of mineralization through radiometric dating of prograde and retrograde skarn minerals.  

This will be accomplished through detailed geologic mapping at a variety of scales from mine scale to polished thin sections. The mapping and petrography will be complemented by SEM and microprobe work, and trace element geochemical analysis. To determine the age of mineralization garnets will be dated using Lu/Hf geochronology and molybdenite will be dated using Re/Os geochronology. The resulting ages will be compared to U/Pb Zircon ages of local intrusions to determine the most likely source of mineralizing fluids.