Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research
Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences,
The University of British Columbia

Metals in the Earth

Solving problems of the distribution of metals, and their location, transport, concentration and dispersal in high-temperature magmatic, moderate- to low-temperature hydrothermal, and surficial environments are critical to an understanding of the concentration of mineral resources and the discovery of additional resources.

Examples of this type of research include:

– building a holistic deposit model for alkalic gold-(copper) deposits based on an integrated structural, alteration zonation, and geochemical study of deposits from BC and Australia;

– developing an application of transitional metal and other heavy stable isotopes (e.g., Cu, Zn, Ag, Se) to hydrothermal ore mineralization processes;

– using the trace element concentrations of lode and placer gold combined with grain morphology to determine the ultimate source(s) of placer gold in central and western Yukon;

– using heavy stable isotopes as indicators for metal release and mobility in mine waste (tailings or waste rock); and

– determining the origin and formation of PGE-rich (and other ore-bearing) zones in mafic layered intrusions.

Below are some snapshots of the projects that fall under this research theme.

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Researchers:
Scoates, James
Hickey, Ken
Dipple, Greg
Mortensen, Jim
Weis, Dominique
Gillis, Kathryn
Kopylova, Maya
Marshall, Dan
Russell, Kelly
Tosdal, Richard
Groat, Lee