Current Research

Hollistic Approach to Ore Deposits

My current reserach projects aim to increase our understanding of the genesis and geodynamic setting of ore deposits using a multidisciplinary and multi-scale approach, supported by fieldwork and various high-precision analytical techniques.

1. Source, timing, and genesis of scottish orogenic gold deposits

Figure modified from Tanner (2012)

  • PhD Project: James Edwards (September 2017 start)
  • Supervisors: Dr. Jonathan Cloutier (University of St Andrews), Dr. William McCarthy (University of St Andrews), Prof Adrian Boyce (SUERC), Dr. Darren Mark (SUERC) and Mr. Chris Sangster (Scotgold Resources Ltd)
  • Funding: NERC DTP CASE studenship and Scotgold Resources Ltd.

Project description: Gold has been the symbol of power and wealth since ca. 4000 BC and today gold mining and related activities contribute more than US$83.1bn/yr to the global economy. Despite this economic importance and more than 6000 years of mining, understanding of the genesis of orogenic gold remains controversial, hindered by uncertainty in establishing the source and timing of gold-bearing fluids. In Scotland, orogenic gold deposits are hosted in steeply dipping quartz veins that crosscut the metasedimentary rocks of the Dalradian Supergroup. In the Cononish area, both mineralised and barren quartz veins are interpreted as Riedel shear fractures resulting from a regional N–S-trending maximum principal stress. The mineralised veins contain native Au, hessite (Ag2Te), electrum, tetrahedrite (Cu, Sb sulphosalt), pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, galena and sphalerite. Ar-Ar dating of syn-mineralisation feldspar grains places the timing of mineralisation as early Devonian (407 ± 1 Ma), within error of the emplacement of the nearby calc-alkaline, I-type Lochaber pluton (425–408 Ma). Intriguingly, this age postdates the timing of the main regional metamorphic event (470–465 Ma) by ~60 million years and indicate that mineralisation and the onset of regional transtension was concurrent. Therefore, this system provides a unique opportunity to research the role and contribution of the different reservoirs (magmatism, mantle degassing, meteoric waters, metamorphism) in the genesis of this gold deposit.

The aim of the project is to characterise geochemically, isotopically, magnetically and hyperspectrally the Au-bearing and Au-barren veins of the mineralising system as well as encasing host rocks at a regional scale. This ‘holistic’ approach is critical to gain strong knowledge of mineralisation systems and to identify critical parameters capable of distinguishing between ore-forming and non-ore-forming processes. In addition, this project aims to generate an exploration model that can be used as an exploration guide in the Scottish Highlands and be adapted as a protocol for use worldwide.

2. Evolving the genetic model for the Cononish Au deposit: from prospect to mine

Figure from Hill et al. (2013)

  • PhD Project: Calum Lyell (September 2017 start)
  • Supervisors: Prof Adrian Boyce (SUERC), Dr. Darren Mark (SUERC), Dr. Jonathan Clooutier (University of St Andrews) and Mr Richard Gray (Scotgold Resources Ltd)
  • Funding: NERC DTP CASE studenship and Scotgold Resources Ltd.

Project description: This project is a unique and timely opportunity to undertake leading-edge research to define the fundamental controls that form and locate gold mineralization in the Cononish gold deposit. Cononish is about to become Scotland’s first ever significant gold mine, and one of only two active British metal mines.

The research projet centres on the existing, fully exposed 1km adit, and extensive drillcore and involves the development of a new 3-D digital geological map and framework for the mine through textural, structural, isotopic (S, O, H, C and O, and U-Pb and Ar/Ar dating) and lithogeochemical analyses. The project aims to significantly evolve our genetic understanding of the deposit and directly inform mine development and processing methodology, maximizing gold (and co-products: e.g. Ag, Te) recovery and minimizing waste and environmental impact through in-depth understanding of the mineralogical and geochemical anatomy of the host rock, ore and likely waste streams.

3. High Field Strength Element Mobility in Late-Stage Fluids, Gardar Rift, South Greenland

Photo from Prof. Adrian Finch

  • PhD Project: Krzysztof Sokol (September 2017 start)
  • Supervisors: Prof. Adrian Finch (University of St Andrews), Dr. Madeleine Humphreys (University of Durham) and Dr. Jonathan Cloutier (Univertsity of St Andrews)
  • Funding: NERC DTP studenships

Project description: Fenites are country rocks in which quartz is replaced by alkali pyroxene, amphibole and/or alkali feldspar, usually found around carbonatite complexes. They form as magmatic fluids rich in alkalis penetrate the country rocks, precipitating new minerals and dissolving others. Studies on fenite around carbonatite show that the fluids transport commercially significant elements such as rare earths and high field strength elements (HFSE) Zr, Nb and Hf.

The aim of the project is to determine what fenites can tell us how nature mobilises and transports high value, critical HFSE. Such data provide insights into how deposits in these valuable elements form not just in and around alkaline rocks, but in all crustal environments.

4. Structural, lithostratigraphic, geochemical and hyperspectral reconstruction of the Lemarchant volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits

Figure modified from McNicoll et al. (2010) and Piercey et al. (2014)

  • PhD Project: Simon Jones (September 2016 start)
  • Supervisors: Dr. Jonathan Cloutier, Dr. Tim Raub and Dr. Tony Prave
  • Funding: First Quantum Minerals Ltd. and Highland Copper Company Inc.

Project description: Exploration for VMS deposits in accretionary orogenic belts is often challenging due to post-VMS imbrication of original extensional basins (e.g., Calon and Green, 1987; McClay 1995; Thurlow 1996; Nelson 1997; Castroviejo et al. 2011), coupled with other problems often specific to given terrains (e.g., poor exposure, thick soil cover, uncertain stratigraphy). The Lemarchant deposit is hosted within the Dunnage Zone of the Appalachian orogen and provides the opportunity to study VMS mineralization in an accretionary orogenic setting. Furthermore, the level of stratigraphic preservation and brittle deformation at Lemarchant allows for its reconstruction in 3D, unlike many other belts where the deformation obscures original stratigraphy (i.e., more structurally complex and ductile in nature) or where outcrop/drilling are insufficient to undertake the reconstruction. The aim of this study is to document the stratigraphy and major structures present at Lemarchant VMS deposit and to conduct a three-dimensional structural, stratigraphic, geochemical and hyperspectral reconstruction of the deposit. This multi-pronged approached founded initially in structural and stratigraphic reconstruction is directly applicable to and may provide useful in similar accretionary orogens globally.

5. Alteration and fluid flow associated with sediment-hosted stratiform copper mineralisation in the Midcontinent Rift System

Figure modified from Bornhorst & Williams, 2013

  • PhD Project: Simon Jones (September 2016 start)
  • Supervisors: Dr. Jonathan Cloutier (University of St Andrews), Dr. Tim Raub (University of St Andrews) and Dr. Tony Prave (University of St Andrews)
  • Funding: First Quantum Minerals Ltd. and Highland Copper Company Inc.

Project description: This project focuses on constructing a model for the paragenetic and diagenetic fluid-flow processes that formed the White Pine and Copperwood sediment-hosted stratiform copper (SHSC) deposits. These rocks are part of the 1.2–1.0 Ga Keweenaw Supergroup of the Midcontinent Rift System, and novel methods of copper isotopes and hyperspectral analyses underpinned by Ar-Ar and U-Pb geochronology, stable isotope geochemistry and refined geological data will be used to gain new insights on these world-class copper deposits.

The project will provide an understanding of diagenesis, alteration and fluid flow in the basin as it evolved through sediment loading, compaction, diagenesis and post-rift cooling that ultimately led to the formation of the SHSC deposits. This project will be one of the first to map the physical effects of paleo-fluid flow on such a large scale and constrain the origin, physical controls, chemistry and timing of fluid movements. The findings will provide better understanding of fluid flow in sedimentary basins, which will be directly applicable to SHSC deposits worldwide but also to other hydrothermal sediment-hosted mineralising systems elsewhere, including unconformity-related U and MVT Pb-Zn deposits, with potential for hydrocarbon exploration.

6. Laser and X-Ray Luminescence of REE minerals

Figure from Finch et al. 2016; Phys Chem Minerals (2016), v.43, p.481–491

  • PhD Project: Nicola Horsburgh (September 2015 start)
  • Supervisors: Prof. Adrian Finch (University of St Andrews), Prof. Frances Wall (Camborne School of Mines), Prof. Animesh Jha (University of Leeds), and Dr. Jonathan Cloutier (University of St Andrews)
  • Funding: SoS Minerals (NERC) and University of St Andrews

Project description: Light is emitted when REE-minerals are excited by x-rays or lasers (‘luminescence’). Minerals contain several REE but few contribute to luminescence: lattice damage (from radiation) influences energy transfer between REE. These mechanisms are explored by exciting with lasers (PL) and X-rays (XEOL) and comparing minerals with synthetic analogues, to understand how luminescence varies between minerals and locations. Once we know how economically important minerals emit light, we can tabulate properties and understand the fundamentals. The student will explore whether imaging through filters can be used to identify particular mineral grains. If successful, this project may develop ‘smart’ sorting technology.