The Resource Geoscience theme focuses on geological,
geophysical and hydrogeological studies related to advancements in
effective exploration and development of mineral, energy and water
resources. Research conducted under this theme provides new models and
insights, innovative applications and experimental techniques, and
responsible practices for sustaining national and international economic
prosperity. Researchers in this theme actively pursue collaborative
partnerships with industry and government through field based research,
data analysis, and resource characterization. Professor Norman Duke's primary interests lie in applying
metallogenic theory to mineral exploration. The main focus of his work
has been in conducting regional metallogenic analysis, which requires
placing ore forming processes within regional structural/stratigraphic
frameworks based on field relationships. Professor Duke and his students
have conducted field studies in diverse areas including the Archean
Superior and Slave cratons, the Proterozoic Southern, Churchill, Bear
and Grenville provinces, and the Phanerozoic Appalachian and Cordilleran
orogens. Much of this field work has been conducted in collaboration
with industry. With a particular focus on exhalative basemetal ores in
rift settings and precious metal concentration within domains of post
orogenic collapse, recent projects have examined the metallogeny of a
range of iron sulfide, iron oxide and gold mineralized deposits in the
North West Territories, Nunavut, and northern Ontario. Professor Gerhard Pratt has been actively researching new methods in
seismic wave modeling and imaging. He and his students have developed a
number of innovations: A key development was the implementation of
frequency-domain techniques that enable large scale forward and inverse
modeling of exploration seismic data through numerical simulation of the
full wave equation. The full waveform tomographic technique takes
advantage of the full information content of the seismic waveform,
making it possible to image complex geological structures at resolutions
that are unattainable using conventional traveltime tomographic
methods. Pratt and his students have been able to use these methods in
imaging structures in a wide range of applications, from small scale
site investigations of potential failures in earthen levees, to the
search for oil and gas in challenging structural settings, to wide angle
seismic investigations of the deep crust and upper mantle. Dr. Rob Schincariol's general research area is hydrogeology, which
deals with the subsurface movement of water and the various physical and
chemical interactions of this water within geological environments.
These basinal environments naturally "spill onto" the surface hydrology
environments of watersheds, rivers, and lake systems. Hydrogeology is by
nature an interdisciplinary field since it applies principles of fluid
physics, mathematics, chemistry, biogeochemistry and engineering within a
geological environment. Specifically, Dr. Schincariol's research
focuses on (1) subsurface heat transport, (2) permafrost hydrogeology,
(3) low-temperature geothermal energy, (4) subsurface transport of
contaminants, and (5) watershed hydrology. Dr. Burns Cheadle's research interests involve several interconnected
themes in petroleum geology, with a particular focus on the petroleum
resource potential of shale-dominated deposits. The characterization of
such deposits requires integration of high-resolution sequence
stratigraphy with organic geochemistry and petrophysical reservoir
characterization techniques. Addressing such questions as the relative
contribution of tectonic, glacioeustatic, and palaeoclimatic driving
forces on organic productivity and preservation, the research seeks to
define shales in the context of petroleum systems. We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Linnen has accepted
an offer to join the Department on July 1st, 2010, as the Robert W.
Hodder Chair in Economic Geology. The Robert Hodder Chair was
established through a generous donation from noted alumnus Dr. Keith
Barron (Ph.D. 1997). Dr. Linnen brings with him the experience of an
18-year career in mineral deposit geology and experimental petrology. He
is a former holder of a Premier's Research Excellence Award, and a
former Howard Street Robinson Distinguished Lecturer. His passion for
geology and education, and his wealth of industry contacts will further
enrich and enhance our departmental commitment to resource geology. Dr. Linnen's research focuses on the behaviour of metals in
magmatic-hydrothermal systems. His approach is to combine field and
experimental studies in order to identify the mechanisms that are
important for concentrating metals and controlling mineralization, then
quantify these processes in order to develop ore deposit models.Resource Geoscience
Metallogeny
Norman A. Duke, P. Geo. (Research Webpage)
Exploration Seismology
Dr. Gerhard Pratt, P. Eng. (Research Webpage)
Hydrogeology
Robert A. Schincariol, P. Eng., P. Geo. (Research Webpage)
Petroleum Geology
Dr. Burns A. Cheadle, P. Geo., P. Geol. (Research Webpage)
Dr. Robert Linnen (Research Webpage)
Research Menu
Contacts
earth-sc@uwo.ca
519-661-3187
B&GS 1026
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