Understanding the geochemical processes involved in the formation of ore deposits

在今后25年内，估计世界人口将增加20亿。到2040年，地球上将有90亿人（是1980年世界人口的两倍），如果没有持续的资源供应，就不可能设想人类发展，特别是如果目标是改善所有人而不仅仅是少数人的生活质量。金属提取对于维持经济增长和人类发展至关重要，因为金属是不可再生资源，单靠回收无法满足当前和未来的需求。我的研究计划的长期目标是提供一个更好地了解在矿床形成所涉及的地球化学过程。只有这样的理解才能带来更省时、更划算、更成功的勘探策略。短期目标是评估某些微量元素是否可用于区分矿床形成所涉及的多种地质过程。为了实现这一目标，我们将使用最先进的分析技术来量化已知矿床中天然硫化物和氧化物中微量元素的浓度。与此同时，我们将通过实验模拟其中的一些过程，并使用相同的技术来分析合成样品。对这两种类型的数据进行比较将有助于我们评估某些元素是否可用于“指纹”特定场景，从而有助于区分岩浆与热液过程，或有助于评估变质叠印期间金属的再活化。在过去的几年里，我的研究小组开发了一些技术，使我们能够在复杂的多元素系统中进行实验，这些系统更好地近似于自然组合，并为使用简化系统的传统实验提供补充信息。这类工作的结果将有助于结束长达十年之久的关于许多矿床形成所涉及的主要过程的讨论（例如许多矿体的岩浆起源与热液起源）。提出这些问题对于优化与硫化物有关的贱金属和贵金属（铜、镍、钴、钯、铂、Au等）以及与氧化物有关的金属（例如钒和铬）的矿物勘探至关重要。参与该研究计划的学生将获得对矿石成因所涉及的地球化学方面的宝贵理解，包括理论和分析，以及获得批判性思维和其他可转移技能，使他们在矿业，政府或学术界有价值。从本质上讲，我们的工作将有助于促进矿产勘探，这是加拿大经济的一个非常重要的组成部分。

Within the next 25 years it is estimated that 2 billion people will be added to the world population. With a total of 9 billion people on Earth by 2040 (twice the world population of 1980) it is impossible to envision human development without a continuous supply of resources, especially if the goal is to improve the quality of life for all rather than just a few. Metal extraction is fundamental to sustain economic growth and human development because metals are non-renewable resources and recycling alone cannot cover current and future needs. The long-term goal of my research program is to provide a better understanding of the geochemical processes involved in the formation of mineral deposits. Only this understanding can lead to more time-efficient, more cost-effective, and more successful exploration strategies. The short-term goal is to assess whether certain trace elements can be used to distinguish between the multiple geological processes involved in the generation of mineral deposits. To achieve this goal we will use state-of-the-art analytical techniques to quantify the concentration of trace elements in natural sulfides and oxides from known mineral deposits. At the same time we will simulate experimentally some of those processes and use the same techniques to analyze synthetic samples. Comparison of the two types of data will help us assess whether some elements can be used to ‘fingerprint’ specific scenarios, thus helping differentiate, for example, between magmatic vs. hydrothermal processes, or helping assess remobilization of metals during metamorphic overprint. Over the last few years my research group has developed techniques that allow us to perform experiments in complex, multi-element systems that are better approximations to natural assemblages and provide complementary information to traditional experiments using simplified systems. The results of this type of work will help end decade-long discussions over the dominant process involved in the formation of many mineral deposits (e.g. magmatic vs. hydrothermal origin of many ore bodies). Answering such questions is essential to optimize mineral exploration of base and precious metals associated with sulfides (Cu, Ni, Co, Pd, Pt, Au, among others) and metals associated with oxides (V and Cr for example). Students involved in this research program will gain valuable understanding of the geochemical aspects involved in ore genesis, both theoretical and analytical, as well as gaining the critical thinking and other transferable skills that will make them valuable in the mineral industry, government, or academia. In essence, our work will help advance mineral exploration, which is a very important component of the Canadian economy.