A. Conly

Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator
Director, Lakehead University Mineralogy and Experimental Laboratory (LUMINX)

B.Sc. M.Sc.(Carleton University)
Ph.D. (University of Toronto)

Contact Information:

Office: CB 4003

Labs: CB2026 & 2021A

Phone (office): (807) 343-8463

Phone (lab): (807) 346-7823

Fax: (807) 346-7853

Email: Click to Contact

Personal Information

Professional Associations

Regional Vice President - North America, Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA)
Mineralogical Association of Canada (MAC)
Institute for Lake Superior Geology (ILSG)

Awards

2003 Jérôme H. Remick III Honourable Mention, Geological Association of Canada
2000 Jérôme H. Remick III Gold Poster Award, GeoCanada 2000/Geological Association of Canada
1999 & 2000 H.E. McKinstry Research Grant, Society of Economic Geologists
1995 Jérôme H. Remick III Honourable Mention, Geological Association of Canada

Research Interests

I am an emerging expert in the fields of applied mineralogy, trace element geochemistry and isotope geochemistry, with application of these methods to understanding the origin(s) of metals and fluids responsible for the formation of magmatic-hydrothermal metal deposits and to mine site remediation. My research encompasses a wide variety of analytical instrumentation and methodologies including light microscopy, XRD, SEM-EDX, EMPA, FTIR, XRF, ICP-AES/MS, INAA, Leco infra-red, wet chemistry, stable isotopes, radiogenic isotopes and K-Ar geochronology. My research has also resulted in several collaborative projects (throughout Canada, USA, Mexico and France) with university researchers, government, and mining and exploration companies.

A) Experimental Mineralogy and Geochemistry

Through a CFI New Opportunities and a NSERC equipment grant I am in the processes of establishing a state-of-the-art research facility to conduct experimental water-rock and melt-volatile partitioning studies. This is a new facility for Lakehead University and to my knowledge is the only one of its kind at a Canadian university. This represents a new area of research for me, and one that will enable my students and me to undertake research that will provide groundbreaking insights in a variety of areas, including: magmatic-hydrothermal geochemistry, radwaste treatment and strategic material testing.

B) Environmental Mineralogy and Geochemistry

My research under the theme Environmental Mineralogy and Geochemistry stems from my collaborations with Dr. P. Lee (Department of Biology) on the Steep Rock remediation program that is being sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The projects that my students and I are working on are related to issues of acid-mine drainage and remediation of contaminated waters, soils and sediments associated with the Steep Rock site.

C) Ore Genesis

Ore genesis studies involve investigating the processes responsible for the formation of metallic ore deposits. My education and prior work experience has largely been centred on the study of sedimentary rock-hosted and volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits. Since starting my position at Lakehead University I have expanded my research to include Au and PGE deposits; since these deposits are more widely sought after in northernwestern Ontario. Much of my ore deposit research receives financial support from exploration companies and government agencies. My students and I are currently working on projects located in northwestern Ontario, Minnesota and Mexico.

Current Students

HBSc (Geology), HBESc and HBSc (Water Resource Science)

Kurt Kenny

Computation modeling of fluid chemistry and alteration at the Boléo Cu-Co-Zn deposit, Mexico

Sonya Kalynuik

Synthesis of highly metaliferous Hollandite-group manganese oxides

MSc. (Geology)

Clare de Villanueva

Petrogenesis and Petrochemistry of the Two Duck Lake gabbro, Coldwell Igneous Complex, Ontario

Larissa Stevens

Hydrodynamic and contaminent transport modelling of the Steep Rock pit lakes, Ontario

MSc. (Biology)

Amy Godwin

Predictive modelling of water chemistry and toxicity of the Steep Rock pit lakes, Ontario

Andrea Goold

Nature of toxicity of the Steep Rock pit lakes, Ontario

Past Students

HBSc (Geology), HBESc and HBSc (Water Resource Science)

Sarah Cockerton

An experimental water-rock interaction study into the origin of the chemical characteristics of the Hogarth and Caland pit lakes, Steep Rock Lake, Atikokan

Jon MacDonald

Stable Isotope studies of meteoritic waters associated with the Hogarth pit at the former Steep Rock Iron Mine, Atikokan

John McBride

Investigation of the magnetite-olivine coarse-grained gabbro units of the Eastern Gabbro, Marathon, Ontario

Jeffrey Myllyaho

Mineralogical indicators of Ni-bearing zones within the Bird River Sill, Manitoba

Publications

An up to date list of my publications can be accessed on my Publications Page.

Teaching

I am currently teaching the following courses at Lakehead University:

Geology 1050 - Introductory Geology for Forestry Degree Students
Geology 3110 - Earth and Life Through Time
Geology 3130 - Glacial Systems
Geology 4011 - Environmental Geochemistry
Geology 4161 - Field School
Geology 5115 - Advanced Mineralogy

LUMINX

The Lakehead University Mineralogical and Experimental Laboratory(LUMINX) is designed to serve as a bridge between the minerals industry and university researchers by providing advanced mineralogical and geochemical analytical services that are not routinely available from commercial firms.

Please click here for more information.

Biography

Andrew completed his B.Sc. degree with a specialization in clastic sedimentology at Carleton University, and continued there, completing a M.Sc. degree on the genesis of the hanging wall sulphide zones of the Sullivan Zn-Pb-Ag deposit, British Columbia. Starting a Ph.D. degree at the University of Toronto in 1996, Andrew has undertaken an ore genesis study of the Boléo Cu-Co-Zn deposit in Baja Mexico, with emphasis on developing a better understanding of the chemical behaviour of cobalt in a low temperature hydrothermal system. Andrew has participated on two oceanographic research cruises in order study polymetallic sulphide mineralization along sediment rifts.

Andrew has and continues to provide consulting services for the mining and exploration industry. Some past clients include Teck-Cominco and Rhonda Mining Corp. While at Rhonda, Andrew served as Senior Geologist in charge of base metal exploration for the company’s properties in the Coppermine district, N.W.T.

Andrew has been the recipient of several scholarships and academic awards and is a two time recipient of NSERC post graduate scholarships. Andrew is a past chairman of the Mineral Deposits Division of the Geological Association of Canada and past Director for the Geological Society of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. In 2008 Andrew was appointed as Regional Vice-President for North America for the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA).