Geology Department Research Seminar - Tenure Track Faculty Candidate - Dr. S. Botis

The Department of Geology presents a seminar by:

Dr. Sanda Botis
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dept. of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan

Candidate for the Tenure Track Mineralogist/Economic Geologist Position

Structural Defects in Minerals
When Spectroscopy and Computational Modeling become tools for Mineral Exploration

Please see link below for poster:
http://flash.lakeheadu.ca/~pnhollin/Botis.pdf


FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013
Time: 10:30 am
Rm:  CB 3031 

Radiation-induced defects (RIDs) in quartz and their associated luminescence properties have long been proposed as potential tools for mineral exploration, but until recently there has been little success in implementing the idea as a reliable exploration technique.

Athabasca Basin of Northern Saskatchewan is home to several high grade uranium deposits, which transformed the region into a natural laboratory for the study of long-term effects of radiation on minerals. Several spectroscopy and imaging techniques have been used to understand the impact of natural irradiation on quartz and to discriminate between defects produced by alpha, beta or gamma irradiation. Additionally, computational modeling has been used as a complementary aid in deciphering the experimental findings by distinguishing between structurally similar defect centers. A number of radiation-induced defects associated with alpha-particle irradiation have been identified in quartz (Botis et al., 2005, 2006, 2008) and their use as exploration tools was assessed in several uranium deposits (Cigar Lake, Key Lake and McArthur River) and barren occurrences in the Athabasca Basin. The results show that a better understanding of radiation-induced defects in quartz can be a powerful exploration tool. Alpha-particle-induced defects in quartz can provide information on uranium mineralization and remobilization and can trace the ancient pathways of uranium-rich fluids.

It is the purpose of this talk to give an overview of the experimental and computational methods used in the study of radiationinduced defects in quartz, to highlight important questions remaining about RIDs in quartz and other minerals (e.g., feldspars and calcite) as a direction for future studies, and, moreover, to discuss the potential applications of RIDs in minerals as new tools for exploration of mineral deposits (e.g., Archean lode gold deposits).