Potential Masters Projects


Thinking about studying for a MSc? This page lists some of the projects currently on offer in the Geology Department at Lakehead University.
 
*New* Gold mineralisation and tectonic setting of the Rainy River greenstone belt

The Geology Department at Lakehead University is currently looking for students interested in undertaking a Masters thesis to investigate the nature of gold mineralisation in the Rainy River greenstone belt. This study will involve a regional scale study of the Western Wabigoon subprovince in conjunction with a detailed investigation of the recently discovered gold mineralization in the RainyRiver Project. This will entail geochemical, geochronological and alteration studies, enabling the successful candidate to gain hands-on experience with a wide range of analytical techniques including radiogenic and stable isotopes,

Suitable candidates will have a strong background in economic geology and should have completed an Honours degree in Geology. Fieldwork in northern Ontario will be an integral component of this project. The successful candidate will receive a stipend of CAN$15,000 p.a. for two years and may be eligible for a Teaching Assistantship at Lakehead worth ~$6000 p.a.. In addition the candidate will have the chance to gain extensive hands-on experience of the exploration industry while working with the geological team of Rainy River Resources Ltd. Candidates may also be eligible to apply for other competitive grants and scholarships.

The successful applicant will work closely with Rainy River Resources geologists and other students working on the property. The candidate will also have the opportunity to receive training in GIS applications including GoCAD, Leapfrog and MapInfo. Suitable candidates will have a strong background in economic geology and should have completed an Honours degree in Geology. Fieldwork in northern Ontario will be an integral component of this project. This project will start in the summer of 2009.

  
Contact Dr. Peter Hollings for more details 
 
Structural and Petrogenetic Controls on VMS-Style Mineralization in the Northeastern Slave Province

Applications are invited for a MSc project investigating the origin of volcanic-hosted Zn-Ag sulphide mineralization in the East Cleaver area of Sabina Silver Corporation’s Hackett River Property, in the northeastern Slave Province.  Field work for the project is scheduled to begin in summer 2007.  The study will involve mapping the geology, alteration and structure of the East Cleaver area in order to: 1) identify structural controls on mineralization and determine the syn- and post-mineralization deformation history of the area; and, 2) develop stratigraphic, volcanic architecture and hydrothermal alteration (3D-) models for the area to aid exploration by identifying chemically favourable units for mineralization. 
 
Field work will be complimented by petrographic, XRD and SEM-EDX mineralogical, whole-rock geochemical and isotopic studies to establish the petrogenesis of the host rocks and the metallogenesis of the Zn-Ag mineralization.
 
Applicants should have a solid background in geochemistry; igneous and metamorphic petrology; structural geology; prior experience with VMS deposits will be an asset.  The project will be in collaboration with Sabina Silver Corporation and with researchers at the University of Western Australia.

For more information contact Dr. Andrew Conly