Mineral Deposit Research Unit Canada’s major collaborative industry-university research group

What is MDRU ? • An internationally recognized research group devoted to; Æ identifying & solving mineral exploration-related geoscience problems • Part of a geologic and geophysical research program at UBC devoted to; Æ training students for employment in industry and academia “MDRU provides quality geological research and is undoubtedly one of the best collaborative research institutions in the world. It not only delivers critical training to new explorationists, it improves the ore deposit models that guide our exploration.”

C.J. Hodgson, Former Chief Geologist, Barrick Gold Corporation

MDRU & the exploration industry Initiated by industry in 1989 as a link between industry and academia (NOT a product of a government sponsored program) Exploration & Mining Industry

Investment Community

DISCOVERY

MDRU Founders: • Peter Bradshaw

MDRU / UBC

MDRU Past Directors: • John McDonald

• Alastair Sinclair

• John Thompson

• John McDonald

• Ian Thomson • (Richard Tosdal)

MDRU – Structure Mineral exploration industry – the major shareholder

MDRU – Board of Directors

University of British Columbia

MDRU – Research Generative Group

Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences

Director (Richard Tosdal / Craig Hart) + financial / technical infrastructure Research Associates & Post-doctoral Fellows (6) - solely funded by projects Graduate students (>30)

Faculty in EOS (8) • Pacific Centre Isotopic & Geochemical Research • Diamond Exploration Lab. • Volcanology Lab • UBC - GIF Academic collaborators

MDRU – Members (Nov 2008) Foundation Members (5)

Corporate members (52) Almaden Resources Corp. Amarc Resources Ltd. AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. Ashton Mining of Canada Inc. BHP Billiton Ltd. Calibre Mining Corp. Canadian Zinc Corp. Cardero Resource Corp. Cash Minerals Ltd. Cia. De Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. Corriente Resources Inc. Diamondex Resources Ltd. Entrée Gold Inc. Equity Engineering Ltd. Falconbridge Inc. First Point Minerals Corp. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Full Metal Minerals Galore Resources Inc. Geoinformatics Exploration Inc.

Geoscience BC Goldcorp Inc. Gold Fields Exploration Hecla Mining Company of Canada Imperial Metals Corp. Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. Jinshan Gold Mines Inc. Kenrich-Eskay Mining Corp. Klondike Star Mineral Corp. Lysander Minerals Corp. Newcrest Mining Ltd. Newmont Gold Co. Northern Peru Copper Corp. Northgate Minerals Corp. Novagold Resources Inc. Pacific Rim Mining Corp. Pacifica Resources Ltd. Pan American Silver Corp. Rimfire Minerals Corp. Roca Mines Inc. Savant Explorations Ltd.

Sherwood Copper Corp. Stornoway Diamonds Corp. StrataGold Corp. Triex Minerals Corp. Tupra Metal Madencilik (El Dorado) Tyhee Development Corp. Triex Minerals Corp. Vale Inco Western Copper Corporation XStrata Nickel

Individual Members (4) & Government Agencies (3) Peter Fisch Daniel Gregory Daniel Rubiolo Heather Smith British Columbia Geological Survey Geological Survey of Canada Yukon Geology Program

People of MDRU

People of MDRU • People Æ Permanent staff: staff

Director + 2 admin

Æ Graduate students :

>30

Æ Research faculty:

6

Æ EOS Faculty:

8

Æ Graduated 17 students in last 18 months; 4 more expected to graduate in 1st quarter 2009 Æ Students come from 16 countries - “United Nations”

Geographical focus • Started with BC focus Æ expanded to global presence, but still with significant “west coast” presence • Largest integrated group in North America • Significant Canadian & international collaboration with other academics, mineral exploration / mining companies , & government institutions Æ research (concepts & locations), funding, MDRU membership, students, & student supervision

Research Project - Locations

pending new current

Current research themes 1. Core geological studies: • • •

pre-, syn- and post ore processes big-picture geological framework of deposits focus more on the “how” and “why” of ore deposit genesis

2. Exploration methodologies – science-based exploration: •

• •

identifying the proximal to distal mineralogical, geochemical, thermal & geophysical footprint of ore deposits focus on the “where” feedback into the “how” and “why”

3. Mining and environmental sustainability: •

CO2 sequestration in mine tailings Æ financial, social and climatic(?) benefit

Current research themes 1. Core geological studies: • • •

pre-, syn- and post ore processes big-picture geological framework of deposits focus more on the “how” and “why” of ore deposit genesis

2. Exploration methodologies – science-based exploration: •

• •

identifying the proximal to distal mineralogical, geochemical, thermal & geophysical footprint of ore deposits focus on the “where” feedback into the “how” and “why”

3. Mining and environmental sustainability: •

CO2 sequestration in mine tailings Æ financial, social and climatic(?) benefit

Shallow- and deep-level alkalic mineral deposits geological and metallogenic character and evolution •

structural & geological architecture

•

alteration zonation

•

geochemical dispersion and depletion halos

•

geochronology and igneous fertility indices

•Deep-level: BC focus •Shallow-level: Australasia Courtesy: D. Cooke, CODES Full sponsorship: Porphyry module: Matching funds:

Collaborative with CODES, University of Tasmania

AngloGold Ashanti, Barrick, Newmont Mining, Teck Cominco Imperial Metals, Amarc Resources, NovaGold, Newcrest Mining, Lysanders Minerals Geoscience BC, NSERC 8 MSc and PhD students, 2 RA’s, 1 GSC

The geology, genesis and exploration context of the Central Zone, alkalic Cu-Au porphyry deposit, Galore Greek District, northwestern British Columbia Janina Micko (Ph.D. candidate) Objectives • Lithology and hydrothermal alteration on a deposit scale • Lithogeochemistical and isotopic analysis • Compositional and fluid inclusion analysis on hydrothermally zoned garnets • Definition of genetic models • Identification of applicable exploration tools Sponsored by: AngloGold Ashanti, Barrick, Newmont Mining, Teck; Imperial Metals, Amarc Resources, NovaGold, Newcrest Mining, Lysanders Minerals

Magmatic-hydrothermal evolution and zonation of a brecciacentered Cu-Au alkalic porphyry: Southwest Zone, Galore Creek Kevin Byrne (Msc candidate) DESCRIBE, CHARACTERISE and MAP THE DISTRIBUTION OF:

ORE DEPOSIT MODEL

•Sequence of events

•Lithofacies

•Ore-body geometry

•Alteration

•Fluid flow pathways

•Mineralisation

Sponsored by: AngloGold Ashanti, Barrick, Newmont Mining, Teck; Imperial Metals, Amarc Resources, NovaGold, Newcrest Mining, Lysanders Minerals

HYDROTHERMAL MINERAL CHEMISTRY

•Paleo-physicochemical environment •Metal deposition mechanisms •Integrate findings with ore-deposit model

Evolution of Reko Diq porphyry Cu-Au Deposits, Chagai District, Balochistan – Pakistan Abdul Razique, Ph.D. candidate

Quellaveco Cu-Mo Porphyry, Southern Peru Adam Simmons, Ph.D. candidate

– Igneous evolution; • U/Pb zircon geochronology and intrusion paragenesis • Zircon and whole rock geochemistry as indicators for magma chamber processes

– Hydrothermal evolution of the Quellaveco ore body • Vein paragenesis and relative timing to porphyry intrusions • Element mobility and alteration definition

– Metal and volatile rejuvenation in porphyry Cu (-Mo) systems Æ implications for longevity of hydrothermal systems

Reconstructing the Cerro Bayo low sulfidation epithermal deposit, Chile • •

• •

Volcanic stratigraphy hosting the veins Pre-syn and post mineralization deformation history Structural setting of ore shoots Chemistry of ore forming fluids

Jaime Poblete, M.Sc. candidate

Fabiola vein surface outcrop

High-Grade Hydrothermal Copper in Foliated Granites • The relationship of mineral chemistry, mineral paragenesis,  and foliation development  to fluid flow and metal  precipitation in the Minto Cu‐Au deposit, Yukon Shawn Hood (MSc candidate)

Sponsored by: Minto Exploration Inc

The Subsurface Geometry of the >30 Moz Donlin Creek Gold Deposit, Southwest Alaska Daniel MacNeil, M.Sc. candidate

• Structural style and subsurface geology • Controls on dyke and sill emplacement • Controls on mineralized vein distribution

Sponsored by: Barrick

Geological framework and genesis of Cretaceous magmatic-hydrothermal systems in the Coast Mountains, BC • Application  of  geological mapping,  mineral alteration,  mineral  paragenesis,  structural analysis,  geochronology  &   thermochronology to  better  understand  the  character  and   genesis  of  magmatic‐hydrothermal  Cu‐Au  systems  in  the   Taseko Lakes  region  of  BC Lucy Hollis (MSc candidate) Scott Blevings (MSc candidate)

Sponsored by: Galore Resources

Metallogeny of the eastern Gangdese Arc, Tibet Reza Tafti (PhD candidate) Supported by Hunter Dickinson (Continental Minerals Corp.) Focused studies of Xietongmen porphyry Cu-Au district Mesozoic and Tertiary metallogeny of southeastern Lhasa Block

U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar geochronology Pb isotopic studies Radiogenic tracers Sulfur isotope studies

Framework of the El Galeno and Hillorico CuAu-Mo system, northern Perú

Establish alteration distribution and linkage between Miocene porphyry Cu-Mo-Au and epithermal Au-Ag deposit

Farhad Bouzari, Research Associate

Sponsored by Northern Peru Copper Corp.

Integrating paleogeography/tectonics, geochemistry & thermochronology to track fluid flow in sedimentary rock-hosted Cu-deposits

A basin‐wide study of the Redstone copper belt, NWT to; •define the basin architecture and tectonic/sedimentological  framework for sediment‐hosted mineralization •examine mineralogical, geochemical, and thermal expressions  of the hydrothermal flow to help develop vectors toward ore  PhD project

Sponsored by: Western Copper Corp

Oxidation, exhumation and re-sedimentation of Carlin Au-deposits • An  initiative to  integrate  geological  mapping,  geochronology,   mineral  chemistry  to  further  our  understanding  of  the  post‐ mineralization  history  of  Carlin hydrothermal  Au‐systems  in   Nevada  and  aid  exploration  beneath  Miocene‐Recent  gravel   deposits MSc project

PHANEROZOIC OROGENIC GOLD SYSTEMS Jim Mortensen; in collaboration with: Dave Craw, Doug MacKenzie (U. of Otago) – Otago and Klondike Dave Rhys, Kika Ross (Panterra Geoservices) - Cariboo

Golden Point battery, Macraes, Otago

Tethyan metallogeny, Turkey Define petrochemical, geochronological, and metallogenic framework for 2 transects (west and central) across the Tethyan arc in Turkey

Sponsored by: Barrick, TeckCominco, Tuprag Madencilik

Nature and Origin of Mafic Volcanism and Associated Diatremes in the Misty Creek Embayment, Mackenzie Mtns., NWT Chris Leslie (MSc candidate) 40Ar/39Ar

geochronology of diatreme and epiclastic facies

Whole rock geochemistry and radiogenic isotopes Mineral chemistry (pyroxene, phlogopite) – are these rocks kimberlitic?

Age, Petrogenesis and Paleotectonic Setting of the Sicker Gp Volcanic Rocks and contained VMS Deposits, Vancouver Island Tyler Ruks (PhD candidate) Supported by Geoscience BC, Laramide Res., Paget Res., Bitterroot Res., Westridge Res. Collaboration with Fabrice Cordey (U. Lyons, France)

Volcanic stratigraphy Paleotectonic setting U-Pb geochronology Micropaleontology (radiolaria) Whole rock geochemistry and radiogenic isotopes Pb isotopic characterization of VMS and epigenetic sulfide mineralization in the Sicker Gp

Magmatic deposits Layered Intrusions, flood basalts, zoned ultramafic intrusions, Proterozoic anorthosites • Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide mineralization, Muskox layered intrusion, Nunavut • Rutile and hemo-ilmenite mineralization in Proterozoic anorthosites, Québec • Alaskan-type zoned ultramafic intrusions: Turnagain Ni-Cu-PGE, B.C. • Flood basalts of the Wrangellia Terrane in B.C., Yukon and Alaska Sponsored by: Anglo American Exploration (Canada), Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium, Hard Creek Nickel, Rock to Riches, Y.G.S., B.C.G.S, NSERC

Massive FeFe-Ti Oxide Ore StSt Urbain, Qu Québec

Wrangellia Flood Basalt, Wrangell Mtns, Alaska

Kimberlites Physical volcanology of kimberlites and petrology of diamondiferous rocks Volcanology

OBSERVATION

Buffalo Head Hills, Renard, Diavik, Victor How does the eruptive process affect diamond distribution?

kimberlite studies

Modern Volcanology

EXPERIMENTAL Sponsored by: Tahera Diamond Corp., BandBand-Ore Resources, KM Consulting, Diagem, De Beers, Ashton, Rio Tinto, Canadian Light Source, Saskatchewan Research Council, NSERC

MODELLING

Diamond potential of the Brodeur Peninsula (Baffin Island) J. Cross (B.Sc candidate) In collaboration with Diamondex Resources Ltd EXAMINE

• Tuwawi kimberlite thin sections and core • Tuwawi peridotite and eclogite xenoliths CHARACTERIZE DIAMOND POTENTIAL BASED ON

•Volcanic facies of kimberlite • Thermal state of the mantle

Diamonds and diamondiferous conglomerates of Wawa (S. Ontario) CHARACTERIZE In collaboration with Dianor

Resources Ltd

W. Bruce (M.Sc candidate)

• Diamonds • Archean diamondiferous conglomerates COMPARE

• Diamonds and conglomerates with Archean lamprophyric diamonds found in Wawa DETERMINE

• The source for alluvial diamonds in S. Ontario and Quebec

Current research themes 1. Core geological studies: • • •

pre-, syn- and post ore processes big-picture geological framework of deposits focus more on the “how” and “why” of ore deposit genesis

2. Exploration methodologies – science-based exploration: •

• •

identifying the proximal to distal mineralogical, geochemical, thermal & geophysical footprint of ore deposits focus on the “where” feedback into the “how” and “why”

3. Mining and environmental sustainability: •

CO2 sequestration in mine tailings Æ financial, social and climatic(?) benefit

Archean lode Au-systems - Red Lake Mapping alteration footprints and tracing fluid flow • Lithogeochemistry • Isotope geochemistry • Alteration mineralogy • Mineral chemistry Liz Stock, Ph.D. Candidate

Sponsored by: Goldcorp Canada

Distal manifestation of hydrothermal fluid flow and the development of down- & cross-stream vectors to ore • Integration  of  lithogeochemistry,  stable  isotope  geochemistry,  mineral chemistry,  thermometry  and   thermochronometry  to  characterize  the  spatial  and temporal  evolution  of  Carlin hydrothermal  Au‐systems Shaun Barker (Postdoc Fellow) Jeremy Vaughan (PhD student)

heat ore

isotope halo

alteration

Sponsored by: Barrick, Newmont, Teck

Ayesha Amhed (MSc candidate)

Footprints of Porphyry Cu Deposits: Spectral and Lithogeochemisty

Dick Tosdal (MDRU), John Dilles (OSU), Scott Halley (Mineral Mapping Service), Tatiana Alva (M.Sc. Candidate) In Collaborations with Teck Corporation, BHP Billiton, Barrick Gold, Codelco, Imperial Metals, CVRD-Inco Study sites: Yerington (Nevada); Highland Valley (BC); Red Chris (BC); Mt. Polley (BC) and Gaby (Chile)

3D integration of geology and geophysics Physical Properties Magnetic susceptibility - density crossplot

Scaling and Constraints Mineralogy and Processes

Geophysical Modeling

Geology Geologic concepts and hypothesis testing Interpretation, Classification and Mineral Estimation

Calculated Pentlandite Abundance

Sponsored by: AngloGold Ashanti ,Anglo American,Barrick, Geoinformatics, Kennecott Kennecott Exploration, Teck Cominco, Xstrata, ValeVale-Inco, NSERC

Current research themes 1. Core geological studies: • • •

pre-, syn- and post ore processes big-picture geological framework of deposits focus more on the “how” and “why” of ore deposit genesis

2. Exploration methodologies – science-based exploration: •

• •

identifying the proximal to distal mineralogical, geochemical, thermal & geophysical footprint of ore deposits focus on the “where” feedback into the “how” and “why”

3. Mining and environmental sustainability: •

CO2 sequestration in mine tailings Æ financial, social and climatic(?) benefit

Greenhouse Gas Fixation in Mine Tailings • Some mining tailings absorb the greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. • Carbon dioxide is trapped in mineral structures where it is safely sequestered from the atmosphere in the long-term. • Many hard rock mines produce a tailings sequestration capacity that is greater than total GHG emissions (CO2 equivalent). • Acceleration of carbon fixation could turn some mining operations into a GHG-neutral industry and/or provide additional revenue. • Employed worldwide could impact global anthropogenic GHG production and provide an environmental benefit. Field & scanning electron microscope images of mineralogically bound carbon dioxide

Sponsored by: BHPB, Rio Tinto (Diavik), NSERC

Recipe for MDRU success Initiated by industry as a link between industry and academia Exploration & Mining Industry

Investment Community

DISCOVERY

MDRU / UBC