Fieldwork in the Greenlandic Arctic (July 2015)

Karrat Group, west Greenland. Expeditions in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (http://www.geus.dk/geuspage-uk.htm) and the Ministry of Mineral Resources (Greenland).  Our project is focused on the basin evolution and mineral potential of the Paleoproterozoic-aged Karrat Group using stratigraphy, geochronology, and geochemistry methods (2015-Present).

Canadian Arctic fieldwork, Melville Peninsula, Nunavut

Work related to basin evolution along the southern Rae craton margin:

  • Paleoproterozoic Murmac Bay Group (NW Saskatchewan), located on the SW Rae craton margin

This project is focused on the tectonic setting of the Paleoproterozoic Murmac Bay Group via detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology coupled with in situ Hf and O isotopic analyses.

  • Paleoproterozoic Piling and Penrhyn groups (central Baffin Island and Melville Peninsula), located on the SE Rae craton margin

This project is focused on building on my previous work to better understand the provenance of the upper Piling and Penrhyn groups as well as provide a record of Proterozoic orogens across the Rae craton

Field work in beautiful NW Saskatchewan (Rae craton) [left] and field work with the Manitoba Geological Survey in the Trans-Hudson Orogen (Southern Indian Lake Domain) [right], summer 2014

ONGOING RESEARCH

Ongoing research includes delineating atmospheric and oceanic oxygen evolution after the initial rise of atmospheric oxygen in the Proterozoic using various stable isotope and trace element proxies. Oxygen and trace metal accumulation in Earth’s surface environment were necessary precursors for favourable conditions leading to the eventual evolution of animals.

FUTURE STUDENTS AND POST-DOCS

I'm always on the look-out for keen and motivated individuals to join my research group. Contact me for possible opportunities.