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Theme 9

Earth's Resources: Origin, Evolution, Sustainable Exploitation and Remediation

Georges Beaudoin, Laval,
Sarah-Jane Barnes, UQAC,

SESSIONS

9a. The green technologies: metallogenesis for the future

Co-convenors:
Robert Linnen (University of Western Ontario) - rlinnenuwo.ca
Anthony Williams-Jones (McGill University) - anthony.williams-jonesmcgill.ca

Concerns over energy consumption and global climate change have resulted in a flood of so-called "green technologies". A large number of elements, including metals, are critical to these technologies, and many new mineral deposits will be needed to meet the future demand for these elements. Among these elements are the REE which are used in wind turbines and electric/hybrid cars, the PGE which are used to reduce exhaust emissions, Li and Co which are used in new high-efficiency batteries, and elements such as Ga, Ge, In, Mo, and Ta which are used in wireless devices, thin films for solar panels and a variety of other green technologies. This session seeks contributions that will improve our understanding of the genesis of mineral deposits of these elements. Such contributions include studies of the magmatic, hydrothermal and surficial processes by which these elements are concentrated to economic levels, experimental studies of the solubility, speciation, partitioning and absorption of these elements, theoretical studies that complement these experimental studies, and studies in applied mineralogy and mineral processing that relate to the extraction of these elements.

Keynote speaker:
Iain Samson (University of Windsor), imsuwindsor.ca

9b. Geochemistry of petroleum, coal combustion and gasification products

(co-hosted by Themes 9 and 14)

Co-convenors:
James C. Hower (University of Kentucky ) - james.howeruky.edu
Hamed Sanei (Geological Survey of Canada, Calgary) - hamed.saneinrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Owen Duckworth (NC State University), owduckwoncsu.edu
Dean Hesterberg (NC State University), sscdlhncsu.edu
Mark Chappell (Army Corps of Engineers R&D Center), Mark.A.Chappellusace.army.mil

Coal combustion (and gasification) products (CCPs) have been at the forefront of coal combustion environmental issues. The December 2009 TVA ash spill brought the US power-generation industry’s ash disposal practices to national attention, prompting US EPA to discuss more restrictive disposal regulations. The growing importance of beneficial re-use of CCPs in a variety of settings, such as the use of fly ash as a Portland cement replacement and the use of flue-gas-desulfurization (FGD) gypsum in wallboard might be offset by hazardous waste restrictions. We welcome studies that focus on beneficial re-use of CCPs. We also welcome laboratory or field contributions that discuss the fate, transport, chemistry, and reactivity associated with releases of fossil fuels and their combustion by-products in the natural environment, including hydrocarbons, coal, fly ash, and other combustion products.

Keynote speaker: TBA

9c. Black shale-hosted mineral resources: deposit characterization, geochemical controls, and exploration potential

Co-convenors:
Suzanne Paradis (Geological Survey of Canada) - suzanne.paradisnrcan-rncan.gc.ca
John Slack (U.S. Geological Survey) - jfslackusgs.gov

Carbonaceous shales and argillites host a wide range of mineralization including volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) Cu-Zn-Pb-Ag-Au deposits and sedimentary-exhalative (SEDEX) Pb-Zn-Ag deposits. These strata are also important hosts for orogenic Au, stratabound U, stratiform Cu, and sedimentary Mn deposits. Separate from these mineral deposits, organic-rich black shales can also contain high concentrations of other commodities (e.g., Ni, Mo, PGE, Au; Co, Zn, Cr, Ag, Cd, V, Hg, Sb, Se, Ba, PO₄, Y, and REE). Some of these black shales may be considered as non-conventional mineral resources.

This interdisciplinary session joins researchers to (1) explore mechanisms of metal concentration in black shales, (2) assess black shales as both metal sources and metal traps during sedimentation and post-burial diagenesis, (3) evaluate secular variations in metal enrichments and their causes, (4) develop new mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic tools to discriminate between mineralized and unmineralized black shales in a variety of geological environments, (5) document case histories where these tools have been used in vectoring towards mineralization, and (6) evaluate the potential for using black shales to discover new ore deposits in sedimentary basins.

Keynote speaker:
Bernd Lehmann (Technical University of Clausthal, Germany), lehmannmin.tu-clausthal.de

9d. Vectoring towards mineral deposits: integrated spatial analysis of geochemical and other mineral exploration datasets.

(co-hosted by Themes 9 and 23)

Co-convenors:
E.J.M. Carranza (Twente University, Netherlands) - carranzaitc.nl
C.R. Stanley (Acadia University, Canada) - cliff.stanleyacadiau.ca

During mineral exploration, geochemical surveys employing different sample media at a range of mapping scales are undertaken in prospective areas. Data interpretation of these datasets typically uses sophisticated methods of analysis to identify geochemical anomalies that indicate the presence of mineral deposits, and commonly incorporates geological, geophysical, and other information from a diverse range of sources to achieve this goal. Such involved and integrated analysis is especially important in the subsurface exploration of mature mining camps, and in remote or previously un-explored areas. The session will highlight advances in the analysis and mapping of geochemical anomalies, exclusive of or in conjunction with other exploration data, to delineate targets for mineral exploration at a range of spatial scales and geological environments.

Keynote speaker:
Kurt Kyser (Queen's University, Canada), kysergeol.queensu.ca

9e. Uranium: from a durable resource to its environmental impact

Co-convenors:
Georges Calas (Université Pierre et Marie Curie) - georges.calasupmc.fr
Mostafa Fayek (University of Manitoba) - fayekcc.umanitoba.ca

Uranium in natural (e.g., uranium deposits) and anthropogenic (e.g., former mines and industrial sites or nuclear waste disposal) systems presents an increasing concern to humans as well on the durability of the resource in regards to its impact on ground water quality and habitat contamination. The session will bring together researchers with a broad range of interests, covering a variety of subjects including molecular-scale approaches to kinetic processes (radiation effects, dissolution/precipitation…), emerging mineralogical issues (e.g., bio- and nano-uraninite) and fate and transport of uranium in solution including the role of nano-particles and colloids. Contributions on subjects of uranium in various geologic settings, including uranium mineralization, uranium deposits, uranium mine tailings, remediation of contaminated sites, waste matrices and geologic disposal of spent nuclear fuel are strongly encouraged.

Keynote speaker: TBA

9f. Innovative geochemical approaches to understanding geothermal systems

(co-hosted by Themes 9 and 6)

Co-convenors:
Nathalie Vigouroux (Alterra Power Corp., BC, Canada) -nvigourouxmagmaenergycorp.com
Anthony.E. Williams-Jones (McGill University) - anthony.williams-jonesmcgill.ca
Glyn Williams-Jones (Simon Fraser University) - glynwjsfu.ca

Geothermal energy, one of Earth’s sustainable and renewal resources, has regained the attention of international governments, industry and researchers in the last decade as the search for alternative energy sources intensifies. The discovery and evaluation of geothermal resources relies in large part on our understanding of their geochemical characteristics at levels ranging from the reservoir and heat source to the surface manifestations. Understanding the evolution of heat and elements within a geothermal system is crucial to correctly interpreting its surface geochemical signatures. We invite authors to present research related to understanding of the geochemical characteristics of geothermal systems. In particular, we encourage presentations that focus on: 1) the interpretation of geochemical signatures as measured at the surface (in gas, water and soil/rock samples), using data collected at depth and/or modelling, and 2) recent advances in the exploration tools used to record and interpret these geochemical signatures.

Keynote speaker:
Jake Lowenstern (USGS – Menlo Park), jlwnstrnusgs.gov
Invited Speaker:
Ben Kennedy (University of Canterbury, New Zealand), ben.kennedycanterbury.ac.nz

9g. Water-rock-microbial interactions in energy systems

(co-hosted by Themes 9 and 14)

Co-convenors:
Jennifer McIntosh (University of Arizona) - mcintoshhwr.arizona.edu
David Vinson (University of Arizona) - dsvinsonemail.arizona.edu
Ben Cowie (University of Calgary) - brcowieucalgary.ca
Steve Larter (University of Calgary) - slarterucalgary.ca

Unconventional energy resources, such as gas from shales and coalbeds, are of increasing significance worldwide. In this session, we encourage submissions from researchers exploring the broad connections between water, microbial activity, and hydrocarbons in the subsurface using a variety of geochemical, isotopic, and microbiological techniques. Possible topics of submissions include isotopic and geochemical indicators of hydrocarbon formation, hydrologic and geochemical controls on biodegradation of organic matter, biogenic gas and its interactions with the groundwater system, innovative characterization of microbial activity in energy reservoirs, stimulation of biogenic gas, biogeochemical responses to CO₂ injection for geologic sequestration, water resource issues associated with unconventional hydrocarbon production, or new analytical methods with application to energy systems. Field-based, laboratory, or theoretical approaches are encouraged, with particular emphasis on submissions bridging gaps between disciplines or reconciling field and laboratory studies.

Keynote speakers:
Matthew W. Fields (Montana State University), matthew.fieldsbiofilm.montana.edu
Thomas B. P. Oldenburg, (University of Calgary), toldenbuucalgary.ca

9h. Trace elements in oxide minerals from ore deposits: Petrogenetic interpretation and implications for exploration

Co-convenors:
James Brenan (University of Toronto) - brenangeology.utoronto.ca
Sarah Dare (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi) - sarah.dareuqac.ca
Philippe Pagé (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi) - Philippe_Pageuqac.ca

Oxide minerals, such as the spinel group (chromite and magnetite), ilmenite and hematite, are common accessory minerals and/or ore-forming minerals in a wide variety of geological settings ranging in origin from magmatic to hydrothermal to sedimentary. Currently there is great interest in using the geochemistry of oxides as indicator minerals in the exploration of buried ore deposits, as oxides are resistant and commonly preserved in heavy mineral separates of till and sediment samples. The study of trace elements in oxides also provides useful information on the petrogenesis of the deposit. These studies are advancing because it is now possible to determine a full suite of trace elements in oxides minerals at very low concentrations using in-situ techniques such as laser ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS).

Based on trace elements in oxide minerals, this session will address: 1) the petrogenetic processes that control the trace element variation in oxides, 2) the partitioning behaviour of trace elements into oxides under different conditions, as constrained by experimental studies, and 3) which trace elements are useful discriminants in successfully identifying and vectoring towards mineralization.

Note: Sponsorship from SGA to attend the Goldschmidt 2012 Conference is available for SGA student members.

Keynote speaker:
Donald Lindsley (SUNY-Stony Brook), Donald.Lindsleysunysb.edu

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