Paul graduated from the Queen's University Geological Sciences program with a B.Sc. H. in the spring of 2011. There he completed an undergraduate thesis on using novel geochemical techniques (tree cores, clay separates, and vegetation samples) for environmental monitoring and mineral exploration. The samples for his thesis were collected from the Outer Ring uranium prospect in the Athabasca Basin, Northern Saskatchewan. His M.Sc. research will involve further characterization of this uranium prospect by isotopic and geochemical analysis of drill core from the prospect. Ultimately the goal is to understand whether or not the surficial geochemical anomalies at surface can be related to subsurface geochemistry and whether or not the migration of the anomalies from the subsurface to the surficial environment can be related to microbial populations at depth.

Allan completed his B.Sc. (honours) at UBC in 1986 and his M.Sc., through the Minex program, at Queens in 2003. Allan has worked extensively in mineral exploration, primarily in the North and South American Cordillera.

Allan's Ph.D. research evaluates district-scale controls on mineralization in the Alto Chicama district. Utilizing geological mapping, Ar/Ar geochronology, petrography, petrochemistry and stable isotope geochemistry, a district-wide image is being developed, documenting which geological processes happened during formation of the multiple epithermal centers known. Through this work, parameters useful in the search for other mineral resources may be recognized.

This project is being generously funded by Barrick Gold Corporation and its Peru subsidiary, Minera Barrick Misquichia.

Gregory W. Lester, Ph.D. Candidate. Greg received his M.A. from the State University of New York, Binghamton, in 2002 and his M.Sc. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2004. His research interests include the geology of the Adirondack mountain region, geochemistry and experimental petrology. He is particularly interested in the evolution of magmas and fluids involved in ore genesis.

Sarah graduated from Queen's University (B.Sc.H., 2007) in geological sciences. Her senior thesis investigated the geochemistry of the Karku unconformity-type uranium deposit in the Pasha-Ladoga Basin, Russia and compared it to the Athabasca and Kombolgie basins. Her current MSc research is focused on developing the paragenesis and fluid history of the Hornby Bay Basin in western Nunavut, and comparing it to the alteration and chemistry of the Mountain Lake uranium deposit in the central Hornby Bay.

Zen Keizars completed his undergraduate degree at McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario). There he studied thermoluminescence emitted from silicates, and successfully adapted archaeological TL-dating techniques to the analysis of modern beach sand transport analysis. Luminescence studies brought Zen to the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario), where he developed a halo method for SedEx and VMS deposit exploration using physicochemically-derived variations in carbonates using cathodoluminescence spectroscopy.

Continued interest in carbonate chemistry has led Zen to Queen's University (Kingston, Ontario) and the supervision of Kurt Kyser and Noel James, where he is presently studying genetic ties of Mg and Ca isotopes in carbonates.

Valeria graduated with B.Sc.H. in geology from Saint-Petersburg State University (2008). Her bachelor thesis was devoted to crystallography and experimental mineralogy of uranium minerals. Valeria came to Queen's in August 2008 to do her M.Sc. Valeria is working on volcanic associated Uranium occurrences at Macusani volcanic field, Peru. Her project is collaborative work with Queen's University, Cameco Corporation, Vena recourses and Macusani Yellow Cake. Valeria is studying geology, geochemistry and mineralogy of the uranium occurrences at Macusani volcanic field in order to clarify the ore-forming process.

Juan Carlos Zamudio received his B.Sc. and M. Sc. degrees in Geology (2007) at Universidad de Chile. His work involved the use of adsorbent collectors, both in field (Gabriela Mistral mine, formerly Gaby Sur, northern Chile) and experimental, to study the generation of detectable surface geochemical signatures, and to demonstrate the applicability of such collectors in the detection of undercover ore mineralization.

"JC" is now a PhD student at Queen's University under the supervision of Kurt Kyser and Alan Clark. His research is a collaborative project between Queen's University and Anglo American involving exploration for porphyry-type copper mineralization. This study examines whether the hydrothermal processes that cause the alteration produce geochemical signatures, or record compositional changes that can be used as indicators and vectors of mineralized systems at depth. Petrography, whole-rock geochemistry, stable isotopes and mineral chemistry are used to characterize the type and the extent of alteration. This is accomplished by the examination of several ore-bearing and non-economic prospects from the Paleocene to Miocene belts in northern and central Chile.

Since the completion of his BSc. degree at Universidad de Chile in 1993, he has focused his work on mineral exploration along the Andean Range. He worked on the exploration and geological model of Zaldivar, Andacollo, Vizcachitas and a number of copper and gold prospects. Lately, he also worked as a mine production geologist at El Soldado, the largest stratabound deposit in the coastal Cordillera, central Chile.

Claudio came to Queen's in June 2008 to do a PhD with Kurt Kyser and Alan Clark. He is currently studying the geochemistry and geology of the Rio Blanco - Los Bronces district, where one of the giant Porphyry Copper (Mo) deposits is located. The goal of the research is to evaluate various geochemical techniques that can be used to vector to Los Bronces style porphyry mineralization. Sampling, geology and alteration mapping are the focus at both the deposit scale and regional scale to describe and quantify the various mineralogical and geochemical changes resulting from the ore generating process relative to barren systems.

John is currently working on a masters degree with his research being the orogenesis of the Matoush Deposit in the Otish Basin. His work at QFIR uses stable isotopes to determine the fluid characteristics within the deposit, and radiogenic isotopes for dating.

Serigne Dieng completed his B.Sc. (honours) at the Earth Sciences Institute at Dakar University (Senegal-West Africa) in 1998 and his M.Sc. through the Minex program at Queens in 2006. Serigne has worked extensively in gold exploration in Senegal and Guinea (West Africa).

Serigne Dieng began his PhD degree at Queen's University in July 2008 under the supervision of Kurt Kyser and Laurent Godin. His research is a collaborative project with Queen's University and Cameco Corporation. Serigne's Ph.D. research main objectives are (a) to re-evaluate the character and formation of uranium deposits in successor basins in Canada and Australia, (b) to compare them to those in the younger uranium-rich basins with which they are spatially associated, and (c) to identify key factors controlling uranium mineralization in successor basins. This research integrates aspects of structural geology and geochemistry to detail the structural and fluid evolution of uranium deposits in successor basins and how they are temporally and genetically related to unconformity-related uranium deposits in younger basins.

Photo: Serigne going to Gunnar mine accessible only by boat (Beaverlodge 2009 field trip, Northern Saskatchwan).