DEP + MS & PhD students, and Post-Doctoral scientists

The American Cordillera (CO, NV, OR, ID, CA), plus projects in foreign venues (e.g., Antarctica, Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia)

Mineral deposits research at OSU involves various ore-forming environments, both metallic and non-metallic, in particular as such studies may be applied to the discovery of new deposits. Specific activities include spatial map analysis, geochemical exploration, geographic information systems (GIS) applications in mineral exploration, and the development of mixing models for drainage waters in mineralized regions.

Student research projects are crafted to: (1) integrate my experience in mineral deposits with the interests of M.S. and Ph.D. candidates; (2) attack problems that are of cutting-edge scientific interest; and (3) assure that projects can be completed in 2+ years for the M.S., or 3+ years for the Ph.D.

M.S.-level students work on well defined individual projects, or perhaps on facets of a large project, under close faculty supervision.

Doctoral candidates are given greater latitude in their research, and they should plan to make significant, original contributions to the science.

Ph.D. candidates also are encouraged to contribute whenever possible to parallel research projects.

It is expected that research at both the M.S. and Ph.D. levels will lead to publications in recognized scientific journals.

* Development of "SearchMap" software by which conceptual modeling is integrated interactively with quantitative map data. This project is ongoing and in final form will help geoscientists, and others, to develop interpretive map products. The procedure results in many "correct" answers to map questions -- the user chooses the answer that most appropriately satisfies his or her goals.

* Diamond exploration in the north central U.S., honing in on regions that exhibit significant potential for primary diamond deposits -- using SearchMap technology to highlight localities for detailed study.

* SearchMap project encompassing the geology, structure, and mineralization, plus soil geochemistry of the Bonanza caldera area, northeastern San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; results will explain the development of known mineralization in the area, and highlight localities for future examination.

* Gold exploration in the northern Great Basin of Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho; combining geology, geophysics, tectonics, and mineral/metal occurrence information to understand the distributions of known (esp. Au) occurrences in this region, and using these data to predict where concealed deposits may be present in the region.

* Mineral exploration in the Arabian Shield of western Saudi Arabia; project just getting under way, using existing photographic and satellite information, plus topography, geophysics, geochemistry, and mineral occurrence information.

* Development of mixing models for groundwater, mine effluent, and meteoric contributions within the drainage systems that empty into the Dillon reservoir of central Colorado; three major tributaries, three projects, one of which has begun.

* GIS compilation of geology, structure, mineral deposits geology, and hydrology of the Dillon reservoir drainage basin.

* GIS compilation of geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and mineral deposits geology of the 39-Mile volcanic field, central Colorado -- search for the next Cripple Creek.