Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits are and have been important sources of commodity metals (zinc, lead, copper, gold, silver) and by-product metals (cobalt, telerium, selenium, nickel, indium, tin) to the Canadian and global economy. These deposits may become increasingly more important given the need for secure supplies of critical metals for both national security and to ensure Canada and our trading partners have the raw materials needed for the creation of climate change mitigating technology and the electrification of our economy (e.g., EVs, solar panels, windmills). Despite their importance, numerous fundamental questions remain regarding what controls the size (tonnage) and abundance (grade) of mineralization in these deposits. This work will focus on interrogating what the key factors are in controlling the grade and tonnage of mineralization, including: the composition and nature of the crust underlying the deposits and deposit-hosting districts; type and formation conditions of magmas associated with the deposits; how fast the deposit hosting volcanic rocks were emplaced; and the importance of ancient plate tectonic setting. The research program will focus on rocks  in the Appalachian mountain belt in Atlantic Canada and evaluate the roles of the above factors as a function of deposit tonnage and grade and will create new knowledge that will enhance our basic scientific understanding of these deposits and provide methods and tools that can ensure mineral exploration and mining can be done more efficiently. There will be four highly qualified personnel (HQP) trained during the tenure of this grant (3 PhD, 1MSc). These individuals will learn important field and laboratory skills, as well as important communication and professional skills that will make them immediately employable in the global geoscience upon completion, which is essential given the aging demographic in most geoscience sectors in Canada and globally.