Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The long-term goal of my research is to understand the migration of elements through the geosphere and biosphere, with implications for both earth science and biology. The basis of this research is that sources of elements can be identified through both their concentrations and their isotopes. My goal is to recognize elements and isotopic systems that define various reservoirs throughout the geosphere and biosphere and use these to track element migration in the near surface environment. The shorter-term goals will focus on two diverse yet related themes: (1) Energy and Mineral Resources and (2) Biosphere-Geosphere Interactions. For the first theme, research will focus on the fluid history of two ancient basins, one in Australia (a PhD project) and one in Guyana (a PDF project), both of which may host reserves of uranium. The fundamental problems to be addressed involve the oxygen content of ancient atmospheres and what fluids affected the basins and mobilized uranium in these and similar basins in Canada. In addition, a PhD thesis will examine uranium isotopes in uranium deposits and in basins to better understand the natural uranium cycle, and another PhD thesis will focus on lithium isotopes in basins and alteration minerals in uranium deposits to better understand hydrothermal processes that operate in basins. Transfer of material across the geosphere-biosphere interface will be studied in three diverse, yet related projects: (1) a PhD project will use elemental contents and a PDF will use isotopes in tree-rings and soils to track the temporal migration of elements from sources in Ontario, (2) collaboration on tracking of elements from the geosphere into the tissues of migrating birds and protected mammals to refine their movements, and (3) a PhD student will understand the role of microbes in precipitation of carbonates and test the reliability of the chemistry of brachiopods to reflect that of seawater. Together, the projects will span the entire earth system, ranging from the cycling of uranium and evolution of basins and seawater, to identifying sources of elements and isotopes that transect the geosphere-biosphere interface.