Lakehead U Geology Student Heading to Chile

(Thunder Bay - December 4, 2006) A Lakehead University Geology Master's student will be getting a first-hand look at ore deposits in northern Chile as part of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) Foundation Student Field Trip Program.

Amy Shute is one of 16 international students who will be leaving the first week of January, 2007, to head down to Chile as part of the first international student field trip sponsored by SEG. While in Chile, Shute will learning about ore deposit geology in the various regions they visit.

The idea for an International SEG Student Field Trip was developed at the SEG conference in Keystone Colorado, in May 2006. This is the inaugural field trip in a series of student field trips to world-class mining districts. All students are subsidized with a scholarship from the SEG Foundation for transportation to/from Chile. Students needed to send in an application form, a letter outlining how this trip will benefit them, and a letter of recommendation from a faculty member.

"I am so pleased to have been one of the selected students to travel to Chile," Shute says. "This trip will give me the opportunity to pursue work outside Canada, which will broaden my experience and allow me to compare different tectonic settings of different ages."

Shute is currently working on her Masters thesis under the supervision of Dr. Peter Hollings. She is interested in the geological mapping and geochemistry patterns of ore deposits and related rocks with which different deposits are associated.

"Overall, ore deposit model development and gaining a better understanding of ore deposit genesis are my primary areas of interest," she says.

"Amy is an excellent student with a strong interest in the field of Economic Geology," Dr. Hollings says. "She has expressed a strong interest in working as an economic geologist, and I believe that this field trip will provide her with a great opportunity to examine different deposit types that are not present in our region."

The trip runs from Jan. 5 to 13. Shute leaves on Jan. 3. She is available for interview by calling 766-7121. Dr. Hollings is also available at 343-8329.