Two professors from the Geology Department are featured in Lakehead's Agora Online publication.  Emeritus Professor Roger Mitchell's research into ongoing eruptions at the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania is discussed in the article "Under the Volcano" whereas the article "Industry Partnerships a Win-WIn for Geology" details the collaborative research of Associate Professor Peter Hollings and recent donations from CDN Resources Laboratories and the Activation Laboratories Group of Companies.

Katarina Bjorkman, a third year  student in the Geology program at Lakehead University has been awarded a $1000 scholarship from the Women's Association of the Mining Industry of Canada Foundation. These awards are presented annually to an undergraduate 3rd or 4th year student in an accredited program in mining, metallurgy, geology, geophysics, geological engineering, or related studies in earth sciences at a qualified Canadian university, and who has attained average marks of 85% or higher.

In 1921 the Women's Association of the Mining Industry of Canada, Toronto was founded by Mrs. J.B. (Edith) Tyrrell, wife of the famous geologist, to foster friendship among women connected to the mining industry. The first scholarships were given in 1939 and by 1964 sufficient funds had been raised to form The Women's Association of the Mining Industry of Canada Foundation. The Foundation continued to establish scholarships, bursaries and awards to undergraduate students at degree granting educational institutions, technical schools and universities across Canada was continued under the Foundation. In 1985, Sophia Wood, a former prospector and member of The Women's Association of the Mining Industry of Canada bequeathed a large portion of her estate to the Association, enabling the Foundation to give annual bursaries in her name.

Hard on the heals of winning a scholarship from the Women's Association of the Mining Industry of Canada Foundation, Katarina Bjorkman, a third year student in the Geology program, has just been announced as one of Lakehead's 2009/2010 Millennium Excellence In-Course Award Program Laureates.

 Congratulations Katarina!

Four Lakehead University Geology students have recently won their place in national and international industry-related geology events. Gabe Sweet, Corey Wendland, Seamus Magnus, and Lindsay Moore will be heading to Nevada, Wyoming, Sudbury, and Calgary, respectively.

To find out more, visit:

Steve Siemieniuk, a graduate student in the Geology Department at Lakehead University, has won an NSERC Industrial Postgraduate Scholarship worth $21,000 per year. This award will support Steve as  he works on his MSc thesis for which he will be undertaking a prospectivity analysis of the Wabigoon subprovince, Ontario.

The NSERC IPS award provides Steve with $15,000 per year and is matched by a minimum of $6,000 per year from his industry sponsor - Clark Exploration Consulting Inc. , a local exploration company.

Gold mineralisation and tectonic setting of the Rainy River greenstone belt

The Geology Department at Lakehead University is currently looking for students interested in undertaking a Masters thesis to investigate the nature of gold mineralisation in the Rainy River greenstone belt. This study will involve a regional scale study of the Western Wabigoon subprovince in conjunction with a detailed investigation of the recently discovered gold mineralization in the RainyRiver Project. This will entail geochemical, geochronological and alteration studies, enabling the successful candidate to gain hands-on experience with a wide range of analytical techniques including radiogenic and stable isotopes,

Suitable candidates will have a strong background in economic geology and should have completed an Honours degree in Geology. Fieldwork in northern Ontario will be an integral component of this project. The successful candidate will receive a stipend of CAN$15,000 p.a. for two years and may be eligible for a Teaching Assistantship at Lakehead worth ~$6000 p.a.. In addition the candidate will have the chance to gain extensive hands-on experience of the exploration industry while working with the geological team of Rainy River Resources Ltd. Candidates may also be eligible to apply for other competitive grants and scholarships.

The successful applicant will work closely with Rainy River Resources geologists and other students working on the property. The candidate will also have the opportunity to receive training in GIS applications including GoCAD, Leapfrog and MapInfo. Suitable candidates will have a strong background in economic geology and should have completed an Honours degree in Geology. Fieldwork in northern Ontario will be an integral component of this project. This project will start in the summer of 2009.

Contact Dr. Peter Hollings for more details