The following projects are available for a 2027 start

MSc #1 will focus on the kinematics, conditions, and timing of deformation associated with major gold enrichment events.This research aims to investigate how fluids and remobilized gold are transported through the deep crust during deformation, and how strain partitioning influences the spatial concentration of metals in Archean settings. The projects will require field work in Northwest Ontario and will integrate structural geology, metamorphic petrology, and geostatistics to better understand deformation-driven metal enrichment in the crust. The student will do a detailed structural analysis of deformation fabrics associated with gold-bearing shear zones together with microanalytical techniques (including EBSD analysis) and geochronology. Please contact Dr. Tobias Stephan for more details.

MSc #2 will investigate metamorphic conditions and histories associated with gold mineralization. The students will use analytical methods (incl. EMPA and Raman microspectrometry) and apply thermodynamic modelling and geothermobarometry. This research aims to investigate how fluids and remobilized gold are transported through the deep crust during deformation, and how strain partitioning influences the spatial concentration of metals in Archean settings. The projects will require field work in Northwest Ontario and will integrate structural geology, metamorphic petrology, and geostatistics to better understand deformation-driven metal enrichment in the crust. Please contact Dr. Tobias Stephan for more details.

MSc #3 will investigate the magmatic evolution, petrography and alteration chemistry of a number of poorly understood intrusions in the McFaulds greenstone belt in Northern Ontario, also known as the Ring of Fire, in order to better constrain the Ni-Cu-PGE and chromite mineralization. The project will involve sampling of drill core and surface exposure of the intrusive units and then characterizing those samples through a combination of petrography, whole rock geochemistry, U-Pb geochronology and radiogenic isotopes. The successful candidate will work closely with the industry partner Wyloo and the PDF and MSc student working on the project. Contact Dr. Peter Hollings for more information.

MSc #4 will characterise the geochemistry and petrography of the Mayville intrusion in Manitoba. The Mayville Property is located in the east-west trending Archean Bird River greenstone belt (BRGB) at the western edge of the Superior Province. The Mayville Intrusion proper, including the M2 deposit, has been the focus for the majority of historical exploration activity, the new geophysical interpretations indicate good potential for additional discoveries of both M2-type magmatic sulfide deposits and PGM Zone-type mineralization in numerous, undrilled coincident magnetic and conductivity anomalies that occur south, west and east of the Mayville Intrusion. The project will involve sampling of drill core and surface exposure of the intrusive units and then characterizing those samples through a combination of petrography, whole rock geochemistry, U-Pb geochronology and radiogenic isotopes. The successful candidate will work closely with the industry partner Grid Metals and the MSc student working on the project. Contact Dr. Peter Hollings for more information.

MSc #5 will investigate manganese mineralization in the metasedimentary suites around Thunder Bay, including the 2.7 Ga Wabigoon Subprovince and the 1.88 Ga Gunflint Formation. The MSc candidate will characterize the geochemistry and petrography of manganese mineralization using a combination of detailed stratigraphy, petrographic analysis, whole-rock geochemistry, and non-traditional isotopes (e.g., Fe, Cr) to reconstruct the depositional environment and interpret manganese enrichment. The project will be supervised by led by Dr. Zhiquan Li and Dr. Peter Hollings.

See more details here.