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Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC)

Metal Earth Graduate Student Research Opportunities

By Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC)

Dead Line: May 4, 2022

With CAD $104 million in funding provided by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF), the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and through strategic partnerships with universities, government geological surveys and international research centres, Laurentian University has initiated Metal Earth - the largest ever mineral exploration research project undertaken in Canada. Metal Earth seeks to identify and understand the processes responsible for Earth’s differential metal endowment during the Precambrian. This research initiative aims to transform our understanding of Earth’s early evolution and how we explore for metals.
 
Metal Earth is led by the Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Canada. MERC was established in 1997 and comprises an internationally recognized group of researchers from academia, industry and government.
 
Metal Earth Postdoctoral Fellowship
 
PDF Project 1 (2021 01): Westward extension of Larder Lake Cadillac Deformation Zone (LLCDZ) and the Porcupine Destor Deformation Zone (PDDZ) across the Kapuskasing uplift
 
The goal of the project is to determine the expression and the extent of major crustal breaks across different rock types and metamorphic facies, and to identify processes controlling the distribution of orogenic gold systems at the subprovince scale. These goals will be achieved through: (1) GIS compilation and airborne magnetic data interpretation, (2) Structural kinematic analysis, (3) Geochemistry and geochronology of intrusions/sedimentary successions, (5) Petrography of hydrothermal alteration and mineralization. The project is one of two complementary studies that will trace the extent of the LLCDZ and PDDZ west across the Swayze greenstone belt and Kapuskasing uplift into the Wawa terrane. The project will focus on the LLCDZ, characterize its deformation history and that of associated sedimentary basins, and provide the required knowledge base for correlation with the well-studied LLCDZ and PDDZ of the Abitibi greenstone belt.
 
The position is funded for two years beginning in April or May 2021. The project will be supervised by Drs.Bruno Lafrance and Stéphane Perrouty at Laurentian University. Top applicants will have mapping experience in greenstone belts, structural geology, orogenic gold deposits, and geochronology. Salary range is $65-$80k/yr plus benefits.
 
Metal Earth PhD and MSc Graduate Opportunities
 
Metal Earth MSc and PhD projects are fully funded for two years and four years, respectively ($30K/yr which includes a Laurentian Graduate Assistantship) and include complete field and analytical support. 
 

MSc student

MERC, in partnership with Argonaut Gold, is seeking a MSc student to undertake a field-based structural thesis project at the Magino gold project within the GoudreauLochalsh district of the Michipicoten Greenstone Belt near Wawa, Ontario.

MSc student

MERC, in partnership with Eldorado Gold, is seeking a MSc student to undertake a field-based structural MSc project at Eldorado’s Ormaque zone, a new discovery at the Lamaque Gold Mine. 

Kirkland Lake Gold Corp-Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) Post Doctoral Fellow

With the ongoing success of Kirkland Lake Gold’s (KLG) Macassa South mine, the company is seeking to undertake new research to better understand the mineralization controls on the Macassa Mine and the South Mine Complex and their relationships to the 04 Break and the Amalgamated Break. 

PhD project on the Metallogeny of the Upper Beaver Cu-Au deposit

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to carry a PhD project to understand the regional magmatic and tectonic evolution of the Upper Beaver Cu-Au deposit (Larder Lake, Ontario).

M.Sc. Student in Passive Seismic Studies

Metal Earth is seeking an M.Sc. student to participate in the processing and interpretation of singlecomponenet/multi-component passive seismic surveys. 

Metal Earth Graduate Student Research Opportunities

Metal Earth seeks to identify and understand the processes responsible for Earth’s differential metal endowment during the Precambrian. 

MSc student

The successful candidate will integrate within the Magino exploration and development team adhering to their health and safety standards while in the field and working collectively to advance the understanding of the Magino deposit.

Field Assistants and Research Opportunities

Metal Earth is seeking students to assist mapping-based research in the Abitibi and Wabigoon subprovinces of Ontario and Quebec.