My research is focused on the big influence that nanofeatures have on the evolution of our planet.  I combine fieldwork, petrology, and nano-geochemisty to investigate a range of questions ranging from ore geology, to cosmochemistry, to metamorphic petrology.

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My main research lies in 'invisible metals,' both in the form of primary low grade metal deposits as well as in historic mine waste. For example in Carlin type gold deposits, gold can't be seen, even with high powered microscope, but is instead trapped in pyrite (aka fools gold).  Our work has shown that a complicated coupled 'cloud' substitution mechanism involving As allows for pyrite to take up As. We have shown that in a similar way arsenic (as well as Te and Se) substitution into sulfide minerals is how they are able to take up large quantities of important critical metals (Ge, Ga, Ag, In, etc.). 

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Historically, these sulfide minerals were underappreciated, and were discarded on waste rock piles were they are undergoing weathering and leading to acid mine drainage and metal contamination of the surface and groundwater (especially arsenic). By re-mining these waste rock piles we would not only winning much needed critical metals, but also remediating these contaminated mine sites.

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My group and I use a variety of nanoanalytical techniques (specializing in atom probe tomography; APT) to figure out how and why these important minerals are able to contain such an amount and variety of important metals, as well as investigating the active environmental hazards that they represent when present in mine waste. 

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I currently am involved in projects looking at non-traditional sources of critical and precious metals in North America (Great Lakes Massive sulfide deposits, Keweenaw Copper Belt, and Carlin type deposits in Nevada and Yukon Territory), SW China, N Africa, Sweden (REE elements in Iron-oxide apatite mine waste), and Austria (precious and critical metals in historic mine waste).

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Additionally, I am interested in ultra-high pressure and temperature metamorphism, specifically how microstructural clues can tell us the story of how these rocks returned to the surface.

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My favorite mineral is jadeite and my favorite rock is eclogite. 

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Don't hesitate to get in contact if you have any general questions about ore geology, APT, sulfide minerals, mine waste, or UHP-T rocks.