Current (last updated 2023-2024)
Keagan Parry
Hello, my name is Keagan Parry, and I am a master’s student at the University of Alberta. I am currently studying the AurMac Gold Deposit in central Yukon with Dr. Pilar Lecumberri-Sanchez. The goal of my project is to characterize the deposit in terms of its classification as a reduced intrusion-related gold system (RIRGS), determine the ore-forming processes in the deposit, and test techniques for targeting causative intrusions of sediment-hosted RIRGS. Please feel free to contact me with any questions at rkparry@ualberta.ca.
Maria Paula Estrella
Hi! I am Maria Paula, a member of Dr. Pilar Lecumberri-Sanchez research group since 2023. As a true porphyry enthusiast, my project is aimed to better define the mineral distribution occurring in alkalic porphyry deposits and to understand how fluid chemistry affects the dissemination of metals. Alkalic porphyries are are copper-gold rich deposits, abundant in Canada. However, compared to their calc-alkalic counterparts, these are poorly constrained and represent challenging exploration targets. Through the study of fluid and melt inclusions, my overall goal is to contribute to the development of a representative geological model that enhances a better understanding of alkalic porphyry formation, and help improve the exploration techniques, tools, and technologies applied in the economic assessment of them. Economic geology and mineral exploration are my main interests, particularly focused in the geochemistry of ore-forming fluids. Please, feel free to contact me at mestrell@ualberta.ca if you have any questions
Cole Graham
Hello, my name is Cole Graham and I graduated from the University of Alberta with a BSc. Geology Honors. I worked with Dr. Lecumberri-Sanchez on the geochemistry and trace element content of white micas from a variety of ore deposits, in order to see whether they could be used to identify system type and/or as an indicator of system fertility. My interests in geology primarily lie in mineralogy and economic geology, as well as mineral exploration.
Vivian Cho
Hello, my name is Vivian Cho and I am a master’s student at the University of Alberta. I am currently studying orogenic gold deposits in the Yellowknife greenstone belt, located in the Northwest Territories, with Pilar Lecumberri-Sanchez. The goal of this project is to date when gold deposition occurred using titanite as a proxy for mineralization and to determine the controls on trace element geochemistry. My interests are primarily in economic geology and the formation of ore deposits. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at vcho@ualberta.ca.
Kirsten Rasmussen
Hi, my name is Kirsten Rasmussen and I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta. I completed my PhD at the University of British Columbia, where my research focused on determining the age, geochemistry, and radiogenic and stable isotopic compositions of mid-Cretaceous granitoid suites across south-central Yukon and southwestern NWT. I am currently working with Pilar Lecumberri-Sanchez to investigate inherited cores in zircons from granitic plutons associated with tungsten skarn mineralization (Cantung, Mactung, and other nearby deposits) in southwestern NWT to characterize their melt and metal source(s). The resulting U-Pb and and Lu-Hf isotopic data for the inherited cores will be compared to new and existing data for sedimentary rocks in the northern Cordillera to identify which units are the most prospective source(s). I am particularly interested in igneous petrology and intrusion-related mineralization, and the understanding of regional processes that detailed study of these rocks can provide us with. I can be reached by email at klrasmus@ualberta.ca.
Former
2022-2023
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019
Former
Peter Smith
Hi, My name is Peter “Smitty” Smith. My research project focuses on the Outpost Island deposit located within the Great Slave Lake, in the Northwest Territories. The goal of my project is to determine the ore forming processes present and the relationship between gold and tungsten in this deposit. My interests are in economic geology, exploration geology, and ore deposit formation. Please feel free to email me any questions at pdsmith@ualberta.ca.
Caibre Stinnissen
Hello, my name is Caibre Stinnissen, and I worked with Dr. Lecumberri Sanchez on an undergraduate thesis focusing on characterizing the paragenesis 5 element type cobalt veins around the Slave Lake region, the objective of the project is to understand how mineralization formed in the region and relate it to what is known about similar cobalt deposits. My geological interests are focused on mineral exploration, petrography and ore formation. Feel free to contact me at caibre@ualberta.ca if you have questions.
Vanessa Elongo
Hi, my name is Vanessa Elongo and I am a PhD student at the University of Alberta in Canada. I did my Master’s degree at the Université de Rennes 1 in France studying the Gakara Rare Earth Elements deposit in Burundi. The aim of this study was to characterize the mineralizing fluid using fluid inclusion and stable isotope (C and O) analysis. Hi, my name is Vanessa Elongo, and I am a PhD student at the University of Alberta working with Dr. Pilar Lecumberri-Sanchez on the study of the Cantung, Mactung and Lened skarn- hosted tungsten deposits located in the Canadian Cordillera. Tungsten is currently a critical metal due to its extensive use in a wide variety of products, coupled to its very localized production and associated supply risk. Cantung, Mactung and Lened are high grade and tonnage tungsten deposits and, with other tungsten deposits from the Canadian Cordillera, have the potential to secure tungsten supplies in North America.I am interested in all aspects of metallogeny and particularly in geochemistry and all the tools making it possible to characterize mineralizing fluids. Please feel free to contact me at elongo@ualberta.ca if you have any questions.
Pascal Voegeli
Hello, my name is Pascal Voegeli and I am an MSc student in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department at the University of Alberta. I am working with Pilar Lecumberri-Sanchez and my research focus is the characterization of the alteration pattern and potential controls on mineralization of an Au-Ag epithermal ore deposit located in the Stikine Terrane of north-central British Colombia. My goal is to develop a working model that can be applied to exploration strategies on the property and larger region. My primary interest is in economic geology and mineral deposit exploration. Please feel free to contact me at pvoegeli@ualberta.c
Lauren Langlois
I am a Master of Science student in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department at the University of Alberta. In 2018 I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta with a specialization in geology. My current research project, in collaboration with Dr. Pilar Lecumberri-Sanchez, focuses on the geochemical constraints on mineralization in orogenic gold deposits within the Yellowknife greenstone belt. The aim of this project is to apply portable XRF to refine field exploration techniques for industry. My primary interests within the geosciences are economic geology and mineral deposit exploration. Please feel free to send me an email at lalanglo@ualberta.ca if you have any questions.
Baykan Aksu
Hello, my name is Baykan Aksu and I am doing my second MS at the department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences in the University of Alberta. I gained my undergraduate and MS degree at Middle East Technical University in Turkey. My first MS was about identifying structural controls and building a 3-D lithological-structural model of Kızıldere geothermal field in Turkey. After spending couple of years in geothermal exploration, I started my second MS with Pilar Lecumberri-Sanchez on orogenic gold mineralization. Currently, I am working on Yellowknife orogenic gold deposit located in Northwest Territories-Canada. My present goal is to find out a correlation between CO2-CH4 fluid inclusions with gold occurrences and build an exploration model. I am mainly interested in economic geology, mineral exploration and geothermal systems. For any questions, please contact me through aksubaykan@gmail.com.
Patrice Stalder
Hello, my name is Patrice Stalder and I worked with Dr. Lecumberri-Sanchez on orogenic gold mineralization in the Yellowknife greenstone belt for my undergraduate thesis. The objective of this project was to correlate CO2 rich fluid inclusions with gold mineralization across the belt to potentially aid in future exploration. My geologic interests primarily focus on economic geology and mineral exploration. Feel free to contact me at stalder@ualberta.ca if you have any questions.
Chase McKay
Hi my name is Chase McKay and I am a recent graduate of the University of Alberta. I worked with Dr. Lecumberri-Sanchez for my undergraduate thesis on the paragenesis of the vein system for the Lawyers gold-silver exploration project. I currently work as a field geologist chip logging, prospecting, sampling, and various other geological tasks for a consulting company. I have worked on Epithermal type and sedimentary hosted gold/Carlin type deposits so far. I am interested in economic geology and ore deposit formation. Eventually I would like to start a masters project after gaining valuable experience in the field. Please feel free to contact me at chasemckay2@gmail.com with any questions.
Helene Legros
I am a PostDoctoral Fellow at the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department of the University of Alberta. My current subject of research is related to constraining the process of formation of W-Sn skarn systems located in the Tungsten Belt in Canada through the study of fluid inclusions. I did my PhD thesis at the Université de Lorraine (France) on “Tungsten and rare metal (Nb-Ta-Li-Sn) hydrothermal metallogenic systems of the Jurassic-Cretaceous period in the southern Jiangxi province (SE China)” and graduated in December 2017. My research interests include understanding fluid processes involved in W-Sn deposits through multiple approaches including mineral, fluid and isotopic geochemistry.
Jordan Pearson
Hello, my name is Jordan Pearson and I graduated at the University of Alberta. I am worked with Dr. Lecumberri-Sanchez on hydrothermally altered rocks, analyzing their clay mineral assemblages to evaluate if they show systematic spectroscopic variations as a function of depth and how they may correlate with geochemical changes. My geological interests are primarily economic geology and the formation of ore deposits which is why I joined Pilar’s team. Please send me an email at japearso@ualberta.ca if you have any questions.
Karys Leonard-Fortune
Hi, my name is Karys and I worked with Pilar for my undergraduate thesis involving the Panasqueira tin-tungsten mine. I am a University of Alberta graduate with a degree in Geology and interests in structures and geochemistry. I currently work as a field geologist prospecting, mapping, and sampling for a consulting company, which coincides with my other hobbies of hiking, spending time outdoors and travelling. I am passionate about all things geology and I hope to keep gaining rock knowledge.
