
Jonathan Umbsaar – PhD candidate, University of Toronto
Lithotectonic sub-classification of Seafloor Massive Sulphide Deposits
Jonathan’s research focusses on actively-forming Seafloor Massive Sulphide (SMS) deposits across tectonic settings, and as a function of their critical metal endowments, in order to identify a more robust means of sub-classification of SMS deposits that accounts for the dominant controls on precipitation, including: depth, host lithology, fluid/metal provenance, and hydrothermal fluid properties (T, pH, REDOX).
Jonathan completed his BSc with Honours from the University of Calgary in 2020 where he also worked as a mineral separation technician, and completed a published undergraduate thesis on geoarchaeological tuff correlations. Jonathan completed his MSc at the University of Toronto in 2021. His PhD research will be a continuation of the work from his Master’s thesis on the VOLPA and Tinakula SMS deposits, where he observed a lack on consensus in the scientific community on a consistent sub-classification scheme for SMS deposits.