Modular Courses

Technical training is supplemented by a series of modular courses. iMAGE trainees complete 2 x 1-week graduate-level modular courses designed for the CREATE, including modules on Geodynamics (led by uOttawa), Magmatic Processes (GEOMAR/FAU), Ore Deposits (in partnership with MERC), and Numerical Modeling (GEOMAR), with shorter Technical Courses on Geophysical and Analytical Methods (Ottawa, Queen’s), Hydrothermal Systems (Ottawa), and site-specific topics (e.g., Arctic Tectonics at Ottawa and Svalbard; Seismic Imaging workshops at Dalhousie).

The PIs have extensive experience in delivering courses of this type, including 33 modules as part of the Ontario Graduate Teaching Network in Minerals Geoscience (80+ students in each module from 24 universities). The courses are also an important link to industry, with industry experts teaching many parts and with strong enrolment by professionals (typically 70:30 ratio of students-to-professionals). Past experience shows these courses provide extraordinary opportunities for employers to interact with and recruit top students.

Technical courses available for registration:

GEO5306A Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Ore Deposits Short Course (Fall Semester, December 3-10, 2022)

This is an intensive 8-day graduate course (3 cr.) on the geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits, focusing on the fundamentals of mineral-chemical systems, ore element geochemistry, alteration mineral assemblages, and water-rock interactions in a variety of ore deposit types. Concepts that are critical to understanding ore formation will be studied, including mineral stabilities and controls on metal solubility in hydrothermal systems. Case studies of different ore deposit types will be covered, including magmatic-hydrothermal, sedimentary and seawater-dominated systems. Practical aspects will include a guide to ore element behaviour; analyzing rocks, minerals and fluids in hydrothermal systems; and processes of hydrothermal alteration and their application in mineral exploration.

 

Lectures and interactive sessions will take place each day between 09:00h and 17:00h (including Saturday and Sunday). Course evaluation will be based on daily exercises in-class and a final take-home exam.  Instruction will be virtual (via Zoom) or bimodal where possible. Advanced undergraduate-level, 3rd or 4th-year training in geochemistry, petrology and ore deposits is highly recommended.

 

Instructor: Mark Hannington

Dates: December 3-10, 2022

 

This course is being offered to OCGC members and students from Ontario institutions through the OVGS Program.  Registration with the Faculty of Graduate Studies at uOttawa (gradsci@uottawa.ca) is necessary.  Mention the course code GEO5306A when you contact the office.

Two modular courses are currently available on-line:

Geology of Canadian Mineral Deposit Types [Hannington, 3 Cr. course, Winter 2021]

This is a course in the classical descriptive geology of ore deposits, with an emphasis on examples from Canada (20 lectures). The course provides an in depth examination of the geology of the most important ore deposits in Canada, including their regional metallogenic context and comparisons to world-class ore deposits in other countries. The focus is on the geological settings of the deposits and the links to genetic models and applications in exploration. The backdrop of the course is the Geology of Canada, which is examined at a variety of scales from coast-to-coast, providing the framework for evaluating mineral potential in a range of different geological terranes of all ages. The material is suitable for graduate students with knowledge of petrology and prior introduction to ore deposits.

Introduction to Plate Tectonics in the Oceans [Baxter, Stewart, TBD]

This lecture and seminar course describes the tectonic regimes of the lithosphere by examining integrated petrological, geophysical, and geochemical perspectives in the context of the Wilson cycle and plate tectonics. The current understanding of active plate tectonics is explored, with topics including: composition of the lithosphere and asthenosphere, mechanics of plate movements, formation of plate boundaries, continental rifts and margins, oceanic spreading, triple junctions, and transform faults, subduction and island arcs, continental collision, and formation of mountain belts.

Restrictions in travel emphasize the need to have accessible content on scientific topics and technical training and new courses are being added continuously.

Coming Soon

Solid Earth Geophysics (Audet, Nedimovic)

Cordilleran Metallogeny (Piercey)

MERC short courses (Sudbury, Winter and Fall 2021)

Marine geology and geodynamics (Toronto, Winter 2022) – Anderson, Cousens

Exploration geochemistry (Piercey)