Precambrian Research Center
at the
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH
Preparing Students for the Booming Minerals
Exploration Industry
Jim Miller
Department of Geological Sciences
Precambrian Research Center
University of Minnesota Duluth
Mission Statement
Providing Education, Training, and Support in Precambrian
Field Studies for the Next Generation of Geoscientists
PRC Programs
• Precambrian Field Camp
• Professional Workshops
• Student Support
• Graduate Research Assistantships
• Research Grants
• Industry Support of Student Research
• New Economic Geology Curriculum
• Public Outreach and Education
• Professional Field School
The Booming Global
Minerals Exploration
Industry
Total Worldwide Exploration Budgets 1993-2010
(In Billions of US Dollars)
Estimated 2011 Global Nonferrous
Exploration Budget ~$17 Billion!!
Data from Metals Economics
Group (2011)
Global Shortage of Hard Rock
Geologists and Engineers
Miners Top MBAs as Metal Boom Makes Geologists Scarce
March 13, 2008 Bloomberg.com
Canadian Mining Sector Suffers Labor Shortage
According to the Colorado School of Mines, there used to be 24 miningengineering programs across North America. Now there are 14. A decade
ago, there were 300 to 400 students graduating from mining-engineering
schools. Today there are about 100. "Almost every day we are getting
requests from different companies, construction, mining, engineering
firms," said Tibor Rozgonyi, head of the mining engineering department at
the Colorado School of Mines.
by: PolishedPrices.com, Jan. 31, 2006
Mining Industry Faces Potential Geologist Shortage
16 March 2011, 2:26 p.m. By Debbie Carlson Of Kitco News
http://www.kitco.com/
Toronto National Post
March 7, 2007
Lack of Qualified Workers
Strains Mining Companies
By Patrick Barta
TORONTO (Kitco News) -The mining industry is starting to
face a dearth of skilled geologists as many veterans are
close to retiring and there are not enough students and
mid-career scientists to replace them.
This could have major ramifications for an industry which is
experiencing a boom not seen since the 1970s and early
1980s.
Demand for mined products is skyrocketing as countries like
China, India and other emerging markets see their
economies grow, but the numbers of geologists who can
find mineral deposits are starting to shrink.
From The Wall Street Journal Online March 2006
NPR Report (March 2008)
The Driver:
BRIC Countries
Brazil, Russia,
India and China
Downsizing of the Geosciences
Collapse of US Minerals
Exploration Industry
Environmental
Geology Boom
Arab Oil
Embargo
American Geological Institute (2002)
American Geological Institute 2008
The Aging Geoscientist Population
2001 American Geological Institute
The Aging Geoscientist Population
Career Choices for Geoscience Students and
Recommendations by Faculty Advisors - 2006
2007 AGI Workforce Report
Where
are the
Jobs?
AGI Webinars
on Careers in
Minerals
Exploration
PRC Programs
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Summer Precambrian
geology field camp in
northeastern Minnesota
Graduate Research
Assistantships & Grants
Professional Workshops
Economic Geology
Curriculum
Public Outreach
Professional Field Camp
US Field Camps focused on
Rocky Mountain Geology
Number of camps
300
250
200
259
150
257
100
103
50
0
1985
1995
2005
Percentage of Schools Offering
Summer Field Camps
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
35%
36%
15%
1985
1995
2005
Source: 2006 AGI Status Report on Geoscience Summer Field Camps
Precambrian Cratons
Canadian Shield vs. Rocky Mountain
Geology
Getting around in
the North Woods
North Country Exposures
Why UMD?
Longstanding reputation for producing field savvy geology
students familiar with Precambrian shield terrains
9
8
7
6
5
Total Theses
4
Local Theme
3
2
Precambrian Theme
1
0
2010-11 Academic Year
28 Graduate Students; 13 Precambrian Dissertation Themes
Why UMD?
Location, Location, Location
Why UMD?
To Satisfy the Demands of the Local Mining Industry
Precambrian Field Camp
• Six-week duration
• Open to up to 24
students
• Involves 8 - 12
instructors
• Eight 2- to 4-day
projects
• Week-long “Capstone”
mapping project
• On-line publication of
geologic map
Precambrian Field Camp
Unique Aspects of PRC Camp
Core Logging
Adit Mapping
Field Geophysics
Glacial Till Mapping
Digital Map-making
The Students - 2010 Field Camp
22 Students from
19 Different Schools
Ryan
Birkemeier
UMD
Pathfinder
Minerals
Tyler Boley
MN State
Mankato
Duluth Metals
Brittnee
Brannan
U Texas-PM
Ben Brooker
Illinois State
UM-Duluth
Ryan Doucette
St. Norbert
(WI)
Illinois State
Eric Carlson
Idaho State
BHP-Australia
Lucy Mulvey
UM - TC
Max Hadley
Univ of
Cincinnati
US Gold
Molly Partridge
Winona State
(MN)
Central
Washington
Corey Holton
U of Arizona
Desert Drilling
Rita Pierce
U of Alaska
Doyon
Minerals
Kyle Kubitza
U of W –
River Falls
Amy Radakovich
St. Norbert (WI)
UM-Duluth
Aubrey Lee
U of MN - Twin
Cities
Numax
Damon Rhodes
Central
Missouri St
Levi Markwood
Slippery Rock
(PA)
Jeff Olson
UW-Eau Claire
Andrew Ritts
Carleton
(MN)
Eric
Scheurer
U of Maine
Charlie Parent
UM-Duluth
Duluth Metals
BHP-Australia
Teaching Assistant
(2009 PRC Alum)
Ernie Thalhammer Alex Tomlinson
Buffalo State (NY)
U of
Cinncinnati
UW-Milwaukee
Alli Vallowe
Virginia Tech
Marshall-Miller
& Associates
Field-experienced Instructors
Jim
Miller
George Hudak
Dean Peterson
Nigel Wattrus
Mark Severson
Mark Jirsa
Phil Larson
2010 Capstone Maps
2007
Field Camp Diploma
2011 Slogan
Been There,
Mapped That
2008
2009
2010
Professional Workshops
Spring 2008 - Minnesota's Iron & Cu-Ni-PGE
Resources: A Workshop for Investors
Fall 2008 - Physical Volcanology, Structure,
and Hydrothermal Alteration associated
with VMS and Lode Gold Deposits in
Archean Greenstone Belts
Fall 2009 - Field, Petrographic, and
Mineralization Characteristics of Mafic
Layered Intrusions
Fall 2010 - Geology, Mineralogy, and Genesis
of Precambrian Iron Formations
Fall 2011 – Geological Society of America
Convention, Minneapolis
Fall 2012 - Ni-Cu-PGE Deposits of the Lake
Superior Region
Graduate Assistantships and
Student Grants
2010 Graduate Research Assistantship
Dan Foley
Spring 2011
Thesis topic: Petrology and Cu-Ni-PGE Mineralization of the
BIC intrusion near L’Anse Michigan
2010 Research Grants (~$5000)
Michael DeVasto, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, MS Candidate
Quantifying the relationship between geochemical and microtextural changes across small-scale granitic shear zones
near Mountain, WI
Robert Mahon, Idaho State University, MS Candidate
Geologic map of the Saddle Peak Hills 7.5’ Quadrangle; sedimentology and age constraints of the Neoproterozoic
Pahrump Group, Death Valley, California
Nicholas Swanson-Hysell, Princeton University, PhD Candidate
A stratigraphic approach to determining the paleointensity of the late Mesoproterozoic geomagnetic field during a period
of rapid latitudinal plate motion, Mamainse Point, Ontario.
Dan Foley, University of Minnesota Duluth, MS Candidate
Petrology and Cu-Ni-PGE mineralization of the BIC intrusion, Baraga County, Northern Michigan
Matt Chaffee, University of Minnesota Duluth, MS Candidate
Petrographic and geochemical study of the hybrid gabbro associated with the Current Lake Intrusive Complex, Magma
Metal’s Thunder Bay North Property
Stephanie Theriault, University of Minnesota Duluth, MS Candidate
Mineralogy, spatial distribution, and isotope geochemistry of sulfur in the Biwabik Iron Formation, Minnesota
Industry Support of Student Research
Possible Areas of Support
• Graduate Research Assistantship
• Analytical Expenses
• Field Expenses
• In-kind Support
• Summer Employment
Sponsor: Magma Metals Ltd, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Student: Matt Chaffee, Tomah, WI
Advisors: Jim Miller (UMD) and Pete Hollings (Lakehead U)
Project Title: Petrographic and Geochemical Study of the
Hybrid Gabbro associated with the Current Lake Intrusive
Complex, Magma Metal’s Thunder Bay North Property
Support Level: $37,301
Covers GRA for 2011-12 academic year,
petrographic and analytical costs,
travel expenses,
in-kind support
2011 summer employment
Term of Support: January 2011 - May 2012
Previous Support
Brian Goldner – Kennecott/Rio Tinto (2007-10)
Chris White – Duluth Metals (2007-09)
Dan Cervin – PolyMet Mining (2009-11)
Dan Foley – Kennecott/Rio Tinto (2009-11)
Cabin Ross – Aquila Resources/HudBay (2009-11)
Michael Totenhagen – Cliffs Natural Res. (2009-11)
Jakob Wartman – Rainy River Resources (2009-11)
Economic Geology at UMD
Starting this year, UMD
students may follow a
Exploration & Mining
Geology Track
Planning for a certificate
program in Exploration
and Mining Geology
beginning in 2013
Outreach - MMEW
Minnesota Minerals Education Workshop
• Three-day summer workshop for 60-90
K-12 teachers held since 1999
• One day of short-courses on MN
geology and resources with
ideas for lesson plans
• Two days of field trips highlighting local
geology and mining operations
• Teachers can receive college credits
• Minimal cost to teachers thanks to
funds contributed by local
industries
• PRC to organize 2011 – 2013 meetings
New in 2012
Professional Field School
• Annual course, timeframe: mid to late May,
• 7-10 day course
• Topic specific, for example:
• Archean gold deposits
• Archean VMS deposits
• Pt-Pd reef targets in layered mafic intrusions
• “Contact” style Cu-Ni-PGE deposits
• Geochemical surveying utilizing surficial glacial
materials
• Each year the topic will change
• Bring in experts when needed to help teach
Professional Field School
Proposed 2012 Field School
Lode Gold Deposits in Archean Greenstone Belts
For More Information
www.d.umn.edu/prc