A sobering truth is that most ore deposits that outcrop at the Earth's surface have already been discovered and exploited. The challenge for geologists of today and in the future is to find buried deposits – a far more difficult undertaking than traditional gold-rush-style prospecting. Modern exploration requires a high degree of scientific insight into how Nature has formed the ore deposits in the first place.
We are therefore carrying out research to understand the genesis of ore deposits, such that exploration companies may use the resulting genetic models to guide their field campaigns. We focus on the class of ore deposits in which hot, high pressure aqueous solutions (hydrothermal fluids) have transported metals in the dissolved state through the Earth's crust. Rock–water interaction along the flow paths has led to precipitation of the metals in locally high concentrations.
