Mineral Exploration Research Centre
Encyclopedia
The Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) is a semi-autonomous research centre associated with the Department of Earth Sciences at Laurentian University
in Sudbury Ontario, Canada.
The mission of MERC is to conduct and promote cutting-edge, field-based, collaborative research on mineral deposits and their environments, and to educate and train highly qualified personnel (HQP) for careers in the minerals industry, academia or government. The objectives of MERC are to: 1) promote collaborative university-government-industry research on mineral deposits and Precambrian geology, 2) pursue a fundamental understanding of mineral deposits and their geological settings, 3) aid the mining industry in the discovery of ore deposits, and 4) train geologists in mineral exploration research techniques.
MERC has expertise in the geology
, mineralogy
, geochemistry
, and genesis of magmatic nickel-copper-PGE deposits, volcanology
, geochemistry, and alteration associated with hydrothermal copper-zine-(gold) volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposit
s, structure, geochemistry, and alteration associated with hydrothermal orogenic lode gold deposits, and the mineralogy, geochemistry, and genesis of rare-element and rare-metal pegmatites.
Laurentian University
Laurentian University , was incorporated on March 28, 1960, is a mid-sized bilingual university in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada....
in Sudbury Ontario, Canada.
The mission of MERC is to conduct and promote cutting-edge, field-based, collaborative research on mineral deposits and their environments, and to educate and train highly qualified personnel (HQP) for careers in the minerals industry, academia or government. The objectives of MERC are to: 1) promote collaborative university-government-industry research on mineral deposits and Precambrian geology, 2) pursue a fundamental understanding of mineral deposits and their geological settings, 3) aid the mining industry in the discovery of ore deposits, and 4) train geologists in mineral exploration research techniques.
MERC has expertise in the geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
, geochemistry
Geochemistry
The field of geochemistry involves study of the chemical composition of the Earth and other planets, chemical processes and reactions that govern the composition of rocks, water, and soils, and the cycles of matter and energy that transport the Earth's chemical components in time and space, and...
, and genesis of magmatic nickel-copper-PGE deposits, volcanology
Volcanology
Volcanology is the study of volcanoes, lava, magma, and related geological, geophysical and geochemical phenomena. The term volcanology is derived from the Latin word vulcan. Vulcan was the ancient Roman god of fire....
, geochemistry, and alteration associated with hydrothermal copper-zine-(gold) volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposit
Volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposit
Volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposits are a type of metal sulfide ore deposit, mainly Cu-Zn-Pb which are associated with and created by volcanic-associated hydrothermal events in submarine environments....
s, structure, geochemistry, and alteration associated with hydrothermal orogenic lode gold deposits, and the mineralogy, geochemistry, and genesis of rare-element and rare-metal pegmatites.