HELLO!HELLO!
Economic geology is an exciting interface between science and society where fundamental scientific studies of mineral deposits converge with the real-world challenges of increasing demand for resources, deposit discovery, and environmental awareness. With the current "boom" in minerals commodities there is a huge demand for well trained economic geologists throughout the world.
The stunning advances in our understanding of mineral deposits during the past 50 years have been the result of careful field-based studies of ancient and modern ore systems using a variety of petrographic, geochemical, isotopic, hydrologic, and geophysical techniques. In the future, successful mineral exploration and development will require imaginative individuals with a broad range of scientific, communication, and public policy skills. The goal of the economic geology program at CSM is to train economic geologists to be the discoverers and innovators of the 21st century.
Before arriving at CSM in mid-1996, I spent 11 years in the minerals industry. In addition to discovering the carbonate-hosted Lisheen Zn-Pb-Ag deposit in Ireland, I worked on porphyry copper and other intrusive-related deposits, precious metal systems, volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits, sediment-hosted Zn-Pb and Cu deposits, and iron oxide Cu-U-Au-LREE deposits throughout the world. Recognizing the increasing relevance of governmental regulation and public policy for mineral exploration, I spent two and a half years in Washington, D.C., working first in the U.S. Senate and later in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on environmental and natural resource issues. I remain closely tied to the minerals industry where I serve as a board member for three exploration companies. I have also maintained ties to Washington, D.C. through service with the National Research Council.
My current research focuses on deposit- and district-scale studies of metallic ore systems. Deposit-scale studies examine the genesis of ore deposits through detailed fieldwork and careful laboratory research to characterize the geologic setting of the deposits and determine alteration and mineralization events. District-scale investigations involve geologic mapping to determine the tectonic and structural factors important in localizing mineral deposits and to evaluate regional-scale fluid flow and the geochemical processes involved in mineral deposit formation. Much of my recent work has dealt with iron oxide-copper-gold systems and with sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits, primarily in the Central African Copperbelt (Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia).
Increased population and economic growth will require a continuing supply of mineral products and scientists who have the skills to find them and plan their exploitation in an acceptable manner. I welcome highly motivated students from both academia and industry who are interested in pursuing the challenges of economic geology and who are eager to learn and apply a wide range of skills to the study of ore deposits.
Murray W. Hitzman
