The Zambian Copperbelt is currently one of the major focuses of our research. We are starting from basics looking at the statigraphy, structure, and metamorphic history of the district and its surrounding area. We hope that this work will provide exciting new advances for the understanding of the the tectonics of the Neoproterozoic Damara-Lufilian fold belt and the genesis of these world-class deposits. [photos of the July 21, 2001 eclipse in Zambia]

I maintain a longstanding interest in the geology and genesis of the carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb-Ag deposits of the Irish Carboniferous as well as the geology of sediment-hosted Zn-Pb deposits world-wide.

I have also been conducting research for many years into the somewhat enigmatic geology and origin of iron oxide-Cu-Au-U-LREE ("Olympic Dam-type") ore deposits in order to define exploration criteria for discovery of economic orebodies of this type. Currently our research on these deposits is focused on very young systems in the Andes (Chile and Argentina) and on late Precambrian to Cambrian systems in the Lufilian Arc of Zambia.

Finally, we are working on zinc oxide deposits in several areas of the world trying to ascertain the characteristics of hypogene rather than supergene deposits.

I am also very interested in the links between biological activity and metallic ore deposition, particularly the involvement of microbial communities in sulfide precipitation.

While I welcome graduate students with interest in any of these research areas, I work with graduate students to tailor thesis research topics that suit their interests. The majority of my research, and that of my students, is funded by private industry. I focus primarily on solving research problems through field studies, supplemented with petrography and other laboratory techniques (isotopic, fluid inclusion, geochronology) as appropriate.

(background: Orbicular granite near Caldera, Chile)