Geology and Geophysics About Us Contact Us
 

Economic Geology and Geochemistry
Courses_Syllabi Button
Department Directory Button
Department News Button Facilities Button Field Studies Button Friday Seminar Button Geologic Time Table Geophysical Institute Geoscience Club Button Graduate Program Button Related Links Button Research Button Undergraduate Program Button
Images of Gold
Professor Newberry examining an outcrop
Images of Gold
Professor Newberry examining a rock outcrop.


The main thrust of the Graduate Program in Economic Geology at UAF is the MS degree, designed to give students a practical working knowledge of the basic tools of economic geology, including mapping and core logging, as well as experience in the use of research tools to test hypotheses. MS students are encouraged to and assisted in acquiring a thesis project which involves working at least one summer in the field with industry or government geologists involved in exploration, mining, and/or mapping. The MS thesis is then based around the field work with additional laboratory investigations using 'mundane' tools such as thin section and polished section petrography as well as advanced analytical equipment such as laser Ar/Ar dating and electron microprobe studies.

Lab

Laser

 Graduate students are advised by a 3-member committee, chosen on the basis of the specific project which is undertaken. UAF faculty who commonly serve on Economic Geology theses include UAF faculty with expertise in geochronology; microbeam analytical techniques; igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary petrology; and structural geology. In addition, Economic Geologists at the Alaska State Survey (conveniently located 0.5 km from UAF) and the USGS (Anchorage) advise students and serve on committees.

Projects undertaken in recent years include both precious metal and base metal-rich deposits and prospects in SE, SW, NW, NE, and interior Alaska and have involved deposit types including volcanogenic massive sulfides, 'sed-ex' deposits, greisens, metamorphic gold deposits, intrusion-related gold deposits, skarns, placer deposits, and low-temperature replacement deposits. At present there are seven graduate students in the program, who gather together Fridays at noon to discuss their recent thoughts and discoveries.

Faculty

Dr. Rainer Newberry Economic Geology, Geochemistry ffrn@uaf.edu


Dr. Mary Keskinen Metamorphic Petrology ffmjk@uaf.edu

Dr. Paul Layer Geochronology player@gi.alaska.edu

John Eichelberger Igneous Petrology eich@gi.alaska.edu

Ken Severin Microprobe Analysis fnkps@uaf.edu

Gold Mining Area
Old Mining Area
  UAF Logo
Department of Geology and Geophysics
Reichardt Building Room 308, 900 Yukon Drive
P.O. Box 755780
Fairbanks, AK 99775-5780
phone: (907) 474-7565
fax: (907) 474-5163
 

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. UAF is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution.

Last modified August 4, 2006 by geology@uaf.edu

 

 
Background Image is a dinosaur track found by 2006 Geology Field Camp students Susi Tomsich and Jeremiah Drewel. Photo compliments of Jeremiah Drewel.