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Phillips C. Thurston
Affiliate Professor
Precambrian Geology
A.B. (Rutgers)
M.Sc. (Bryn Mawr)
Ph.D. (Western)
Department of Earth Sciences
Laurentian University
Sudbury, Ontario
P3E 2C6
Telephone: (705) 675-1151 ext 2372
E-mail: pthurston@laurentian.ca |
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My research activities center on the origin and development of Archean greenstone belts. To pursue this interest, I have used the tools of physical volcanology, sedimentology and trace element geochemistry to provide insight into tectonic and stratigraphic models for greenstone belts. My research is supported by NSERC and by the “Discover Abitibi Greenstone Architecture” grant to a Laurentian team (Thurston, Piercey, Lafrance, Gibson, Lesher). The Discover Abitibi project is designed to improve exploration techniques for VMS and lode gold mineral deposits. In the VMS projects at Timmins and Kirkland Lake we are mapping stratigraphy, volcanology and VMS related alteration. We have succeeded in documenting superposition of multiple hydrothermal systems in the Blake River assemblage and establishing stratigraphy and structure of the Tisdale assemblage and its relationship to diapiric synvolcanic plutonism. In the gold projects we are establishing structural controls on lode gold mineralization at the deposit scale and seeking to expand our understanding to belt scale structural processes and timing. In my NSERC-funded work, I have concentrated upon greenstone stratigraphy such as inter-assemblage contacts as possible unconformities (Michipicoten greenstone belt), and the role of quartz arenite units as indicators of erosional periods and possibly remote indicators of orogenic events (Moyen Nord area of Québec), and the role of Timiskaming sequences as a tool in devising tectonic subdivisions of greenstone belts ( Finland and Russia ).
My interests, in no particular order, are:
- The evolution of greenstone belts.
- The place of quartzite bearing platforms in greenstone evolution in the Superior Province and elsewhere.
- The use of geochemistry, rock types and primary structures in constraining the geodynamic setting of greenstone belt assemblages
- The inter-relationship between potential field geophysics and the geology of greenstone belts.
If you are interested in a M.Sc. or Ph.D. research project, please contact me or see our current research projects and geology graduate program information.
Houlé, Michel, Ph.D. student B.Sc, M.Sc Université Laval Physical Volcanology and Metallogenesis of Komatiites in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Ontario-Québec, Ph.D. thesis [based at University of Ottawa, co-supervised with Tony Fowler and Mike Lesher] Ph.D. thesis (based at University of Ottawa) [Thurston / Tony Fowler]
Baldwin, Geoff, B.Sc. (Acadia) 2009. The Sedimentology and Geochemistry of Banded Iron Formations of the Deloro Assemblage, Bartlett Dome Area, Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Ontario, Canada: Implications for the BIF Deposition and Greenstone Belt Formation. [Thurston / Kamber]
Diana Kuiper, B.Sc. Hons. (Ottawa), Mafic dykes in the Blake River Group [Gibson / Thurston]
Thurston, P.C. and Ayres, L.D., (2004) Archean and Proterozoic greenstone belts: evolution and volcanic cyclicity, p.311-333. In: Eriksson, P., Altermann, W., Nelson, D., Mueller, W., Catuneanu, O., and Strand, K., Tempos and Events in Precambrian Time, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Mueller, W. and Thurston, P.C., (2004) Precambrian Volcanism an Independent Variable through time – Introduction. p. 271-272 In: Eriksson, P., Altermann, W., Nelson, D., Mueller, W., Catuneanu, O., and Strand , K., Tempos and Events in Precambrian Time, Elsevier, Amsterdam
White, D.J., Musacchio, G., Helmstaedt, H.H., Harrap, R.M., Thurston, P.C., van der Velden, A., Hall, K. (2003) Images of a lower-crustal oceanic slab: Direct evidence for tectonic accretion in the Archean Western Superior Province. Geology 31: 997-1000.
Tomlinson, K.Y., Davis, D.W., Percival, J.A., Hughes, D.J., and Thurston, P.C. (2002) Mafic to felsic magmatism and crustal recycling in the Obonga lake greenstone belt, western Superior Province: evidence from geochemistry, Nd isotopes and U-Pb geochronology. Precambrian Research vol. 114, 295-325.
Thurston, P.C. (2002) Autochthonous development of Superior Province Greenstones? Precambrian Research, vol. 115, p11-36.
Sproule, R.A., Lesher, C.M., Ayer, J.A. and Thurston, P.C. (2002) Spatial and Temporal Variations in the Geochemistry of Komatiites and Komatiitic Basalts in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Precambrian Research, vol. 115, p. 153-186.
Ayer, J.A., Thurston, P.C., Dubé, B., Fowler, A.D., Gibson, H.L., Hudak, G., Lafrance, B., Lesher, C.M., Piercey, S.J., Reed, L.E., and Thompson, P.H. (2003) Overview of the Discover Abitibi Greenstone Architecture Project: Subprojects, goals and Results. Summary of Field Work and other Activities 2003, Ontario Geological Survey Open File Report 6120 p.32-1 to 32-12.
Hathway, B., and Thurston, P.C. (2003) Discover Abitibi. Base Metal Subproject 1. Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide Mineralization in the Kamiskotia Area. Summary of Field Work and other Activities 2003, Ontario Geological Survey Open File Report 6120, p. 39-1 to 39-4.
Hocker, S., Hudak, G., Thurston, P.C., and Gibson, H.L. (2003) Discover Abitibi. Base Metal Subproject 2. Preliminary Assessment of Volcanological Facies, Alteration and Minraalization at the Genex and Canadian jamieson Deposits, Kamiskotia Area. Summary of Field Work and other Activities 2003, Ontario Geological Survey Open File Report 6120, p.40-1 to 40-7.
Mueller, W.U., Marquis, R., and Thurston, P.C. (2002) Evolution of the Archean Abitibi greenstone belt and adjacent terranes: new insights from geochronology, geochemistry, structure, and facies analysis.Preface for special issue Precambrian Research. Submitted Dec, 2001.
Sproule, R.A., Lesher, C.M., Ayer, J.A., Thurston, P.C., and Arndt, N.T. (2004) Nd Isotope Geochemistry of 2750-2701 Ma Komatiitic Rocks in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Canada, GAC /MAC Abstracts vol., 29, p.437.
Desjardins-Ceccanese, T.M., and Thurston, P.C. (2004) Stratigraphic, structural, and geochemical evidence for a Parautochthonous origin of the Archean Michipicoten Greenstone Belt, Central Ontario . GAC /MAC Abstracts, vol. 29, p. 438.
Ayer, J.A., and Thurston, P.C. (2003) Discover Abitibi Initiative: Update on the Greenstone Architecture Project. Ontario Prospector 's Association Mines and Minerals Symposium, Toronto Dec. 5, 2003.
Thurston, P.C. (2003) The balance between autochthonous and allochthonous development of Superior province greenstones. GAC Abstracts vol. 28, p. 170
Sproule, R.A.C. Houle, M.G., Lesher, C.M. Keays R.R., Ayer J.A. and Thurston, P.C. (2003) Chalcophile element geochemistry of komatitic rocks in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Canada : Implications for their source region and metallogenesis. GAC Abstracts Vol. 28, p. 160.
Sproule, R.A.C., Lesher, C.M., Ayer, J.A., Thurston, P.C. and Herzberg, C.T. (2003) Spatial and temporal variations in the geochemistry of kkomatiites and komatiitic basalts in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, GAC Abstracts vol. 28, p. 160.
Thurston, P.C. (2002) Tectonic Controls on Mafic Magmatism in the Superior Province . 9 th International Platinum Symposium, Abstract with Program p. 445-448.
Thurston, P.C. (2002) Contr ôles tectoniques pour le magmatisme mafique associé avec les gisements d ' EGP dans la partie occidentale de la Province du Supérieur. Quatrième Atelier Annuel du Projet Grand - Nord, Ministère des Ressources Naturelles, Québec .
Thurston, P.C. (2002) Divisions tectoniques du nord-ouest de lèOntario. Quatrième Atelier Annuel du Projet Grand - Nord, Ministère des Ressources Naturelles, Québec . |
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