Supervisors: Professors Michael G  Petterson and Andrew D Saunders and Dr Gawen Jenkin (University of Leicester) and Drs Jon Naden, Dan J. Smith and Gus Gunn (British Geological Survey)

Fully funded PhD Studentship

Project summary: The studentship is funded by University of Leicester and the British Geological Survey.  The project aims at advancing our understanding of the Cu and Au mineralisation environment within the SW Pacific. The SW Pacific region is noted for its Cu–Au mineralisation ‘fertility’ and includes the largest epithermal deposit and highest grade Au porphyry deposit in the world (e.g. Ladolam and Grasberg) as well as numerous other deposits situated between Irian Jaya and Fiji.  This project will focus on potential controls on this regional ‘fertility’, examining links between Cu–Au mineralisation, semi-metal (Se, Te, Sb, Bi, As) geochemistry and magma composition (major, trace, REE and radiogenic isotope geochemistry) along a strike length of 500 km within the modern Solomon Islands arc.  A secondary objective is to examine site-specific structural controls on mineralisation and volcanism to address questions relating to mineralisation, transpressive tectonics and crustal complexity.  Four or five localities (three mineralised and two barren) will form the core of this study. 
The successful candidate will work with scientists and laboratory facilities at the University of Leicester in collaboration with the British Geological Survey, NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratories, the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, and the Solomon Islands Geological Survey.  Fieldwork will centre on mineralised and un-mineralised volcanic centres within the Solomon Islands archipelago from Guadalcanal in the south east to the Shortland Islands in the northwest.  The aims of the project are to: define, as precisely as possible, genetic links between Na and/or K-rich arc magmatism and Cu-Au mineralisation within a highly transpressive tectonic environment and; develop new exploration criteria for locating future mineral deposits of this type.  The student will receive training across a range of laboratory methodologies and metals-focused fieldwork.  This PhD will be attractive to future employers and has the potential to produce very high impact publications and real-world applications including natural resources policy development and regional metals prospectivity analysis.
Key project methodologies and training elements:
Training will include: utilisation of XRF-spectrometer, electron microprobe, ICP-MS, mass spectrometers; field and analytical procedures; optical microscopy; petrogenetic modelling and geochemical data analysis; mineral prospectivity analysis; and oral/poster presentation at international conferences, and other transferable skills.
Suggested reading:
Smith D.J., Petterson M.G., Saunders A.D., Millar, I.L., Jenkin G.R.T., Toba, T.,  Naden  J.,  and  Cook  J.M. In press. The petrogenesis of sodic island arc magmas at Savo volcano, Solomon Islands.  Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology.

Petterson M G, Neal C R, Mahoney, J J, Saunders A D, Babbs T, Duncan R A, Tolia D, Magu R, Qopoto  C, Mahoa H, and Natogga D.  1999.  Geological and tectonic subdivision of Solomon Islands SW Pacific.  Continental accretion and growth within an intra-oceanic  setting.  Tectonophysics, 301, 35 - 60.

Sillitoe, R.H. 2002.  Some metallogenic features of gold and copper deposits related to alkaline rocks and consequences for exploration.  Mineralium Deposita, 37(1): 4-13.

About the supervisors:
MGP has worked and published on the geology and geotectonics of the Solomon Islands region since 1992.   GRTJ has wide experience of geochemistry, fluid-rock interaction and mineralisation.  ADS has researched and published extensively in the fields of igneous petrogenesis, large igneous provinces and climatic impacts of large scale eruptions.  JN is a senior research geochemist at the BGS and recently held a Marie Curie Experienced Research Fellowship to work on Milos.  DJS is a research scientist  with the BGS and has recently completed a PhD and a post doctoral study of Savo volcano, Solomon Islands. GG is a principal research scientist with the BGS and has worked and published extensively on mineral deposits from a wide range of environments.
To apply: All candidates should apply to the Postgraduate Admissions Office using the Postgraduate Application Form available at http://www.le.ac.uk/graduateoffice/application_form.pdf together with a covering letter, two completed references and a CV.   Enquiries to supervisor Professor Michael G Petterson, email  mp329@le.ac.uk.   Closing date is 31st July 2009.