UW Oshkosh Geology Department

Research - George J. Hudak

My research specializes in the study of the physical volcanology and hydrothermal alteration that is associated with Archean (greater than 2.5 billion year old) volcanic-associated ore deposits (specifically volcanic hosted massive sulfide deposits and epithermal deposits) in Ontario , northeastern Minnesota , and Wisconsin . Since 1985 I have been investigating the physical volcanology, hydrothermal alteration, and geochemistry associated with the volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposits in the Sturgeon Lake Caldera Complex, northwestern Ontario . Through detailed field mapping, diamond drill hole core investigations, petrographic studies, and geochemical evaluations, my colleagues from the University of Minnesota - Duluth (Dr. Ronald Morton, Jamie Walker, Peter Jongewaard and Dean Peterson) and I have discovered and documented one of the best preserved Neoarchean caldera complexes in the world. This work is leading to improved exploration techniques for volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposits, and is helping us to better understand the dynamics of submarine explosive volcanoes. The research has been funded by a cooperative effort between the University of Minnesota - Duluth, the Geological Survey of Canada, Noranda Mining and Exploration Inc., Minnova, Inc., and Rio Algom Exploration, Inc.

I am continuing my investigations of the physical volcanology, sedimentology and hydrothermal alteration associated with several volcanic-hosted massive sulfide prospects in the Neoarchean Vermilion Greenstone Belt of northeastern Minnesota . Detailed field studies (volcanic and sedimentary facies mapping, as well as hydrothermal alteration mineral assemblage mapping), petrographic investigations, and lithogeochemical evaluations are yielding a better understanding of the volcanic environments, hydrothermal processes, and potential ore-forming geological events that occurred in the Vermilion district over 2.7 billion years ago. This research is currently being conducted with geologists from the Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota Duluth (Steve Hauck, John Heine, and Dean Peterson), the Geology Department at the University of Minnesota - Duluth (Ron Morton and Adam Hoffman), and is being funded by the Minerals Coordinating Committee from the State of Minnesota, a Permanent University Trust Fund Grant from the Natural Resources Research Institute (University of Minnesota – Duluth), and a Faculty Development Research Grant from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Four University of Wisconsin Oshkosh undergraduate students who participated in mapping and interpreting the volcanology (Trent Newkirk), hydrothermal alteration processes (Jason Odette), alteration mineral chemistry (Stephanie Hocker), and submarine plutonic processes (Heidi Drexler) not only received Undergraduate Student and Faculty Collaborative Research Grants from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, but also received best student paper awards at recent Institute of Lake Superior Geology Meetings.

I am currently collaborating with colleagues at Laurentian University ( Sudbury , Ontario ), the Ontario Geological Survey, and the Geological Survey of Canada in deciphering the volcanic stratigraphy and hydrothermal alteration mineral assemblages associated with volcanic-hosted massive sulfide orebodies in the Neoarchean Abitibi Greenstone Belt near Timmins , Ontario . This work is being completed by a cooperative effort between academic and government researchers, as well as industry partners as part of the Discover Abitibi Project. My particular role in this project is detailed mapping of volcanic facies and hydrothermal alteration mineral assemblages associated with volcanic-hosted massive sulfide mines in the Kamiskotia region near Timmins , Ontario . In addition, I continue to do minerals industry-funded research associated with Neoarchean volcanic-hosted massive sulfide and epithermal precious metal mineralizing systems in the US and Canada.

Additionally, I am currently involved in developing the Precambrian Research Center ( University of Minnesota – Duluth ) summer field school, which will have its inaugural field camp during July and August, 2007. The purpose of this field camp is to train the next generation of students and industry employees in field and computer methodologies involved in mapping Precambrian geological terranes. Check out www.d.umn.edu/prc for more details, or feel free to contact me at 920-424-4463.

Grants:

Undergraduate Student and Faculty Collaborative Research Grant, UW Oshkosh, Spring 2006, $2,500: “Using Lava Flow Morphology to Locate 2.7 Billion Year Old Volcanic Vents”, with Kevin Stack, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh undergraduate Geology student.

Faculty Development Program, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh , Spring 2005, $744: “Submarine Hydrothermal Mineralization”. Grant to attend two-day long short course on submarine hydrothermal mineralization taught at the University of Ottawa .

NSERC, Spring 2004: "Geological Architecture of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in the Timmins – Kirkland Lake Region", with John Ayer (Ontario Geological Survey), Beniot Dube (Geological Survey of Canada), Anthony Fowler (University of Ottawa), Harold Gibson (Laurentian University), Bruno Lafrance (Laurentian University), Micheal Lesher (Laurentian University), Steven Piercy (Laurentian University), Phillip Thurston (Laurentian University) and Peter Thompson (Thompson Geological Consulting, Ltd.).

Faculty Sabbatical Program, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh : One semester sabbatical at the Mineral Exploration Research Centre, Laurentian University, Sudbury , Ontario , Canada .

Undergraduate Student & Faculty Collaborative Research Grant, UW Oshkosh, Spring 2004, $2,500: "Detailed Field Studies of ~2.7 Billion Year Old Submarine Volcanic Rocks and VMS Deposits, Timmins, Ontario, Canada", with Chris Ingram, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh undergraduate Geology student.

Faculty Development Program, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh , Spring 2003, $5,200: "Field and Laboratory Studies of Archean Peperite Deposits" (Research Program Grant to perform detailed mapping, petrographic analysis, and lithogeochemical analysis of exceptionally well-preserved peperite deposits in the Archean rocks of northeastern Minnesota ).

Undergraduate Student & Faculty Collaborative Research Grant, UW Oshkosh, Spring 2003, $2,500: "A Field and Laboratory Study to Evaluate the Genetic Relationships Between the Purvis Pluton and Volcanic Rocks and Volcanic-associated Mineralization in the Vermilion District of NE Minnesota", with Heidi Drexler, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh undergraduate Geology student.

Undergraduate Student & Faculty Collaborative Research Grant, UW Oshkosh, Spring 2003, $2,500: "Detailed Field Mapping and Laboratory Analysis of ~2.7 Billion Year Old Peperite Deposits, NE Minnesota", with Jordan Wilson, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh undergraduate Geology student.

FEDNOR, Government of Canada, Spring 2003, $1,170,000 Canadian: "Discover Abitibi: Architecture of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in the Timmins – Kirkland Lake region: A new geological and metallogenic framework to aid in the discovery of the next generation of base metal and gold deposits", with John Ayer (Ontario Geological Survey), Beniot Dube (Geological Survey of Canada), Anthony Fowler (University of Ottawa), Harold Gibson (Laurentian University), Bruno Lafrance (Laurentian University), Micheal Lesher (Laurentian University), Steven Piercy (Laurentian University), Phillip Thurston (Laurentian University) and Peter Thompson (Thompson Geological Consulting, Ltd.).

Minerals Coordinating Committee, State of Minnesota, Fall 2002, $143,000: "Comparative Geology, Stratigraphy, Hydrothermal Alteration, Mineralization, and Lithogeochemistry of the Ely Greenstone Belt Between Four Mile Lake and Armstrong Lake, Western Vermilion District", with John Heine (University of Minnesota – Duluth Natural Resources Research Institute).

Undergraduate Student & Faculty Collaborative Research Grant, UW Oshkosh, Spring 2002, $2,500: "Chemistry of Alteration Mineral Phases at the Archean Five Mile Lake Volcanic-associated Mineral Prospect in Northeastern Minnesota", with Stephanie Hocker, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh undergraduate Geology student.

Permanent University Trust Fund, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota - Duluth, $72,000: "Comparative Geology, Stratigraphy, and Lithogeochemistry of the Needleboy Lake area, Gafvert Lake Sequence, and the Area Between the Skeleton Lake and Five Mile Lake VMS Occurrences, Western Vermilion District", with Steven Hauck (NRRI) and Ronald Morton (Uniersity of Minnesota - Duluth).

Faculty Development Program, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Fall 2000, $1500: "Tasmania VHMS Field Trip" (Off-Campus Program Grant to attend a Society of Economic Geologists Field Trip to investigate the volcanic rocks and volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposits in the Mount Read Volcanic Belt, Tasmania, Australia).

Undergraduate Student and Faculty Collaborative Research Grant, Spring, 2000, $2500: "Field Mapping of Alteration Mineral Assemblages Associated with Ancient Volcanic-associated Mineral Deposits in Northeastern Minnesota", with Jason Odette, University of Wisconsin undergraduate Geology student. Undergraduate

Student and Faculty Collaborative Research Grant, Spring, 2000, $2500: "Field Mapping of Lava Flow Morphologies Associated with Ancient Volcanic-associated Mineral Deposits, Northeastern Minnesota", with Trent Newkirk, University of Wisconsin undergraduate Geology Student.

Minerals Coordinating Committee Grant, State of Minnesota, Fall 1999, $95,000: "Comparitive Geology, Stratigraphy, and Lithogeochemistry of the Quartz Hill, Eagles Nest, and Five Mile Lake VMS Occurrences, Western Vermilion District: Understanding the Local and Regional Volcanology and Synvolcanic Hydrothermal Alteration and its Relationship to Mineralization", with Steven Hauck and John Heine (NRRI) and Ronald Morton (University of Minnesota - Duluth).

Faculty Development Program, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Spring 1999, $800: "Noranda Field Trip" (Off-Campus Program Grant to attend a Geological Association of Canada Field Trip to investigate hydrothermal alteration associated with the VHMS ore deposits in the Noranda region, Quebec, Canada).

Faculty Development Program, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh , Spring 1999, $4850: "Development of an Integrated Geological Field Course in Yellowstone National Park ", with Dr. Maureen Muldoon, Geology Department, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh .

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Minerals, Spring 1998, $42,000: "Bedrock and Glacial Drift Mapping for VMS and Lode Gold Alteration in the Vermilion - Big Fork Greenstone Belt".

Geological Survey of Canada / Noranda Mining and Exploration, Inc., Spring 1997, $50,000: "Volcanological and Hydrothermal Alteration Studies in the Sturgeon Lake Caldera Complex, northwestern Ontario " (post-doctoral research fellowship, University of Minnesota - Duluth ).

Noranda Mining and Exploration Company, Lyon Lake Division, 1991-1992, $20,000: "Volcanological and Hydrothermal Alteration Studies in the NBU Volcanic Cycle, Sturgeon Lake Caldera Complex, northwestern Ontario " (Research Assistantship, University of Minnesota - Duluth ).


Mapping Neoarchaen volcanic rocks in Northeast Minnesota.	Altered pillow lavas at Fivemile Lake, MN.

Evaluating mineralized rhyolite in the Vermilion District, Northeast MN.

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Research - George J. Hudak