St. Francis Xavier University
Dr. Celeste Cunningham
Celeste Cunningham is an Assistant Professor of Geology at St. Francis Xavier University. Her research aims to understand Earth’s surface environments, both in the past and present. She integrates physical sedimentology with geochemistry, biogeochemistry, and stratigraphy to study global geological processes, their products, and their links with global climate patterns. In particular, her research utilizes a combination of field-based mapping and laboratory-based geochemical analyses to examine the physical processes that control depositional trends in outcrop, and how carbon sequestration in sediments has occurred and evolved throughout geologic time.
Dates and Locations
November 22, 2024: Saint Mary’s University
November 26, 2024: Memorial University of Newfoundland
January 20, 2025: Acadia University
For more information, please contact Deanne van Rooyen
Making Waves: Using the Sedimentary Record to Unravel Mysteries of the Deep Ocean
Deep-marine fan systems are extensive features that host some of the most significant accumulations of sediment worldwide. They also preserve a near-continuous record of paleoenvironmental conditions, including ocean chemistry, biological activity, climate, and sea level, and can host valuable geologic resources. Due to their large scale, the destructive nature of deep-marine processes, and the general inaccessibility of the deep ocean, the study of modern deep-marine fans poses significant challenges. It is therefore necessary to use the ancient sedimentary record to study these systems and reconstruct past oceans and environmental trends. In this talk, I’ll go coast-to-coast exploring two ancient deep-marine systems and what they can tell us about the physical processes operating in the depths of the oceans, the evolution of earth and how the global carbon cycle is influenced by marine processes, and the role these systems can play in the future of green energy.
Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic), Natural Resources Canada, Dartmouth, NS
Dr. Michael Parsons
Dr. Michael Parsons is a Research Scientist with Natural Resources Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He received a Combined Honours B.Sc. in Earth Sciences and Chemistry from Dalhousie University in 1994, and a Ph.D. in Geological and Environmental Sciences from Stanford University in 2001. Most of his research focuses on the sources, cycling, and fate of metals in the environment. He is particularly interested in the geochemistry and mineralogy of mineral deposits and mine wastes, and developing new methods to characterize and mitigate the environmental impacts of metal mining activities. Dr. Parsons is currently studying the effects of weathering on the distribution and recoverability of critical minerals in historical mine tailings, as well as the processes controlling mercury cycling in lakes throughout northern Canada. He is an Adjunct Professor at Dalhousie, Queen’s, and the University of New Brunswick and regularly co-supervises students as part of his research activities. The results of his research are important for understanding the ecosystem and human health risks associated with metals in the environment and provide a scientific basis for developing environmental guidelines and for managing contaminated sites.
Dates and Locations
November 4, 2024: University of New Brunswick
November 14, 2024: Dalhousie University
November 20, 2024: St. Francis Xavier University
January 2025: Cape Breton University
For more information, please contact Deanne van Rooyen
Critical Minerals in Canada: Mitigating Mining Impacts in the Quest for a Low-Carbon and Digital Economy
In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in global demand for many elements used in green energy and high-tech applications, including antimony, cobalt, germanium, indium, lithium, and the rare earth elements (REE). Canada contains abundant resources of these “critical minerals” and many companies are working hard to bring new mines into production. However, our understanding of the potential environmental impacts associated with critical metal mining is lacking compared to commodities such as copper and gold. Processing of REEs and other critical minerals has led to environmental degradation in some parts of the world, but there are few published studies of these risks and impacts. This talk will provide an overview of Canadian critical mineral deposits and ongoing efforts to develop these resources in a manner that minimizes impacts on the environment and local communities. Case studies will focus on characterizing pre-mining baseline conditions, predicting cumulative impacts of new mining in old mining camps, and reprocessing historical mine wastes to recover valuable critical minerals. Earth scientists have a key role to play in identifying new sources of critical minerals and ensuring that Canada is an environmentally responsible supplier of these resources.