The University of Western Australia

Professor T. Campbell McCuaig

Director
Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET)

Contact details

Address

Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET)
The University of Western Australia (M006)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

6488 2685

Fax

6488 1178

Email

campbell.mccuaig@uwa.edu.au

Qualifications

BSc Lakehead, PhD Sask.

Biography

Professor Cam McCuaig received his BSc from Lakehead University in 1988, and PhD in Geology from the University of Saskatchewan in 1996. Subsequently Cam moved to Australia, where with SRK Consulting he rose to the position of Director, garnering 10 years experience in providing solutions to the mineral exploration and mining industry. His experience spans 6 continents and numerous commodities in geological terranes ranging from Archean to Eocene in age, including gold, nickel, iron, copper, uranium, zinc, amongst others. For the past 6 years, Cam has been Director of the Centre for Exploration Targeting, a joint venture between the University of Western Australia, Curtin University, and the Minerals Industry that is focussed on advancing the science of exploration targeting. His leadership has resulted in a world-recognised sustainable research centre with >60 Corporate Members, 30 staff, 30 research PhD/ MSc students, a turnover of >$5M/yr and research outcomes that are impacting on exploration industry practice, yet also being recognised at the highest academic levels in publications such as Nature and Science.

Key research

As Director of the Centre for Exploration targeting (CET) I have an interest in the entire spectrum of research that CET undertakes. However, my current personal research interests include:

(1) Petrogenesis and emplacement of mafic-ultramafic magmas and controls on associated metal deposits (nickel, platinum-group elements). This entails a whole-earth approach to these metal systems. Current focus is on komatiite-hosted systems.

(2) Structural controls on mineral systems – from deposit to lithosphere scale. (a) Structures as permeability pathways for magmas and fluids (b) Structural modification of deposits by subsequent deformation. (c)Construction of 4D architectures (3D plus time) for terranes, and understanding where mineral systems fit within these frameworks.

(3) Mineral system approach to ore deposits, understanding systems - from lithosphere scale controls on sources of metals, fluids, energy, to understanding localized physical throttles for fluid/magma and chemical triggers causing metal deposition and accumulation.

(4) Exploration Targeting Geoscience (a) Conceptual Targeting - how to take understanding of mineral systems and break them down into probabilistic targeting and ranking criteria, and application of these criteria in the computer environment to achieve targeting simulations to facilitate risk analysis. (b) Empirical Targeting – quantifying and understanding controls on observed size frequency distributions of various styles of mineral deposits in a wide variety of geological terranes, and GIS-based targeting. (c) Heuristics and human behaviour effects on exploration targeting (d) Marriage of business and research outcomes in practical targeting of mineral deposits

COMMODITIES OF CURRENT INTEREST: Au, Au/Cu systems of all agesUranium systemsOrthomagmatic Ni-Cu sulphide systemsSediment-hosted Pb-ZnVolcanogenic Cu-ZnBIF-hosted FeCurrent research projects span 6 continents, with numerous projects within Western Australia.Examples include: Tectonostratigraphic controls on the location of komatiite-hosted Ni-Cu camps, Yilgarn Craton, WA collaboration with Mark Barley, Steve Beresford, Marco Fiorentini, Nicolas Thebaud, Aurore Joly (all CET) - Steve Barnes (CSIRO), St. Barbara Mining, Norilsk, BHPBilliton, ARC linkageUranium prospectivity analysis Australia-wide, comparing manual and GIS-based automated approaches - with Dr. Alok Porwal, Dr. Oliver Kreuzer, Vanessa Markwitz and confidential industry partnerQuantifying endowment – Yilgarn Au and Ni (Antony Mameuse – PhD study, with Assoc. Prof Pietro Guj, Dr. Oliver Kreuzer, Industry partner - Intierra)Structural evolution of the Lake Johnston terrane, Yilgarn Craton and implications for targeting Ni-sulphide deposits (with Dr. John Miller, Dr Aurore Joly Industry partner Lionore Australia)Stratigraphy and tectonic architecture of the Leonora and Southern Cross regions and controls on location of Ni-sulphide mineralisation, Yilgarn, WA (with Dr. John Miller, Dr. Steve Barnes (CSIRO), Dr Nicolas Thebaud, industry partner St. Barbara Mines)Structural and metamorphic effects on the Flying Fox Orebody, Forrestania belt, Yilgarn Craton (Jane Collins – PhD study with Assoc. Prof. Steffen Hagemann, Industry Partners Western Areas/Newexco)Fluid evolution in the New Celebration gold deposit, Western Australia (Joanna Hodge – pmd*CRC PhD study, with Assoc. Prof. Steffen Hagemann, Dr. Peter Neumayr)4D tectonic framework for the Western Tanami and its Au mineral systems (Leon Bagas – PhD study, Irainti Irianti – MSc study, with Dr. Frank Bierlein, Professor Mike Dentith, Dr. Eunjung Holden, industry partners MERIWA, GSWA, Tanami Gold)Gold mineralisation in the western Qinling fold belt, Gansu Province China (PhD Zeng Qingtao, Dragon Mining, Peking University, Nanjing University)Evolution of alkaline magmas and associated mineral systems, Red River Fault Zone, Western Yunnan Province, China (PhD Yongjun Lu, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences)

Publications

Said, N., Kerrich, R., Maier, W. D., and McCuaig, C., 2011, Behaviour of Ni-PGE-Au-Cu in mafic-ultramafic volcanic suites of the 2.7 Ga Kambalda Sequence, Kalgoorlie Terrane, Yilgarn Craton: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 75, p. 2882-2910.

Guj, P., Fallon, M., McCuaig, T. C., and Fagan, R., 2011, A Time-Series Audit of Zipf's Law as a Measure of Terrane Endowment and Maturity in Mineral Exploration: Economic Geology, v. 106, p. 241-259.

Porwal, A., González-Álvarez, I., Markwitz, V., McCuaig, T. C., and Mamuse, A., 2010, Weights-of-evidence and logistic regression modeling of magmatic nickel sulfide prospectivity in the Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 38, p. 184-196.

McCuaig, T. C., Beresford, S., and Hronsky, J., 2010, Translating the mineral systems approach into an effective exploration targeting system: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 38, p. 128-138.

Markwitz, V., Maier, W. D., González-Álvarez, I., McCuaig, T. C., and Porwal, A., 2010, Magmatic nickel sulfide mineralization in Zimbabwe: Review of deposits and development of exploration criteria for prospectivity analysis: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 38, p. 139-155.

Kreuzer, O. P., Markwitz, V., Porwal, A. K., and McCuaig, T. C., 2010, A continent-wide study of Australia's uranium potential: Part I: GIS-assisted manual prospectivity analysis: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 38, p. 334-366.

Joly, A., Miller, J., and McCuaig, T. C., 2010, Archaean polyphase deformation in the Lake Johnston Greenstone Belt area: Implications for the understanding of ore systems of the Yilgarn Craton: Precambrian Research, v. 177, p. 181-198.

Joly, A., McCuaig, T. C., and Bagas, L., 2010, The importance of early crustal architecture for subsequent basin-forming, magmatic and fluid flow events. The Granites-Tanami Orogen example: Precambrian Research, v. 182, p. 15-29.

González-Álvarez, I., Porwal, A., Beresford, S. W., McCuaig, T. C., and Maier, W. D., 2010, Hydrothermal Ni prospectivity analysis of Tasmania, Australia: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 38, p. 168-183.

Ford, A., and McCuaig, T. C., 2010, The effect of map scale on geological complexity for computer-aided exploration targeting: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 38, p. 156-167.

Fiorentini, M. L., Beresford, S. W., Rosengren, N., Barley, M. E., and McCuaig, T. C., 2010, Contrasting komatiite belts, associated Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposit styles and assimilation histories: Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 57, p. 543-566.

Thebaud, N., Fiorentini, M. L., McCuaig, C., Miller, J., Barnes, S. J., Joly, A., and Doublier, M., 2009, Tectonostratigraphic controls on the localization of Archaean komatiite-hosted nickel-sulphide deposits and camps in the Yilgarn Craton: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Suppliment 1, v. 73, p. A1323.

McCuaig, T. C., and Hronsky, J. M. A., 2000, The Current Status and Future of the Interface between the Exploration Industry and Economic Geology Research: Society of Economic Geologists Reviews in Economic Geology, v. 13, p. 553-559.

McCuaig, T. C., and Kerrich, R., 1998, P-T-t-deformation-fluid characteristics of lode gold deposits; evidence from alteration systematics: Ore Geology Reviews, v. 12, p. 381-454.

Kent, A. J. R., and McCuaig, T. C., 1997, Disturbed Ar-40-Ar-39 Systematics In Hydrothermal Biotite and Hornblende At the Scotia Gold Mine, Western Australia - Evidence For Argon Loss Associated With Post-Mineralisation Fluid Movement: Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 61, p. 4655- 4669.

Xie, Q. L., Mccuaig, T. C., and Kerrich, R., 1995, Secular trends in the melting depths of mantle plumes - evidence from HFSE/REE systematics of Archean high-mg lavas and modern oceanic basalts: Chemical Geology, v. 126, p. 29-42.

Groves, D. I., Ridley, J. R., Bloem, E. M. J., Gebre-Mariam, G., Hagemann, S. G., Hronsky, J. M. A., Knight, J. T., McNaughton, N. J., Ojala, J., Vielreicher, R. M., McCuaig, T. C., and Holyland, P. W., 1995, Lode-gold deposits of the Yilgarn Block; products of late Archaean crustal-scale overpressured hydrothermal systems: Geological Society Special Publications, v. 95, p. 155-172.

Future research

CET provides the perfect venue for researchers seeking to bridge the industry-academia gap, as it is one of the world’s largest research centres in mineral deposits, and is adjacent to West Perth, a worldwide centre for the Minerals and Petroleum industries. This industry community is strongly supportive of CET and intimately engaged with our research teams.

Funding received

Large Infrastructure Grants (2006-2011, $7,220,000 total)
ARC LIEF Grant (LE110100047) Events through time: eruptions, extinctions, impacts, orebodies and orogenies. Upgrading the national argon
geochronology network.

LIEF LE0989649 The Nanoscale Characterisation Centre WA Electron Microprobe Facility

ARC LIEF Grant (LE0882854), Australian Membership in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program

Competitive Research Grant Funding (2006 – 2011, $18,492,000 total)

CSIRO Cluster in Organic-inorganic interactions in mineral systems

ARC Centre of Excellence in Core to Crust Fluid Systems (CE11E0070)

ARC Large Linkage Grant (LP110100667) Four dimensional lithospheric evolution and controls on mineral system distribution in Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic terranes

ARC Linkage Grant (LP100200785) Multiscale dynamics of ore body formation

ARC Linkage Grant (LP100100647)_ Tectonic evolution and lode gold mineralisation in the Southern Cross district, Yilgarn Craton (WA): a study of the meso- to Neoarchaean missing link

UWA Research Grant - Automatic Segmentation of Geological Imagery for Mining Applications: a Feasibility Study.

MERIWA Project M389 – 4D evolution and prospectivity analysis of the Western Tanami

ARC Linkage Grant (LP0776780) – Tectonostratigraphic controls on the location of Archaean komatiite-hosted nickel-sulphide deposits and camps in the Yilgarn Craton

Other Research Income (2006 – 20011, $9,675,000 total)

Languages

English, French (basic)

Memberships

•Fellow of the Society for Economic Geologists (SEG)

•Member, AusIMM, SGA, AIG, GSA

•Member of SEG Curriculum committee 2011-present

•Member, FNAS Faculty Research Committee (2009-present)

Previous positions

2005-Present - Director, Centre for Exploration Targeting, University of Western Australia
2002-2005 SRK Consulting, Principal, Perth (Director – 2004-2005)
1998-2002 SRK Consulting, Senior Consultant, Perth
1997-1998 Etheridge Henley Williams (EHW, now SRK), Consultant, Perth
1996-1997 Etheridge Henley Williams (EHW, now SRK), Consultant, Calgary

Teaching

The following students have completed under my supervision/co-supervision:
(1)Leon Bagas (PhD) – enrolled 27.03.2006 (Bierlein, Brown): 4D evolutionary model for the Western Tanami and its gold mineral systems. MERIWA M389 and industry-funded scholarship. Completed 04.05.2010

(2)Joanna Hodge (PhD) – enrolled 14.04.03 (Hagemann): The New Celebration Gold Deposit: P-T-X Fluid Evolution and Two Stages of Gold Mineralization within the Crustal-scale Boulder-Lefroy Fault Zone, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. pmd*CRC scholarship recipient. Completed 14.01.2011

(3)Barb Duggan (MSc) – enrolled 2009 (Miller): Spectral footprints of Archean orogenic gold systems in an architectural context, St. Ives. Completed 10.03.2011

(4)Alan Hawkins (Coursework MSc Project) – enrolled 26.07.2007 Mineral potential analysis of the Tanami Goldfield, Northern Territories. Completed 03.06.2011

(5)Emmanuel Baah-Danso (MSc) – enrolled 22.02.2010 (Miller) Structural controls on mineralisation in the Subika Deposit, Ghana. Completed 23.02.2011

I currently supervise/co-supervise the following PhD students (including enrolment date, co-supervisors, thesis topic, and awards):
(6)Jane Collins (PhD) – enrolled 17.03.06 (Steffen Hagemann): The volcanological, structural and metamorphic history of the Flying Fox Deposit, Forrestania Greenstone Belt, Southern Cross Domain, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. UPA recipient

(7)Yongjun Lu (PhD) – enrolled 19.03.2008 (Craig Hart, Peter Cawood, Rob Kerrich, Zengqiang Hou): Controls on porphyry emplacement and Porphyry Au-Cu mineralization along the Red River Fault Hunnan Province, China. IPRS recipient.

(8)Zeng Qingtao (PhD) – enrolled 10.09.2008 (Hart, Cawood, Kerrich): Regional controls on gold mineral systems in the western Qinling Belt, Gansu Province, China. China CSC-UWA SIRF scholarship recipient.

(9)Jianwei Zi (PhD) – enrolled 13.11.2008 (Cawood): Igneous petogenesis and tectonic evolution of Cretacous plutons, eastern Tibetan Plateau. IPRS recipient.

(10)Christian Schindler (PhD) - Enrolled 05.08.2010 (Hagemann, Miller, Batt): Granite evolution in the Paterson Province, Western Australia and relationship to mineralisation systems. SIRF recipient.

(11)Gangyang Zang (visiting PhD) – 2009-2011 (Leach): Zn mineralisation of the Tibetan Plateau. China Scholarship Council recipient.

(12)Dayu Zhang (visiting PhD) – 2011-2012 (Fiorentini): Late Paleozoic petrogenesis and mineralization in Jueluotage area, Eastern Tianshan, Northwest China. China Scholarship Council recipient.

(13)Luis Parra Avila (PhD) – enrolled 2011 (Fiorentini): 4D evolution of felsic magmatic suites and lithospheric architecture of the Paleoproterozoic Birimian terranes, West Africa. IPRS recipient.

(14)Erwann Lebrun (PhD) – enrolled 2011 (Miller, Ulrich): 4D geometry and genesis of the Siguiri gold deposit, Guinea. Anglogold Ashanti Scholarship.

(15)Denis Fougourouse (PhD) – enrolling 2011 (Miller, Ulrich): 4D geometry and genesis of the Obuasi gold deposit, Mali. Anglogold Ashanti Scholarship.

(16)Jelena Markov (PhD) – enrolled 2011(Dentith): 3D modelling of the Archaean-Proterozoic boundary, Leo-Mann shield, West Africa. SIRF scholarship.

(17)Ben Li (PhD) – enrolled 2011 (Bagas): Fluid and mineralisation history of the Tanami Inlier, Northern Territory. SIRF Scholarship.

(18)Ying Lijuan (visiting PhD) – 2011-2012 Porphyry mineralisation in the North China Craton. China Scholarship Council recipient.

(19)Dave Stevenson (PhD) – enrolling 2012 (Bagas, Miller, Kemp): 4D modelling of the Tanami Inlier, Northern Territories.

(20)Tine Larson (visiting PhD) – 2011-2012 (Bagas, Miller): Structural evolution of the Rover Goldfield, Northern Territory, and comparison to Scandinavian sedimentary-hosted systems.

(21)Matthew Hill (PhD) enrolled 27.05.2010 (Miller, Hagemann): 4D Structural, Magmatic and Hydrothermal Evolution of the Au-Cu-Bi System in the Tennant Creek Mineral Field, NT, Australia.

(22)David Mole (PhD) enrolled 13.10.2008 (Fiorentini): Quantifying melt-lithosphere interaction in space and time: understanding nickel mineral systems in the Archaean Yilgran craton.

(23)Volodymyr Lysytsyn (PhD) enrolled 22.10.2010 (Porwal): Mineral prospectivity analysis and quantitative resource assessments for exploration targeting: development of effective data integration models and practical applications.

I have supervised 3 Honours students since 2006, all receiving 1st Class Honours: Ed Saunders (2006), Melanie Vanderwacht (2006), Dale Mizzen (2007).

Current external positions

•Adjunct Professor, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario (2006-present, INVITED)

•Counsellor, SEG (advisory Board) 2011-2013

•Committee member for distinguished lecture series for SEG 2007-2010 (Chairman 2008 - 2010) – INVITED

•Member AMEC Congress Steering Committee (2009-present, INVITED)

•Convenor of Exploration Geoscience Theme, 34th IGC Brisbane 2012

•Convenor of special session “Putting Technology to Work” Exploration 2007, September 2007, Toronto (INVITED)

•Program Committee Member and Convenor, NiS session at AESC 2008 (INVITED)

•Committee member, Kalgoorlie 2007 old ground knew knowledge (INVITED)

•Member of Executive Review Committee of the predictive mineral discovery * Cooperative Research Centre (INVITED)

•Member, Science Advisory Committee for Discovery Theme of Minerals Down Under CSIRO Flagship (INVITED, 2008-present)

•Chair, MTEC Mineral Geoscience Masters implementation committee (2007-present)

•Member, MTEC MGM/MGH Steering committee

•Member, GSWA Mineral Exploration Technical subcommittee (2007-present)

Research profile

Research profile and publications