GEOCHEMISTRY ROCKS at UNB!
Prof. Gerry Govett (Honorary Chairman) BSc, DIC, PhD, DSc
Introduction
Prof. Gerry Govett taught exploration geochemistry at UNB for many years (1966 to 1977) to become Chair and Dean at the University of New South Wales in Sydney . At UNB Geology, he supervised 11 PhD and 11 MSc students to completion. This is a strong legacy that others like Profs. Arnie McAllister, Earnie Hale (deceased 1985), Don Bachinski, Nick Susak, Bruce Broster, Tom Al, and David Lentz have tried to build on over that period until now. It honours us to honour Gerry & those who helped build Applied Geochemistry at UNB.
Gerry Govett's background
University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire 1955
Awarded Cox Medal 1954 (for outstanding performance in academic and non-academic affairs)
Royal School of Mines, Imperial College of Science and Technology
DIC 1958 (Imperial College)
PhD 1958 (University of London).
Thesis: Geochemical prospecting for copper in Northern Rhodesia
University of Wales
DSc 1973 Subject: Research in Economic Geology
First Regional Meeting, Assoc. of Exploration Geochemists (AEG)
Fredericton, NB April 22nd-23rd, 1976
(1) Prof. Arnie McAllister (UNB) & Dr. Herb Hawkes
(2) Dr. Herb Hawkes & Dr. John Riddell
(3) Dr. Herb Hawkes (2nd from left), Dr. John Riddell (3rd from left), Prof. Arnie McAllister (4th from left)
BACKGROUND HISTORY
Specialisation in exploration geochemistry, with a strong interest in general mineral exploration and mineral economics.
Extensive exploration experience (planning and implementation) in 15 countries (Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Greece, Guyana, Jordan, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Turkey, Zambia, Zimbabwe).
A consultant to: United Nations; OECD; international mining companies including Anglo-American, Bethlehem Steel, Dresser Minerals, Chartered Exploration, AMAX, Preussag, Esso, CRA; smaller national companies in Canada and Australia. Geochemical Adviser and Consultant to Geological Surveys of Greece (1975, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989) and Finland (1987, 1989).
Forensic consultant to Drug and Murder Squads of New South Wales Police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Published more than 90 scientific papers, and written and edited books on mineral economics and exploration geochemistry. conceived Handbook of Exploration Geochemistry and was Series Editor 1974-2001.
Director of Delta Gold Ltd since it was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (1983) until the company merged with Goldfields Limited (December, 2001); served as Chairman of the Board during company reorganisation in 1994; Chair Remuneration Committee; Member Audit Committee. Appointed to the Board of the merged company (named AurionGold) 17 December, 2001 and Chairman of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee. Resigned from AurionGold October 2002 when the company was taken over by the Canadian company, Placer Dome.
Dean of Applied Science at the University of New South Wales involved responsibility for about 230 academic and general staff in the following main disciplines: Applied Geology, Biotechnology, Ceramic Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Food Science and Technology, Geography, Industrial Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Safety Science, Textile technology, and Wool and Pastoral Science. The position had total responsibility for an annual budget of about $15 million and supervisory responsibility for an additional $10-15 million.
APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK
1966-1977
The first experimental geochemical stream sediment survey was carried out in New Brunswick and the Gaspè peninsular in 1953 by HE Hawkes (1912-1996) and H Bloom (1913-2001) from USA and JE Riddell from Canada using a rapid cold-extractable method for heavy metals developed by Bloom. During 1953 the previously unknown mineralized area at Nash Creek, New Brunswick was located. In 1954 the team was joined by JS Webb (1920-2007) from UK and the Mount Pleasant and Restigouche mineralised areas were discovered.
Exploration geochemistry at UNB as a significant research activity can probably be dated from when the late WE Hale (Professor, Geology Department, UNB, deceased 1985) and GJS Govett worked together in Luzon province in the Philippines (1965-66) and demonstrated conclusively that stream sediment geochemistry could be used as a reconnaissance and follow-up technique to delimit anomalous catchment zones reflecting disseminated Cu mineralisation in porphyritic diorite. Soil geochemistry accurately defined drilling targets. The work was “old technology” using the same wet chemical techniques that Govett used for his PhD thesis in the Zambian Copperbelt in 1956-57, and differed from the Hawkes et al techniques (see above) only in being specific for Cu.
Two technological developments allowed a major surge in exploration geochemical research. These were atomic absorption spectrophotometry and the availability of computers (albeit main-frames with only punch-card access). Atomic absorption allowed the measurement of many more elements with a major increase in detection limits, accuracy and precision. This allowed Govett to investigate his belief that geochemical signatures of mineralisation must exist in bedrock and the first investigation was undertaken (1967-68) on the Troodos Pillow Lava series (Cyprus) that is host to Cu-rich pyrite deposits. Single element anomalies rarely extended beyond 20 m from mineralisation, but with the aid of the computer, research into data processing (1968-69) at UNB resulted in statistical and graphical techniques to interpret multi-element data. The results of this study showed that anomalous halos could be recognised up to several kms from deposits, and in rocks overlying mineralisation at a depth of several hundred metres below the surface.
As a result of the Cyprus study, two major research themes were established for numerous research students at UNB: exploration rock geochemistry and computer-aided statistical data interpretation. All research students in exploration geochemistry were required to take courses in statistics and computers, and to perform most of their own analyses.
Mine-scale (within a km of the deposit) rock geochemical studies were conducted at a number of the Zn-Pb-Cu deposits in the Bathurst region, New Brunswick. The clearest halos are given by the major elements: generally K, Mg (and, in some cases, Fe and Mn) increase, and Na and Ca decrease with proximity to the deposit. The halos extend up to 450 m stratigraphically above the deposits and 1,200m laterally from them. A reconnaissance scale rock survey over 2,000 km2 (average density of one sample of rhyolite per 5km2) showed that the ore elements were most useful. All the most important occurrences and known deposits occurred within zones of <10ppm Cu, Zn:Pb ratio 2.4-2.8, Pb:Cu ratio ≥ 3.0, and Zn:Cu ratio ≥ 7.0.
A third major theme was mechanisms of element dispersion and metal zoning. A presentation by Govett at the 4th International Exploration Geochemical Symposium in 1972 suggesting that electrochemical processes may be a factor in element distribution was called a landmark paper by a reviewer in the journal Nature. The jury is still out on this mechanism with papers from prominent geochemists still appearing in the geochemical literature.
The fourth theme was, of course soil and drainage exploration geochemistry, with particular, but not exclusive, emphasis on glaciated terrain.
Exploration geochemistry research was conducted at and around the following deposits in New Brunswick: the Zn-Pb-Cu deposits of Heath Steele, Brunswick No 12, Key Anacon, Armstrong ‘A’ and Caribou, St. Stephen Gabbro (Ni-Cu-Cr), Lake George (Sb), Welsford (Mo-W), and Burnt Hill (W and Mo); research was also done at the Cu-Zn White Lake deposit, Manitoba.
In addition to the work in the Philippines and Cyprus already mentioned, research at deposits elsewhere in the world include: three mine-scale deposits in Cyprus, and the Cu-Ni-Co-Cr deposits in southern Cyprus; the Cu-pyrite Ergani-Maden mine in Turkey; a number of deposits in Greece including King Arthur (Zn-Pb-Cu), Essimi (Cu pyrite), and the argentiferous-base metal sulphides on Mykonos; Cu mineralization at Groete-Black creeks in Guyana; Cu-Mo-W-Ni deposits in Sabah, Malaysia; and Zn-Pb mineralization at Rubiales, northwestern Spain.
All the research started in the period 1966-1977 resulted in 12 MSc and 11 PhD theses, more than 40 papers by Govett and Govett plus student(s), and 111 papers by students as single authors.
In addition to the exploration geochemical research, a significant body of research focussed broadly on mineral economics by Govett resulted in a dozen papers, including the book World Mineral Supplies (1976).
selected UNB RESEARCH THESES (Prof. G. Govett's students)
TG Mersereau, Msc, 1969. Secondary dispersion of the metals nickel, cobalt and copper near the St. Stephen Gabbro, Charlotte County, New Brunswick.
AC Sevillano, MSc 1969. Secondary dispersion of copper, molybdenum, tungsten and nickel in Mount Nungkok area, Sabah, Malaysia.
PGH Pilch, MSc, 1970. Dispersion of some trace elements in soils of glacial origin near the Armstrong ‘A’ sulphide deposit.
HR Lahti, MSc, 1971. Factors contributing to secondary dispersion of trace elements in glacial soils, St. Stephen area, New Brunswick.
VG Austria Jr., MSc, 1972. Primary and secondary dispersion of metals near molybdenum and tungsten mineralization in granite: Welsford, Queens County, New Brunswick.
RP Chapman, 1973. Evaluation and comparison of different statistical and computerised methods of interpreting multi-element geochemical drainage data.
F Felder, MSc, 1972. Trace element dispersion patterns associated with lead-zinc mineralization in northwestern Spain.
DJ Villard, MSc, 1972. Factors affecting the distribution of uranium in stream sediments, Newcastle area, New Brunswick.
RM Crosby, MSc, 1973. Distribution of some trace metals in the secondary environment in Southwestern New Brunswick.
DAM Galanos, MSc, 1973. The distribution of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe in soil, rocks and stream sediments at Kirki area in Northeastern Greece.
RE Whitehead, PhD, 1973. Application of rock geochemistry to problems of mineral exploration and ore genesis at Heath Steele Mines, New Brunswick.
JDN Punwasee, MSc, 1973. Geochemical investigations in the Groete-Black Creeks areas of tropical rainforest of Guyana.
WD Goodfellow, PhD, 1975. Rock geochemical exploration and ore genesis at Brunswick No 12 deposit, New Brunswick.
JJ Bamwoya, PhD, 1977. Exploration geochemistry in the Burnt Hill area, New Brunswick: distribution of elements in bedrock and in heavy and light fractions of stream sediments.
CY Chork, PhD, 1977. The application of some statistical and computer techniques to the interpretation of soil and stream sediment geochemical data.
B Erdogan, PhD 1977. Geology, geochemistry, and genesis of the sulphide deposits of the Ergani-Maden region, SE Turkey.
SM Gandhi, PhD, 1977. Exploration rock geochemical studies in and around the Caribou sulphide deposit, New Brunswick, Canada.
A Panayiotou, PhD, 1977. Geology and geochemistry of the Limassol Forest plutonic complex and the associated Cu-Ni-Co-Fe sulphide and chromite deposits, Cyprus.
U Aung Pwa, MSC, 1977. Regional rock geochemical exploration, Bathurst District, N.B.
JL Wahl, PhD, 1977. Rock geochemical exploration at the Heath Steele and Key Anacon deposits, New Brunswick.
HR Lahti, PhD, 1977. The reconnaissance and detailed rock geochemistry of Mykonos, Greece.
RE Uthe, PhD, 1978. Assessment of soil conductance and pH in exploration geochemistry for selected mining areas of New Brunswick, Canada.
BW Smee, PhD, 1982. Laboratory and field evidence in support of electrogeochemically enhanced ionic diffusion through glaciolacustrine sediment.