PhD in economic geology on the metallogeny of the Grasset Ni-Cu deposit in the Abitibi Belt, Quebec - Research Affiliate Program

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Assessment accommodation

Duties

Komatiite-associated deposits in Archean greenstone belts is the important example of magmatic mineralization hosted by ultramafic volcanic and high-level intrusive rocks that consist of a significant source of critical metals such as Ni, Cu, Co, and platinum group elements (PGE). These deposits are characterized by a wide variety of mineralization types, but most common are basal stratiform massive/ net-textured/disseminated sulfides (e.g., Alexo) and internal strata-bound disseminated sulfides (e.g., Dumont). The Abitibi greenstone belt hosts many past-producing mines, undeveloped deposits, and several significant occurrences located within numerous districts across the belt (Ontario, Québec) including the Grasset Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposit, discovered in 2014, potentially within a new nickel district in the northern Abitibi.

The Grasset Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposit is hosted within a NW-SE trending komatiitic succession younging to the SW known as the Grasset Ultramafic Complex (GUC) that extends over more than 8 km and is truncated to the south by the Sunday Lake Deformation Zone. This succession is underlain by mafic volcanic and gabbroic rocks and overlain by a thick (~1 km) package of clastic sedimentary rocks with sporadic intervals of oxide-facies iron formation. The komatiitic succession is predominantly interpreted as komatiitic lava flows and subvolcanic sills intercalated with coherent and lesser tuffaceous felsic volcanic rocks where graphitic argillaceous sedimentary rocks typically occur as small lenses.

Within the framework of the Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI) of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), the research project of the doctoral thesis will study the geological context and the metallogeny of the GUC, with an emphasis on the Grasset Ni-Cu-(PGE) magmatic sulfide deposit. The main purpose of this research project is to better understand the critical parameters that are responsible for the generation of Ni-Cu-(PGE) mineralization within the GUC but also to constrain the overall subvolcanic architecture that host this mineralization.

The doctoral candidate will first make a compilation all relevant geological, structural, lithogeochemical and geophysical data available f rom Archer Exploration Corp. Geological description of drill cores and sampling of the deposit will be carried out. The research will include several analytical methods such as core mapping, petrography, whole-rock geochemistry, isotopic analysis, mineral chemistry, and 3D modelling. The primary goal of this Ph.D. project is to characterize the ore environment of Ni-Cu-PGE Grasset deposit (e.g., H1 and H3), within the GUC on the Grasset property of the Archer Exploration Corp. in the northern Abitibi greenstone belt. However, more specific research objectives will be to : 1) establish the volcano-sedimentary stratigraphic context and architecture of the GUC, 2) define the textural and mineralogical variation between each lithological unit s and style of Ni-Cu-(PGE) sulfide mineralization; 3) characterize the geochemical signature of the host units and mineralized units, 4) establish potential S source(s), and 5) establish the genesis of the Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide mineralization at the Grasset Ni-Cu- (PGE) deposit.
The doctoral study will include a significant component of fieldwork at the exploration camp of the compagnie in the Abitibi. The analytical and modeling components will be carried out at UQAM and Quebec divisions of the GSC. With the support of their supervisors and associate researchers, the candidate will publish their results and interpretations in public reports and in peer-reviewed scientific journal and make oral and/or poster presentations at scientific, government or industry conferences.

Work environment

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Intent of the process

The intention is to staff one student position for the completion of a PhD in economic geology on the metallogeny of the Grasset Ni-Cu deposit in the Abitibi Belt, Quebec.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter "A covering letter "1500 words max. indicating the areas of research in which you have knowledge and/or experience.""

Contact information for 2 references.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Essential Education:
• The candidate must currently have a master’s degree in Geology-Earth sciences or equivalent from a recognized Canadian or foreign university.
• The candidate must demonstrate his/her motivation on pursuing graduate studies.

Note: In the context of student recruit ment in the Federal Public Service, the experience can be acquired through the studies, work experience, or volunteer activities.

Degree equivalency

Essential experience and knowledge:
• Knowledge of the fundamental disciplines of Earth sciences and advanced knowledge in metallogeny associated with orthomagmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) mineralization related to mafic and ultramafic rocks.
• Knowledge and relevant field studies/experience on Ni-Cu-PGE ore systems within mafic and ultramafic intrusions in Archean greenstone belts.
• Knowledge and relevant field studies/experience in igneous petrology, and metallogeny related to orthomagmatic Ni-Cr mineralization.
• Knowledge and relevant experience for the acquisition, organization and analysis of geological data in a Geographic Information System (GIS) and 3D modeling environment.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English or French

Information on language requirements

• Ability to work in a research laboratory and in the field in remote areas.
• Ability to work alone and in a team.
• Ability to communicate effectively within the team and with industrial, academic and governmental partners.
• Ability to communicate results effectively with the public.

Essential personal suitabilities:
• Motivation and dynamism
• Autonomy and proactivity
• Integrity and professionalism

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

• Reliability Status security clearance - NOTE: Each student hired through the Research Affiliate Program (RAP) must meet the security requirements of the position as a condition of employment.
Therefore, the student will be asked by the hiring organization to complete security-related documents.
• The student will need to be enrolled at Université du Québec à Montréal (Montréal, Québec) for this PhD degree, where his director is located.
• The student must be ready to do regular laboratory work and fieldwork in remote areas as requested by the project supervisors.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

We thank all applicants for their interest in our position(s). For the purpose of this staffing process, only candidates selected for further assessment will be contacted.

For further information on the Research Affiliate Program (RAP), please visit:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/recruitment/students/research-affiliate-program.html

Successful completion of both a RAP work assignment and your educational program may lead to a temporary or permanent federal public service position for which you meet the merit criteria and conditions of employment.

For this selection process, it is our intention to communicate with candidates via email. Candidates must include a valid email address in their application. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that this address is functional and that it accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

A written examination may be administered.
An interview may be administered.
Reference may be sought.

You must provide proof of your education credentials and transcript.

Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca/.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

You must indicate on your application if you require a technical aid for testing or an alternative method of assessment.

Candidates from outside the public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection process.

Preference

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.