ONE DAY WORKSHOPS or SHORT COURSES (TBD)
Gaming the Earth: Geoscience Applications of Game Engines, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality
Organizers: Rob Harrap, Jean Hutchinson, David Bonneau, Paul-Mark DiFrancesco (Queen’s University), harrap@queensu.ca
1 day pre-meeting Short Course – TBA
Intended audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers, Students, Educators (K-12)
Rates and Dates: Dating Methods and Applications
Organizers: Eva Enkelmann and William Mattews (University of Calgary), eva.enkelmann@ucalgary.ca
1 day pre-meeting Virtual Short Course – TBA
Intended audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers, Students
Quantifying Sediment Provenance and Basin Thermal Histories
Organizers: Eva Enkelmann and William Mattews (University of Calgary), eva.enkelmann@ucalgary.ca
1 day pre-meeting Virtual Short Course – TBA
Intended audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers, Students
A New Exploration Model for Silurian Lockport Group “Guelph” Carbonate Plays, Southwestern Ontario and Great Lakes Region
Organizers: Shuo Sun (Western University; Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Library), Frank Brunton (Ontario Geological Survey, Western University), Jordan Clark (Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Library), and Jisuo Jin (Western University), shuo@ogsrlibrary.com
1-day pre-meeting Workshop – TBA
Intended audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers, Students, General Public
TWO-DAY WORKSHOPS or SHORT COURSES (TBD)
Modern Scanning Electron Microscope: The Most Versatile Tool for Geoscience
Organizers: Réjean Girard and Jonathan Tremblay (IOS Services Géoscientiques Inc.), rejeang@iosgeo.com
2 day pre-meeting Workshop – TBD
Intended audience: Students and Industry, Government or Academic Researchers
Fluid and Melt Inclusions: Applications to Geologic Processes
Organizers: Matthew Steele-MacInnis and Pilar Lecumberri-Sanchez (University of Alberta), steelema@ualberta.ca
2 day pre-meeting Virtual MAC Short Course – TBD
Intended Audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers, Students
Introduction to Data Analytics and Machine Learning for Geologists
Organizers: Jessica Stromberg (CSIRO Mineral Resources) and Shawn Hood (Goldspot Discoveries), jessica.stomberg@csiro.au
2 day pre-meeting Virtual Workshop – TBD
Intended audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers
FOUR DAY WORKSHOP – BERRY SCHOOL (TBD)
Canadian Powder Diffraction Workshop 14 – Berry School
Organizers: Roberta Flemming (Western University) and Jim Britten (McMaster University), rflemmin@uwo.ca
4 day pre-meeting Workshop – TBA
Intended Audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers, Students
DETAILED WORKSHOP and SHORT COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
ONE DAY WORKSHOPS or SHORT COURSES
(To be announced)
Gaming the Earth: Geoscience Applications of Game Engines, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality
Organizers: Rob Harrap (Queen’s University), Jean Hutchinson (Queen’s University), David Bonneau (Queen’s University), Paul-Mark DiFrancesco (Queen’s University), harrap@queensu.ca
1 day pre-meeting Short Course – TBA
Visualization, model building, and simulation in the geosciences traditionally rely on software tools like GIS, mining and geophysical visualization packages, custom code in environments like MATLAB, and custom tools created for specific tasks such as rockfall simulation, groundwater modeling, and the like. While many of these tools are powerful, custom built tools tend to emphasize one aspect of asituation. With the increasing power of game engines – which after all have to be able to represent 3d environments and simulate phenomena such as smoke, fire, and explosions to be engaging – researchers have begun to apply these engines as general purpose platforms for geoscience needs.
These tools also strongly support multiple interaction modes from touch screen to augmented reality to virtual reality, all flexibly using the same world model. Recent events have led to dramatically increased interest in how to interact with geological spaces remotely, whether for education or research communication needs, and game environments handle this very well. This course will cover the range from simple model construction in the Unity game engine, through applications in geoscience education and simulation. We will also cover the construction of game objects from LiDAR or photographs, the use of online assets, plug in tools with to solve specific needs such as terrain shaping, and other practical issues in making projects happen. Hands on exercises with real-world data will be emphasized. Examples will include our work on simulating rockfalls in western Canada.
Intended audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers, Students, Educators (K-12), Educators (12-17 y.o.)
Sponsors: Queen’s University
Rates and Dates: Dating Methods and Applications
Organizers: Eva Enkelmann (University of Calgary) and William Mattews (University of Calgary), eva.enkelmann@ucalgary.ca
1 day pre-meeting Virtual Short Course, TBA
The objective of this one-day course is to introduce geoscientists to the fundamentals of radiometric dating techniques. Geo- and thermochronology techniques allow scientists to quantify the timing of geologic events and with this the duration and rates of geologic processes. These methods differ in their sensitivity to temperatures ranging from mineral crystallization at >800 °C to upper crustal heating and cooling at 50–100°C. This one-day short course will provide the principles of radiometric dating. Emphasize will be given to geochronology and thermochronology methods such as U-Pb, Ar-Ar, U-Th/He, and fission track dating, and the possibilities to combine multiple methods on individual samples and single grains. Focus will be given to practical aspects that will allow scientists to choose the best method, conduct sampling in the field and core storage facilities, and project budgeting for a wide range of applications.
Topics covered in this short course:
1. Differences between geo- and thermochronology
2. Basics of the U-Pb, fission track and U-Th/He methods
3. Application of geochronology to various geologic settings
4. Applications of low-temperature thermochronology
5. Common tools for data analyses, data presentation and interpretation
6. Use of multi-method single-grain analyses
7. Sampling strategies, what and how to sample, budget, and time considerations
Intended audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers, Students
Sponsors: University of Calgary
Quantifying Sediment Provenance and Basin Thermal Histories
Organizers: Eva Enkelmann (University of Calgary) and William Mattews (University of Calgary), eva.enkelmann@ucalgary.ca
1 day pre-meeting Virtual Short Course, TBA
The objective of this one-day course is to introduce geoscientists to the fundamentals of radiometric dating techniques and their use to study sediment basins. New developments in geo- and thermochronology techniques allow effectively dating large quantities of individual grains and the application of multiple methods on single grains. This offers to answer a wide range of geologic questions regarding sedimentary basins. These include: 1) sediment provenance and identify sediment recycling, 2) reconstructing the tectonic evolution of the sediment source region, 3) quantifying maximum and minimum temperature of sediment burial, 4) quantifying timing and rate of basin inversion, 5) determining sediment deposition age, 6) quantifying amount of removed sediment strata or tectonic overburden. Focus will be given to practical aspects that will allow scientists to choose the best method, conduct sampling in the field and core storage facilities, and project budgeting and time planning.
Topics covered in this short course:
1. Differences between geo- and thermochronology
2. Application of geochronology and low-temperature thermochronology to basin strata
3. Multi-method dating of detrital minerals
4. Common tools for data analyses, data presentation and interpretation
5. Thermal history modelling of basin strata
6. Sampling strategies, what and how to sample, budget, and time considerations
Intended audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers, Students
Sponsors: University of Calgary
A New exploration model for Silurian Lockport Group “Guelph” carbonate plays, southwestern Ontario and Great Lakes region
Organizers: Shuo Sun (Western University; Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Library), Frank Brunton (Ontario Geological Survey, Western University), Jordan Clark (Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Library), and Jisuo Jin (Western University)
1-day pre-meeting Workshop, TBA
Regional-scale outcrop/subcrop and deeper subsurface mapping by staff/students at Ontario Geological Survey with staff at the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Library has resulted in the development of a revised stratigraphic nomenclature and paleoenvironmental interpretation for the mature early Silurian petroleum play formerly referred to as the “Guelph” pinnacle play in southwestern Ontario. This predominantly dolostone succession is now referred to as the Lockport Group and comprises, in ascending order: Gasport, Goat Island, Eramosa and Guelph formations. Recognition of subregional disconformities within the revised lithofacies relationships indicate that these stacked carbonates were deposited on a complex, structurally-influenced, carbonate ramp that dipped towards the Appalachian foreland basin. This core workshop includes the recent study on regional porosity and permeability variations of these Lockport Group pinnacles and inter-pinnacle areas in southwestern Ontario. Data from cored wells in various depositional regimes will be displayed to show the regional stratigraphic architecture, depositional and diagenetic attributes, and geological controls on porosity and permeability distributions. This workshop will also provide: 1) geo-spatial analysis of the porosity-permeability distributions of the stacked carbonate cycles relative to the re-interpretation of the largely non-reefal pinnacle structures as paleokarstic remnant landforms; 2) descriptions of the re-interpreted paleokarstic rubble that characterizes the dramatically thinner Lockport Group inter-pinnacle settings; 3) case studies of the reef mound cycles in middle to outer ramp areas where paleokarstic features are less well developed. Virtual reality tools are also employed for videos demonstrating the 3D model of the preserved carbonate structures in the subsurface.
Intended audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers, Students, General Public
Sponsors: Mitacs, Ontario Geological Survey (ENDM); Nuclear Waste Management Organization; Geological Survey of Canada (NRCan), Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Library, Western University
Figure 1. A) A 3-D model image of the pinnacle structures and inter-pinnacle karst areas of the Silurian Lockport Group, southwestern Ontario. Previously referred as “pinnacle reefs”, these flat-topped, largely non-reefal and bedded stacked carbonates structures have varied geometries and paleogeographic positions. The Lockport Group is characterized by a series of transgressive-regressive (T-R) stacked cyclic carbonates that generally display progressive shallowing and less pervasive regional karstification from west to east towards the Appalachian foreland Basin. The “Guelph pinnacle reefs”, now interpreted as Lockport scarp and cuesta land forms resembling “karst towers”, are a complex mosaic of variably karstic Guelph Formation caprock with underlying paleokarstic Goat Island and Gasport formations. These structures represent mini-escarpments or mesa and butte type topography within an Early Silurian karst basin terrain prior to the onset of regionally extensive playa/salina conditions. Thickness of the pinnacle structures are exaggerated x30. B) An example of the Guelph Formation lithofacies vs. porosity variations in one of the pinnacle plays, southwestern Ontario. These non-reefal lithofacies display various karstic surfaces that are correlative on varying scales. Porous zones coincide with major karstic intervals where porosity is enhanced by chemical dissolution that happened largely in Silurian time shortly after deposition and during deposition and erosional/paleokarstic episodes in Salina Group A-Unit and B-Unit time.
Figure 2. Early Silurian paleogeography relative to present-day erosional boundaries of key foreland (Appalachian) versus intracratonic Structural basin (Michigan basin; modified from Haynes 2000). The thicker pink lines depict present-day erosional boundaries of the Michigan, Appalachian and Ohio sub-basins in relation to the Algonquin-Findlay arches (areas where forebulge migration and development were influencing marine sedimentation and erosion between the inferred basin areas). The carbonate ramp region (graded blue area) represents areal extent of this study in subsurface and outcrop. The lighter blue area depicts regions where shallow Early Silurian carbonates extended on Laurentia and, in places, have been differentially eroded (southcentral Ontario and Grenville shield regions of Ontario). The stratigraphic column on left spans upper Cabot Head (Medina Group) through Guelph formations (Lockport Group) in City of Guelph region (Brunton and Brintnell 2020). The relative thickness of horizontal black lines depicts the disconformable nature (missing time) of formational contacts and relative positions of reef mound phases in each of Lockport Group sequences.
TWO-DAY WORKSHOPS or SHORT COURSES
(To be announced)
Modern Scanning Electron Microscope: The Most Versatile Tool for Geoscience
Organizers: Réjean Girard, Jonathan Tremblay (IOS Services Géoscientiques Inc), rejeang@iosgeo.com
Two day pre-meeting Workshop, TBA.
Although often perceived as the old dusty machine, scanning electron microscopes underwent rapid technological evolution in the last decade that makes them the most powerful tool available to geoscientists. A large array of detectors, fulfilling different functions, can be attached, synchronized and automated, fulfilling various needs such as fast EDS-SDD fully quantitative chemical analysis out-performing an electron microprobe, WDS for minor element analysis, micro-XRF for trace elements measurement, electron diffraction (EBSD) to reveal the crystalline structure, near-atomic scale TEM imaging, cathodoluminescence imaging and spectroscopy, microtomography or surface ablation for 3D imaging, QEMSCAN and MLA for automated mineralogy, etc. The workshop aims to familiarize geoscientists with operation of the instruments and its capabilities for their daily research work as well as presenting a series of automated applications and case studies.
Intended audience: Students and Industry, Government or Academic ResearchersSponsors: IOS Services Géoscientifiques Inc.; Edge Scientific Inc.
Fluid and Melt Inclusions: Applications to Geologic Processes
Organizers: Matthew Steele-MacInnis (University of Alberta) and Pilar Lecumberri-Sanchez (University of Alberta), steelema@ualberta.ca
2 day pre-meeting Virtual MAC Short Course – TBA.
The short course will focus on application of fluid inclusions to solve geologic problems, and includes talks from world experts in fluid and melt geochemistry applied to hydrocarbons, diagenesis, metamorphic and igneous processes, Earth’s deep interior, and economic mineral deposits.
Lecturers will include:
- Jaques Pironon (University of Lorraine)
- Andras Fall (UT Austin)
- Martin Appold (University of Missouri)
- Omar Bartoli (University of Padua)
- Evan Smith (Gemological Institute of America)
- Jake Hanley (Saint Mary’s University)
- Rosario Esposito (Colorado College)
- Matthew Steele-MacInnis (University of Alberta)
- Pilar Lecumberri-Sanchez (University of Alberta)
- Simone Runyon (University of Wyoming)
Intended Audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers, Students
Sponsors: Mineralogical Association of Canada; Geological Association of Canada – Mineral Deposits Division; Horiba Scientific
Introduction to Data Analytics and Machine Learning for Geologists
Organizers: Jessica Stromberg (CSIRO Mineral Resources) and Shawn Hood (Goldspot Discoveries), jessica.stomberg@csiro.au
2 day pre-meeting Virtual Workshop – TBA.
A practical introductory course aimed at geologists in mineral exploration and mining. The participants will be given an overview of modern data analytics methods, including machine learning, illustrated by practical case studies across multiple commodities. There will be exercises using a range of geoscience datasets including geochemistry, geophysics and hyperspectral mineralogy for the participant to practice with the new methods they have learnt. These tutorials will use a diverse range of software, including free machine learning software (KNIME), a Python package for geochemical data analysis (Pyrolite) and CSIRO-developed multiscale wavelet analysis for drill hole data (Data Mosaic). Knowledge of introductory statistics and some Python could be useful but is not required.
Instructors:
- Dr. June Hill, CSIRO Mineral Resources
- Dr. Shawn Hood, Goldspot Discoveries
- Dr. Morgan Williams, CSIRO Mineral Resources
- Shervin Azad, MSc, Goldspot Discoveries Dr. Jessica Stromberg, CSIRO Mineral Resources
Intended audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers
Sponsors: CSIRO Mineral Resourses, Goldspot Discoveries Corp.
Canadian Powder Diffraction Workshop 14 – Berry School
Organizers: Roberta Flemming (Western University) and Jim Britten (McMaster University), rflemming@uwo.ca
4 day Workshop, pre-meeting, TBA
This workshop is intended for students and practitioners who would benefit from an improved understanding of the basic theory and practice of powder and related X-ray diffraction techniques for analyzing crystalline materials. Sessions will cover the basic theory of powder diffraction, experimental considerations, sample preparation, and data analysis. Examples of some simple and some more difficult powder diffraction, Rietveld, 2D, and 3D diffraction analyses will be presented. Other diffraction and scattering techniques will also be presented, appropriate for the characterization of powders, in-situ solids, thin films, single crystals, nanostructured and disordered materials. A variety of diffraction software will be introduced during the presentations and used in the afternoon’s practical sessions. Several practice data sets will be supplied. Participants are also invited to bring data from their own research to be worked out at the Workshop with expert advice from the Instructors who will be present. There may also be an opportunity to collect diffraction data on various instruments at Western University (if on-site, pandemic permitting). On-site participation in the Workshop will be limited to 40 participants. The workshop is intended to be run in person, but a virtual format will be implemented if necessary (in the event of COVID-19 restrictions).
Intended Audience: Industry, Government and Academic Researchers, Students
Sponsors: Mineralogical Association of Canada (MAC), Canadian National Crystallography Committee (CNCC), Western University, Bruker Canada
