Postdoctoral Fellow in Geology - Gander, Newfoundland, Canada
Mineral Exploration Research Centre, Laurentian University
Located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Laurentian University’s Harquail School of Earth Sciences and its Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) are home to award-winning faculty, researchers, and students who are focused on innovative research and teaching in a collegial and tri-cultural environment. Laurentian consistently ranks among the top primarily undergraduate universities in Canada for research income and intensity.
Homepage: https://merc.laurentian.ca
Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Palaeontology (SSP)
Tectonics and Structural Geology (TS)
Project title: Constraining the structural control, stratigraphy and geochronology of the Davidsville Group at the Appleton Fault zone, NL
Description:
Constraining the structural control, stratigraphy and geochronology of the Davidsville Group at the Appleton Fault zone, MERC, in partnership with New Found Gold Corp., is seeking a post-doctoral fellow to undertake a research project beginning in June 2025, to be completed in two years.
New Found Gold owns the Queensway Project in the eastern Exploits sub-zone, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) on which +20 zones of significant gold mineralization along both the Appleton Fault Zone (AFZ) and cryptic brittle-ductile JBP fault have been discovered. The AFZ, a NNE-SSW trending fault, crosscuts deformed mudstones to greywackes of the Ordovician Davidsville Group. Gold mineralization is structurally controlled and occurs within quartz ± carbonate veins, which are very well exposed on large stripped outcrops. Detailed mapping of these outcrops together with logging of selected drill holes will be done to characterize the structural framework and controls on mineralization. The stratigraphy of the host strata will be determined via mapping, core logging, geochemistry, and detrital zircon geochronology, to provide markers for the delineation of regional structures.
The results of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the structural controls the AFZ has on gold mineralization and the impact of deformation on stratigraphy.
The postdoctoral researcher will be part of the New Found Gold team in Gander, NL, and will be involved in the field supervision of MSc students working at research projects with New Found Gold.
Through this project, the candidate will make new contributions to our understanding of vein formation in orogenic gold deposits and will acquire new skills for an exciting career in academia, government survey organizations, and the mineral exploration industry.
The successful candidate will have a strong background in structural geology with a proven record of peer-reviewed publications. Mapping and student supervision experience is an asset.
MERC Laurentian University’s Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, conducts and promotes global, collaborative, lab- and field-based research focused on mineral deposits, exploration, and targeting. MERC hosts internationally recognized projects and researchers from academia, industry, and government. Together, faculty members, research scientists, and graduate students focus on mineral deposits, Precambrian geology, and exploration methodology and targeting. MERC also leads Canada’s Metal Earth project, which is one of the largest university-led public geoscience projects in the world.
New Found Gold is advancing its 100%-owned Queensway gold project, spanning 1,756 km² along the Trans-Canada Highway near Gander, NL. Since its first discovery in 2019, the Project has uncovered over 20 high-grade gold zones along the prolific Appleton Fault Zone (AFZ). These discoveries, including the Keats, Iceberg, Keats West, Lotto, Iceberg, and K2 Zones, add to the growing list of zones comprising the AFZ Mineralized Envelope. The 4.1km long mineralized strike area, which extends up to 500m from the AFZ, showcases the Project’s exceptional potential.
The salary range is $70-$80K/CAD annually, based on experience.
Field and analytical support is provided.
The successful candidate should start in June 2025 and is co-supervised by Drs. Bruno Lafrance and Stefanie Brueckner.
To apply, forward your application with a cover letter to sbrueckner@laurentian.ca, cc’ing merc@laurentian.ca, and referencing Job ID #2025-04 in the subject line.
Your application should include a CV, academic transcripts, contact details and the names of three referees. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found.