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Our Researchers

Supporting the Innovation Ecosystem

Dr. Gary Thompson

Dean, School of Sustainable Development
College of the North Atlantic's Prince Philip Drive Campus

Dr. Thompson has been involved in the mining and mineral exploration industry undertaking applied research in the Newfoundland and Labrador for the past 13 years. He has 25 years of national and international research experience, has published in respected international journals and is a registered professional geoscientist. He continues to work extensively with all sectors of the mineral industry in Newfoundland and Labrador including industry partners, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Mines and Energy Branch, and Memorial University.

Gary currently is leading a 3 year project with Anaconda Mining and Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation on Improving Methods for Grade Determination and Ore Characterization, exploring Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometry applications and is developing new methods of using Hyperspectral Imaging technology for mineral exploration. In 2019 Gary was named Geoscientist of the Year by the CIM-NL branch.

In 2019, he helped establish the Center for Innovative Mining Solutions (CIMS) at the College which includes key personnel, an Applied Mineralogy Laboratory, a Mineral Processing laboratory and the Hyperspectral Scanning Unit (HSU). The HSU is multi-million dollar project supported by a team of scientists and support staff to advance hyperspectral research for the mining industry in Atlantic Canada. It includes a purpose built VNIR-SWIR-MWIR and LWIR mobile scanning laboratory capable of scanning 1000 m of diamond drill core per day.

Wilton, D.H.C., Thompson, G.M., Evans-Lamswood, D. (2021). MLA-SEM Characterization of Sulphide Weathering, Erosion, and Transport at the Voisey’s Bay Orthomagmatic Ni-Cu-Co Sulphide Mineralization, Labrador, Canada. Minerals. 11(11), 1224. 10.3390/min11111224

Wilton, D.H.C., Thompson, G.M., Grant, D.C. (2017). The use of automated indicator mineral analysis in the search for mineralization – A next generation drift prospecting tool. Explore. 174, 1224.

Wilton, D.H.C., Thompson, G.M., Evans-Lamswood, D.M. (2015). MLA-SEM examination of sulphide mineral breakdown and preservation in till, Voisey’s Bay Ni-Cu-Co deposit, Labrador: The distribution and quantitative mineralogy of weathered sulphide phases in transect from massive sulphide through gossanous regolith to till cover in Environmental and Economic Significance of Gossans, (ed). M.C. Williamson; Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 7718, 29–39.

Nyade, P.K., Wilton, D.H.C., Thompson, G.M., Longerich, H.P. (2015). Measurement of 238U/235U ratio in black spruce seedlings to fingerprint the source of uranium taken up by black spruce trees as a biogeochemical sampling medium. Geochemistry Exploration Environment Analysis. 15(4), 327. 10.1144/geochem2014-294

Nyade, P.K., Wilton, D.H.C., Longerich, H.P., Thompson, G.M., McNeill, P., Gibson, H. (2013). Use of surficial geochemical methods to locate areas of buried uranium mineralization in the Jacque's Lake area of the Central Mineral Belt, Labrador, Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. 50(11), 1134–1146. 10.1139/cjes-2013-0032

Nyade, P.K., Wilton, D.H.C., Longerich, H.P., Thompson, G.M., McNeill, P., Gibson, H. (2013). Evaluation of Uranium Accumulation in Black Spruce Trees. Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences. 5(3), 113–122. 10.19026/rjees.5.5646

Ali, J.R., Thompson, G.M., Zhou, M.F., Song, X. (2005). Emeishan large igneous province, SW China. Lithos. 79(3–4), 475–489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2004.09.013

Coogan, L.A., Thompson, G.M., Macleod, C.J., Dick, H.J.B., Edwards, S.J., Scheirer, A.H., Barry, T.L. (2004). A combined basalt and peridotite perspective on 14 million years of melt generation at the Atlantis Bank segment of the Southwest Indian Ridge: Evidence for temporal changes in mantle dynamics? Chemical Geology. 207(1), 13–30. 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2004.01.016

Ali, J.R., Lo, C.H., Thompson, G.M., Song, X. (2004). Emeishan Basalt Ar-Ar overprint ages define several tectonic events that affected the western Yangtze platform in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Journal of Asian Earth Science. 23(2), 163–178. 10.1016/S1367-9120(03)00072-5

Coogan, L.A., Gillis, K.M., Macleod, C.J., Thompson, G.M., Hékinian, R. (2002). Petrology and geochemistry of the lower ocean crust formed at the East Pacific Rise and exposed at Hess Deep: A synthesis and new results. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 3(11), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1029/2001GC000230

Coogan, L.S., Thompson, G.M., Macleod, C.J. (2002). A textural and geochemical investigation of high level gabbros from the Oman ophiolite: implications for the role of the axial magma chamber at fast-spreading ridges. Lithos. 63(1–2), 67–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-4937(02)00114-7

Ali, J.R., Thompson, G.M., Song, X., Wang, Y. (2002). Emeishan Basalts (SW China) and the ‘end-Guadalupian’ crisis: magnetobiostratigraphic constraints. Journal of the Geological Society. 159(1), 21–29. https://doi.org/10.1144/0016-764901086

Thompson, G.M., Smith, I.E.M., Malpas, J. (2001). Origin of oceanic phonolites by crystal fractionation and the problem of the Daly gap: an example from Rarotonga. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology. 142, 336–346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004100100294

Thompson, G.M., Ali, J.R., Song, X., Jolley, D. (2001). Emeishan Basalts, SW China: reappraisal of the formation's type area stratigraphy and a discussion of its significance as a large igneous province. Journal of the Geological Society. 158(4), 593–599. 10.1144/jgs.158.4.593

Coogan, L.A., MacLeod, C.J., Dick, H.J.B., Edwards, S.J., Kvassnes, A., Natland, J.H., Robinson, P.T., Thompson, G.M., O’Hara, M.J. (2001). Whole-rock geochemistry of gabbros from the Southwest Indian Ridge: Constraints on geochemical fractionations between the upper and lower oceanic crust and magma chamber processes at (very) slow-spreading ridges. Chemical Geology. 178(1), 1–22. 10.1016/S0009-2541(00)00424-1

Thompson, G.M., Malpas, J. (2000). Mineral/melt partition coefficients of oceanic alkali basalts determined on natural samples using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LAM-ICP-MS). Mineralogical Magazine. 64(1), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.1180/002646100549148

Thompson, G.M., Maplas, J., Smith, I.E. (1998). Volcanic geology of Rarotonga, southern Pacific Ocean. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geopysics. 41(1), 95–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288306.1998.9514793

McKeod, C., Dick, H.J.B., Allerton, S., Robinson, P., Coogan, L., Edwards, S., Galley, A., Gillis, K., Hunter, A.G., Hutchinson, D., Kvassnes, A., Natland, J., Salisbury, M., Schandl E., Stakes, D.S., Thompson, G.M., Tivey, M.A. (1998). Geological mapping of slow-spread lower ocean crust: a deep-towed video and wireline rock drilling survey of Atlantis Bank (ODP Site 735, SW Indian Ridge). InterRidge News. 7, 39–43.

Thompson, G.M., Malpas, J., Smith, I.E.M. (1997). The geochemistry of tholeiitic and alkalic plutonic suites within the Northland ophiolite, northern New Zealand; magmatism in a back arc basin. Chemical Geology. 142(3–4), 213–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(97)00092-2
 
Thompson, G.M. (2018). Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometry: Mineralogical Mapping of Drill Core and Thin Sections. International Conference on the Analysis of Geological and Environmental Materials, Australia.

Thompson, G.M., Wilton, D.H.C. (2014). Detailed Compositional Analysis of Light hydrocarbons (C1-C4) in soils in the Deer Lake Basin, Western Newfoundland. 9th International Symposium on Oil and Gas Resources of Western Newfoundland.

Thompson, G.M., Wilton, D.H.C., Evans-Lamswood, D., Nyade, P. (2013). Biogeochemical “fingerprinting” of Voisey’s Bay Ni-Cu-Co sulphide mineralization, northern Labrador, Canada. 28th Interntional Applied Geochemistry Symposium, Rotorua New Zealand.

Wilton, D.H.C., Thompson, G.M. (2013). Quantitative mineralogy of sulfide mineral breakdown and glacial transport at the Voisey’s Bay Ni-Cu-Co deposits, Labrador, Canada. 28th Interntional Applied Geochemistry Symposium, Rotorua New Zealand.

Thompson, G.M., Wilton, D.H.C., McNiell, P., Turbett, M., Shaffer, M. (201). The REE geochemistry of uraninites from the Labrador Central Mineral Belt. GeoCanada, Calgary Canada, May 2010.

Wilton, D.H.C., McNeill, P., Hicks, C., Tracey, M., Cunningham-Dunlop, I., Lee, C., Thompson, G.M., Piercey, S. (2010). The nature of uranium mineralization in the Paleoproterozoic Aillik and Post Hills Groups, Labrador Central Mineral Belt. GeoCanada, Calgary Canada, May 2010.

Wilton, D.H.C., Shaffer, M., Thompson, G.M. (2010). MLA-SEM Mapping of uraninites and other phases in polished thin sections from deposits in the Labrador Central Mineral Belt. GeoCanada, Calgary Canada, May 2010.

Donoghue, S.L., Smith, I.E.M., Thompson, G.M. (2003). A new paradigm for andesitic tephra correlation. XVI INQUA Congress.

Thompson, G.M., Suzukia, K., Tatsumi, Y., Honda, M. (2002). Osmium isotopic signature of EM1 deduced from Rarotonga Island, Polynesia. Goldschmidt Conference, 2002.

Coogan, L.A., MacLeod, C.J., Dick, H.J.B., Edwards, S.J., Thompson, G.M. (2002). Magmatism at the Soutwest Indian Ridge: Insights from the Atlantis Bank Segments. InterRidge SWIR Workshop, April 2002.

Coogan, L.A., Thompson, G.M., MacLeod, C.J., Thomas, R.M. (2001). The role of axial melt lens in the accretion of the lower oceanic crust: evidence from a combined laser-ICP-MS and crystal size distribution study of gabbros from Wadi Abyad (Oman) and Hess Deep (EPR). Geology of Oman Conference, Muscat.

MacLeod, C.J., Thomas, R.M., Coogan, L.A., Yaouancq, G., Thompson, G.M. (2001). Spatial variability in grabbro compositions in the Oman ophiolite: implications for crustal plumbing. Geology of Oman Conference, Muscat.

Thomas, R.M., MacLeod, C.J., Coogan, L.A., Yaouancq, G., Thompson, G.M. (2000). Structure and Petrology of Gabbros from the Oman Ophiolite: Constraints on Magma Transport in the Lower Crust Beneath Fast-Spreading Ridges. AGU Abstract, San Francisco. Dec 2000.

Thompson, G.M., Song, X., Zhou, M., Wang, Y. (2000). The Geological and Geochemical Charactertistics of the Emei Flood Basalts. Volcanic Rifted Margins. Penrose Conference, Royal Holloway, London.

Donogugue, S.L., Thompson, G.M., Stewart, R.B., Price, R.C., Gamble, J.G. (1999). Ruapehu Eruptives: Geochemistry and Fingerprinting potentials. New Zealand Geological and Geophysical Conference, New Plymouth, New Zealand.

MacLeod, C.J., Yaouancq, L.A.G., Thompson, G.M., Thomas, R. (1999). A Comparison of Gabbros from Hess Deep and Oman Ophiolite. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco, USA.

MacLeod, C.J., Gillis, J., Allerton, S., Dick, H.J.B., Robinson, P.T., Coogan, L.A., Edwards, S.J., Galley, A., Hirth, G., Hunter, A.G., Hutchinson, D., Kvassnes, A.J., Natland, J.H., Salisbury, M., Schandl, E., Stakes, D.S., Thompson, G.M., Tivery, M.A. (1998). The architecture of slow-spread lower ocean crust: wireline rock drilling around ODP Hole 735B (SW Indian Ridge). Ocean Drilling Forum, University of Edinburgh, Sept 1998.

Thompson, G.M., Malpas, J., Smith, I.E.M. (1998). The petrogenesis of Rarotonga, Cook-Austral chain, South Pacific, a maverick ocean island or just poorly understood. International Association for Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior, Magmatic Diversity: Volcanoes and Teir Roots, Cape Town South Africa, 1998.

Malpas, J., Thompson, G.M., Smith, I.E.M. (1998). Petrogenetic implications for ocean island petrogenesis of partition coefficients determined by LAM-ICP-MS. International Association for Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior, Magmatic Diversity: Volcanoes and Teir Roots, Cape Town South Africa, 1998.

Thompson, G.M., Jenner, G., Malpas, J. (1995). A petrogenetic study of ocean island magmatism: Rarotonga-application of partition coefficients determined by Laser Ablation Microprobe-Inductively-Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LAM-ICP-MS). American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco, USA.

Thompson, G.M., Malpas, J., Smith, I.E.M. (1995). The Geological Evolution of Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Archipelago South Pacific. New Zealand Geological and Geophysical Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.

Thompson, G.M., Smith, I.E.M. (1990). The geochemistry of the plutonic rocks of the Northland ophiolite. New Zealand Geological and Geophysical Conference, New Zealand.
 
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1 Prince Phillip Drive PO Box 1693
St. John’s, NL A1C 5P7
709-758-7474
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ar@cna.nl.ca
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