SY01 - Critical Minerals in Canada: Commodity Overviews, Exploration Tools, and Method Development, Chairs: Evan Hastie (evan.hastie@ontario.ca), Eric Potter (eric.potter@canada.ca), Steve Beneteau (steve.beneteau@ontario.ca), Geneviève Marquis (genevieve.marquis@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca), Rob Cundari (robert.cundari@ontario.ca), Marcus Burnham (marcus.burnham@ontario.ca)

With Canada’s exceptional mineral endowment, exploration expertise, and mining innovations, the country is well-positioned to respond to the global demand for critical minerals and materials to support the transition to a low-carbon economy. This two-day symposium will feature invited presentations on Canada’s key critical mineral-material commodities, novel exploration tools, method development, and current research trends.

SY02 - Crustal Architecture and Metal Endowment, Chairs: Ross Sherlock (rsherlock@laurentian.ca), Bruno Lafrance (blafrance@laurentian.ca), Stéphane Perrouty (sperrouty@laurentian.ca)

This Symposium will highlight recent research outcomes in mapping crustal architecture in Precambrian shields and how this is related to base and precious metal endowment of the crust. It will draw researchers and industry geologists from Metal Earth and other collaborative research initiatives on Precambrian cratons.

SY03 - Magmatic Ore Deposits Associated with Mafic - Ultramafic Systems: A Tribute to the Career of Prof. Sarah-Jane Barnes, Chairs: Michel Houlé (michel.houle@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca), Sarah Dare (Sarah1_Dare@uqac.ca), Anne-Aurélie Sappin (anne-aurélie.sappin@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca)

The energy transition taking place in Canada and elsewhere in the world is bringing renewed interest in critical elements, many of which (Ni, Cu, Co, PGE, Cr, Ti, V, and P) are recovered from various deposit types related to magmatic mafic-ultramafic mineral systems. This symposium is seeking to address key processes involved in the genesis of economic accumulation of these critical minerals, and advances in exploring for them, within established and emerging mining camps but also in frontier regions in Canada and elsewhere around the world. It is dedicated to the career of Prof. Emerita Sarah-Jane Barnes (UQAC) who made significant contributions in our understanding over the years of these well-endowed mineralized systems worldwide.

SY04 - Orogenic Gold Deposit Metallogeny: A Symposium Honouring Dr Benoît Dubé, Chairs: Jochen Kolb (jochen.kolb@kit.edu), Georges Beaudoin (beaudoin@ggl.ulaval.ca)

Orogenic gold deposits are the most important gold source and attract wide recognition both in exploration, mining, and research. This symposium will feature presentations on the geology, fluid history, P-T-X-t evolution of orogenic gold deposits by leading experts, combined with invited or volunteered contributions from researchers worldwide. It is dedicated to the career of Dr Benoît Dubé (1997 Robinson Lecturer, 2011 Duncan Derry Medalist, 1989-2022 Geological Survey of Canada) who made significant contributions in resource assessment and understanding of orogenic gold mineral systems in Canada, which are broadly applicable elsewhere.

SY05 - Sudbury Impact Structure, Chairs: Gordon Osinski (gosinski@uwo.ca), Michael Lesher (mlesher@laurentian.ca)

The Sudbury Structure is one of the world’s oldest, largest, and best-exposed impact sites. This symposium will focus on all aspects relevant to the genesis of the structure, including shock features in the target rocks, the impact melt sheet and offset dikes, overlying fall-back/suevitic/phreatic breccias, and relevant analog experiments and numerical models. The nature and genesis of the mineralization will be covered in a separate Symposium on Ni-Cu-PGE Deposits.

SS02 - Advances in Isotope Science: Methods and Applications of Non-Traditional Isotopes, Chairs: Matthew Leybourne (m.leybourne@queensu.ca), Daniel Layton-Matthews (dlayton@queensu.ca)

Non-traditional stable isotopes have been increasingly used to study the fluxes among the Earth's major reservoirs and through the geological record. Our knowledge of isotope fractionation mechanisms and controls during chemical transport and deposition in these emerging stable isotope systems has grown in recent years. In this session we aim to select a diverse series of contributions from analytical method development and analysis through novel applications of non-traditional isotope geochemistry that tracks element migration and cycling between the Earth's geosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere.

SS03 - Advances in Marine Geology and Geodynamics and their Application to Understanding Ancient Metallogenic Terranes, Chairs: Erin Bethell (ebethel2@uottawa.ca), Chris Galley (gchrist2@uottawa.ca), Alan Baxter (abaxter2@uottawa.ca), Mark Hannington (mark.hannington@uottawa.ca)

The present-day oceans provide a natural laboratory to observe the structural, kinematic and magmatic history of oceanic and arc crust, which comprise a significant proportion of greenstone belts and accreted terranes. This session will highlight studies using modern marine geophysical and acoustic datasets to understand the tectonic evolution of different domains of oceanic and arc crust. We invite contributions that use these datasets to advance our knowledge of marine geological processes and apply what is learned to ancient metallogenic greenstone belts and accreted terranes. This session is a contribution to the CFREF Metal Earth and NSERC iMAGE-CREATE programs.

SS04 - Advances in the Study of Accretionary Tectonics in the Paleozoic: From the Appalachians to Zagros, Chairs: Deanne van Rooyen (deanne.vanrooyen@acadiau.ca), Donnelly Archibald (darchiba@stfx.ca)

Accretionary orogens in the Paleozoic span a vast range of orogenic styles and tectonic histories. This session seeks contributions on Paleozoic orogenic belts specifically focused on their evolution through time, with a particular emphasis on comparative work between different areas, either within a specific orogenic belt or among different orogens. We look forward to welcoming contributions dealing with a wide range of orogenic belts worldwide.

SS05 - Advances in VMS Deposits: Genetic Models and Approaches to Mineral Exploration, Chairs: Frank Santaguida (frank.santaguida@glencore.ca), Harold Gibson (hgibson@laurentian.ca)

Volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits are among an economically important class of mineralization types globally. For example, VMS deposits currently account for over 16% of current world zinc production. The understanding of the genesis of these types of deposits continues to improve, resulting in successful approaches to exploring for new Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag-Au resources. The geodynamic setting of VMS deposits and the new technology that impacts mineral exploration will be discussed as invited keynote talks as well as more focused presentations. Topics will include predictive mapping/data modelling, geochemical signatures to host volcanic rocks, recent discoveries, and emerging terranes.

SS06 - All that Glitters is Cold: Advances in Quaternary Glacial Investigations, Chairs: Jessey Rice (jessey.rice@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca), Tyler Hodder (tyler.hodder@gov.mb.ca), Riley Mulligan (riley.mulligan@ontario.ca)

Our understanding of ice sheet dynamics, evolution, and sedimentary environments remains incomplete, despite its importance in identifying and managing groundwater and aggregate resources, the evaluation of potential geohazards, and facilitating drift prospecting efforts. This session welcomes submissions describing recent or ongoing investigations of modern to ancient glacial systems at regional, local or micro-scales that are guided by detailed fieldwork, lab analyses, geophysical and/or remotely sensed data. Reviews of complex, contentious, or historical issues are also welcome. We anticipate contributions that focus on themes of: subglacial erosional and depositional processes, landform genesis, stratigraphy, geochronology, geochemistry, paleoglaciological reconstructions.

SS07 - Anything but Boring: the Grenville Orogeny a Key into Mesoproterozoic Geodynamics, Chairs: Aphrodite Indares (aindares@mun.ca), Caroline lotout (clotout@mun.ca)

Global tectonic regimes in the Mesoproterozoic are the topic of heated debate, with end members invoking fragmented and active to single-lid and quiet lithosphere(s). The existence of orogens is clearly demonstrated during this time interval despite their tectonic style appearing to differ drastically from modern ones. This session explores distinctive characteristics of Mesoproterozoic orogens by focusing on the Grenville province and its wider context. We hope to bring together new insights on synorogenic magmatism, metamorphic P-T gradients and timescales of metamorphism, that can inform on thickness of orogenic crust, thermal regimes, and tectonothermal evolution. In a broader sense, we encourage contributions to any aspect of Mesoproterozoic plate tectonics. We welcome all types of studies from field-based, magmatic, metamorphic, geochronological, to numerical modeling and geophysical perspectives, and multidisciplinary approaches that integrate across research areas.

SS08 - Archean Craton Assembly, Chairs: Antoine Godet (antoine.godet.1@ulaval.ca), Carl Guilmette (carl.guilmette@ggl.ulaval.ca), Doug Tinkham (dtinkham@laurentian.ca)

A fundamental outstanding question in Earth sciences is what kind of tectonics operated during the Archean, and when and how did plate tectonics initiate and evolve. The global convection regime is argued to have evolved from early tectonic regimes, including plume tectonics, asymmetric subduction, multiple juvenile arc-accretion, and mantle overturn tectonics, into modern global plate tectonics. The occurrence of contrasting plutonic and tectonometamorphic styles during the Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic Era implies that this period was a pivotal point, but the timing, duration, and geological expression of this transition are still debated. We invite multidisciplinary research that aims to better understand Archean craton assembly worldwide.

SS09 - Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences at 60: Celebrating Canadian Geoscience and Geoscientists, Chairs: Sally Pehrsson (sally.pehrsson@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca), Brendan Murphy (bmurphy@stfx.ca)

The Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences turns 60 years old in January 2023 and this symposium will celebrate advances in Canadian geosciences that have provided seminal contributions to many sub-disciplines of the Earth Sciences, including the development of the plate tectonic paradigm in ancient and modern orogens, the genesis of different types of mineral deposits, precise geochronology (which enables us to measure the pulse of the Earth), the evolution and extinction of various life-forms (from Dinosaurs to Dinoflagellates), oxygenation of the atmosphere over time, geophysics of the Earth’s interior, and the forces that create and destroy mountains.

SS10 - Cratons, Kimberlites, and Diamonds, Chairs: Thomas Stachel (tstachel@ualberta.ca), Yana Fedortchouk, (yana@dal.ca), Maya Kopylova (mkopylov@eos.ubc.ca), D. Graham Pearson (gdpearso@ualberta.ca)

This session invites presentations covering advances in the fields of: 1) Origin and evolution of cratonic lithosphere (mantle xenolith/xenocryst studies; geophysical research cratonic mantle roots, etc.), 2) Processes of diamond formation (trace elements and stable isotopes in diamond; Diamond-forming fluids/melts and reactions; Inclusions in diamond; Surface textures), 3) Kimberlite research (from petrogenesis to emplacement), and 4) Advances in diamond exploration techniques (indicator mineral chemistry, geothermobarometry, etc.).

SS11 - Environmental Aspects of Mine Waste, Chairs: Ian Power (ianpower@trentu.ca), Sasha Wilson (sawilson@ualberta.ca), Matthew Lindsay (matt.lindsay@usask.ca)

This session will broadly focus on environmental aspects of mine wastes including geochemistry, mineralogy, geomicrobiology, hydrogeology, and modeling. We invite abstracts on various topics including, but not limited to, acid generation, redox cycling, metal attenuation, carbon mineralization, isotopic tracers, solute transport, and reactive transport modeling. Submissions focused on abandoned or operating mines across various commodities are welcome. We also welcome submissions focused on re-utilization of mine wastes including their potential as critical mineral sources.

SS13 - Geobiology of the Late Archean to Early Paleoproterozoic Surface World and its Impacts on Proterozoic Evolution, Chairs: Michael Babechuk (mbabechuk@mun.ca), Leslie Robbins (leslie.robbins@uregina.ca), Galen Halverson (galen.halverson@mcgill.ca), Kurt Konhauser (kurtk@ualberta.ca)

The late Archean to early Paleoproterozoic was a critical time in the co-evolution of life and Earth’s surface environment. It included the formation of large and emergent continents, the relatively rapid oxygenation of the atmosphere, unprecedented acid rock drainage, several global glaciations, periods of high marine primary productivity, the evolution of aerobic metabolisms, and potentially the origins of eukaryotic cells. This session encourages contributions documenting novel approaches and insights that may include chemostratigraphy and detailed sedimentology, non-traditional stable isotope geochemistry, modelling approaches, geomicrobiology, phylogenomics, or the statistical analysis of large datasets, amongst others. We seek a diverse array of presenters and particularly encourage submissions from early-career researchers and graduate/undergraduate students.

SS15 - Geoscience Education and Communication, Chairs: Lesley Hymers (lhymers@miningmatters.ca), Deana Schwarz (dschwar3@uwo.ca), Veronica Klassen (veronicaklassen5@gmail.com), Beth McLarty Halfkenny (beth.mclartyhalfkenny@carleton.ca), Courtney Onstad (courtney_onstad@sfu.ca)

The topics that will be explored in this symposium include the theory and practice of formal and informal geoscience education and communication. The audience for this symposium includes geoscience education and communication researchers, and practicing informal and formal educators and communicators, including those from academia (faculty, graduate students and graduate teaching assistants); government; and Industry, across Canada.

SS16 - Impact Processes on Solar System Bodies: A Special Session in Memory of Erin Walton, Chairs: Gordon Osinski (gosinski@uwo.ca), Livio Tornabene (Livio Tornabene)

The impact of asteroids and comets with planetary bodies is one of the most fundamental geological processes in the solar system. This special session will focus on all aspects of the impact cratering process, products, and effects, and on all solar system bodies. Field studies, sample analysis, remote sensing, modelling, and experimental studies will be welcome. This special session will be dedicated to Dr. Erin Walton (MacEwan University, Edmonton), an outstanding early career researcher and expert in shock processes who passed away in August 2022.

SS17 - Integrated Studies in Paleozoic Basins: Life, Environments, Resources, Chairs: Nikole Bingham-Koslowski (nikole.bingham-koslowski@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca), Michelle Coyne (michelle.coyne@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca)

This session aims to highlight research related to sedimentary basins, both onshore and offshore, with a focus on the Paleozoic. We welcome submissions on topics relevant to the study of Paleozoic basins including, but by no means limited to, sedimentology, stratigraphy, paleontology, paleoecology, paleoenvironmental interpretation, petrography, geochemistry, seismic interpretation, tectonic evolution, and resource potential.

SS18 - Iron-rich Au, Ag, Bi, Co, Cu, F, Mo, Nb, P, Pb, REE, U, Zn, PGE Mineralization: Genetic Processes and Feedback Mechanisms between Magmatism and Metasomatism, Chairs: Wyatt Bain (wmbain@lakeheadu.ca), Louise Corriveau (louise.corriveau@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca), Jean-Francois Montreuil (jfmontreuil@macdonaldmines.com)

Extreme iron enrichment is common in a range of distinct but mineralogically similar critical mineral-rich deposits. As the demand for critical minerals grows, so will our need to understand the metasomatic and magmatic processes leading to Fe and critical metal enrichment in IOCG, IOA, metasomatic iron, nelsonite, carbonatite, and magnetite-rich cumulate, and other iron-rich deposits types within the broader context of their host mineral systems. In this symposium, we invite talks on the field geology, metallogeny, petrology, mineralogy, geochemistry, and fluid/melt evolution of Fe-rich critical mineral systems with the aim of illuminating intersections in genetic mechanisms and feedback between magmatic, metasomatic, and tectonic processes in forming Fe-rich critical mineral-rich deposits.

SS20 - Lithium in Pegmatites: Mineralogy, Petrogenesis and Classic to Innovative Exploration Techniques, Chairs: Tania Martins (Tania.Martins@gov.mb.ca), Axel Muller (a.b.muller@nhm.uio.no), Joana Cardoso-Fernandes (joana.fernandes@fc.up.pt), Encarnacion Roda-Robles (encar.roda@ehu.eus), Lee Groat (groat@mail.ubc.ca)

Pegmatites are an important source of many of the elements considered critical, particularly lithium, cesium, tantalum, tin, and beryllium. Lithium is a particularly critical element, as it is a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and is vital to Canada's and the European Union's growing green economy and the decarbonisation transition. We invite presentations that will further our knowledge of these enigmatic rocks, e.g. pegmatite mineralogy, petrogenesis, and classic to innovative exploration techniques.

SS21 - Mineral Exploration Footprints, Chairs: Stéphane Perrouty (sperrouty@laurentian.ca), Kevin Ansdell (kevin.ansdell@usask.ca), Robert Lee (rglee17@gmail.com)

Expanding the size of a target leads to more efficient mineral exploration approaches in greenfield settings and at depth. This session aims to build on the legacy of the NSERC - Canada Mining Innovation Council - Mineral Exploration Footprints Program (2013-2018) to introduce new advances in economic geology that investigate the distal signature of major ore systems, including but not limited to orogenic gold, porphyry copper, uranium, lithium, magmatic and volcanogenic deposits. Presentations on any aspect of the geological, geochemical, isotopic, mineralogical, structural and/or petrophysical components of a footprint are welcomed.

SS22 - New Insights on Cordilleran Magmatism and Tectonics: from Rifted Margin to Continental Arc Systems, Chairs: Rosie Cobbett (rosie.cobbett@yukon.ca), Luke Beranek (lberanek@mun.ca), Justin Strauss (justin.v.strauss@dartmouth.edu), David Moynihan (david.moynihan@yukon.ca)

The western passive margin of Laurentia formed after Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic extension associated with the breakup of Rodinia. This continental margin was subsequently modified by poorly understood mid-Paleozoic subduction initiation, as well as the eventual development of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Cordilleran active margin. In this session, we invite multidisciplinary submissions that provide new insights into magmatism, sedimentation, and/or deformation associated with each phase of western Laurentia’s Neoproterozoic to Recent development.

SS25 - Precambrian Depositional and Environmental Systems, Chairs: Maxwell Lechte (maxwell.lechte@mail.mcgill.ca), Nabil Shawwa (NabilShawwa@cmail.carleton.ca), Mollie Patzke (mpatzke@laurentian.ca)

The sedimentary record offers a unique window into the evolution of surface systems and the biosphere on the early Earth. Sudbury is the location of the Huronian Supergroup, an important Precambrian sedimentary sequence. With this in mind, this session aims to explore the different facets of Precambrian sedimentology and environmental change. Presentations for this session include, but are not limited to, Precambrian depositional environments, the fossil record, paleoclimate, paleoredox constraints, geochemistry, and stratigraphic correlations. We invite researchers with any insightful contributions related to Huronian Supergroup stratigraphy, other Canadian Precambrian basins, or the Precambrian stratigraphic record in general.

SS26 - Rare Metals in Igneous Systems, Chairs: Zsuzsanna Magyarosi (zsuzsannamagyarosi@gov.nl.ca), Nadia Mohammadi (nadia.mohammadi@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca), Zeinab Azadbakht (zeinab.azadbakht@ontario.ca), Tarryn Cawood (tarryn.cawood@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca), Anne-Aurélie Sappin (anne-aurelie.sappin@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca)

Rare critical metals, including REEs, Y, Nb, Li, Cs, and Ta, play an important role in Canada’s transition to a low carbon economy. In this session, we welcome contributions that highlight advanced methods of targeting prospective regions for rare metals and address their genesis, geochemistry, geochronology, mineralogy, and metallurgy with special emphasis on their economic aspects within various igneous systems.

SS27 - Spectroscopic Mineral Analysis, Chairs: Philip Lypaczewski (philip.lypaczewski@cna.nl.ca), Derek Wilton (dwilton@esd.mun.ca), Gary Thompson (gary.thompson@cna.nl.ca)

In an exploration context, mineralogical alteration patterns can serve as powerful vectors towards mineralization. Spectroscopic mineral analysis techniques allow for the objective and quantitative identification of mineralogy at a variety of scales and can therefore be an effective exploration tool. This session will focus on studies involving the use of any portable, lab-based, or airborne instrumentation that provide spectroscopic data used for the quantitative analysis of mineralogy, in a mineral exploration context or otherwise. Advances in the fundamental understanding of infrared spectroscopy (including hyperspectral imaging), X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) or other techniques, as well as applied uses are welcomed.

GS01 - Economic Geology, Chairs: Daniel Gregory (daniel.gregory@utoronto.ca), Merilie Reynolds (Merilie_Reynolds@gov.nt.ca)

GS02 - Environmental Geology, Chairs: David Pearson (dpearson@laurentian.ca), Alan Lock (alock@laurentian.ca)

GS03 - Geochemistry, Geochronology, Chairs: Steve Piercey (spiercey@mun.ca), Jacob Hanley (jacob.hanley@smu.ca)

GS04 - Geophysics, Chairs: Richard Smith (rssmith@laurentian.ca), Rajesh Vayavur (rvayavur@laurentian.ca)

GS07 - Igneous and Metamorphic Geology, Volcanology, Chairs: Doug Tinkham (dtinkham@laurentian.ca), Manuel Duguet (manuel.duguet@ontario.ca)

GS13 - Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, Chairs: Maxwell Lechte (maxwell.lechte@mail.mcgill.ca), Nabil Shawwa (NabilShawwa@cmail.carleton.ca)

GS14 - Structural Geology, Tectonics, Chair: Deanne van Rooyen (deanne.vanrooyen@acadiau.ca), Nikole Bingham-Koslowski (nikole.bingham-koslowski@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca)