Biography:
Catriona is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of British Columbia. She completed her MGeol degree with first-class honours in earth science at the University of St Andrews in 2021. Catriona’s current research investigates the genesis, geochemistry, and metasomatic processes which influence lithium-rich pegmatites in Canada. Catriona has experience with all stages of lithium pegmatite exploration from greenfield prospecting to metallurgical processing of spodumene at Canada’s largest lithium mine on the Tanco pegmatite. Catriona enjoys the beauty and world-class rock exposures of British Columbia and intends to pursue mineral exploration consulting when she graduates.
Project: The Geochemistry, Petrology and Mineralogy of the Prof Pegmatite, Revelstoke, BC
The Prof pegmatite is located on Boulder Mountain, northwest of Revelstoke, in BC’s Southeast Region. It is emplaced within the Monashee cover sequence between the northern Frenchman Cap Dome and southern Thor-Odin Dome. This project forms part of a Ph.D. thesis investigating petalite-subtype pegmatites across Canada. The research has uncovered substantial petalite within the Prof pegmatite, marking the first discovery of a significantly lithium-mineralized pegmatite in BC. This project uses a variety of techniques such as electron probe microanalysis; laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry; scanning electron microscope mapping; and geochronology to assess the geochemical evolution and magmatic and metasomatic paragenesis of the deposit. Understanding the mineralogy and geochemical evolution of the Prof pegmatite is crucial for gaining insights into broader lithium mineralization patterns in the Revelstoke region and assessing prospective areas to search for more pegmatites.
