Themes:

• Timescale/stratigraphic correlations
• Tectonics: orogenic processes, paleotectonic reconstruction
• Paleo-glaciations
• Hazards
• Mineral deposit processes and exploration keys

Examples of Projects:

• Precise emplacement chronology (U-Pb) of the Nain Plutonic Suite
• Rate of lithospheric thinning and precise timescale of the eruption of lavas in the British Tertiary Volcanic Province.
• Ancient Pacific Margin tectonic model correlation (NATMAP)
• Stratigraphic correlation of the Nass River map area
• Rates of UHP and HP metamorphism and exhumation, Western Gneiss Region, Norway
  

Themes:

• Evolution of the earth's oldest crust (major impact on crust-mantle evolution studies)
• Formation and stabilization of the lower crust (xenoliths, granites as probes)
• Characterization of juvenile vs. reworked crust (tectonic accretion/evolution of orogens)
• Constraining the ages of metamorphism (and uplift/cooling/denudation) in orogenic belts
• Tracer isotopes & lithogeochemistry: crust formation, differentiation, modification

Examples of Projects:

• Isotope geochemical contributions to multidisciplinary studies (often NATMAP)
• Acasta Gneiss/Slave Province: SHRIMP study of the Earth's oldest zircons
• Western Superior, Western Churchill NATMAP Projects
• Trans-Hudson, NE Laurentia (Baffin, Torngat, Nain, Ketilidian)
• Evolution of the Davis Strait using ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar dating of volcanic rocks

Themes:

• Understanding sedimentary provenance through heavy mineral dating studies (principally U-Pb, zircon ± monazite); distribution of ages
• Fingerprinting sediments for correlation purposes (assessing source contributions)
• Maximum age of deposition
• Timing of tectonic accretion in orogenic terranes
• Age spectra can be used as a way of 'imaging' eroding basement at time of deposition
• Detrital zircons may be the only way of assessing basement which is no longer exposed

Examples of Projects:

• U-Pb detrital zircon study of turbidites in the Slave Province
• U-Pb study of polycyclic detrital zircons, Late Paleozoic St. Marys Basin, Nova Scotia
• Clastic and sedimentary sequences of the Woodburn Lake Group
• U-Pb detrital zircon ages and the provenance of the Torridonian sandstones of NW Scotland
• Paleoproterozoic basins of the Canadian Shield (Shaler, Hurwitz, Baker Lake)
• Pan-continental river system draining of the Grenville orogen

Themes:

• Natural link between geological and environmental applications of isotope geochemistry
• Unique ability to provide high-precision isotopic ratios
• Pb and Sr isotopic ratios in lake sediments, water, organic tissue, bone, teeth
• Interpretation of data to identify natural vs. anthropogenic components, delineate environmental pathways of contaminants

Examples of Projects:

• Sr isotopic composition of modern walrus teeth from Hudson Bay and Arctic Islands
• Pb isotopic database
• Stable lead isotope characteristics of lead ore deposits

Themes:

• Expanding capabilities
• Lower analytical uncertainties
• Increased efficiencies
• Improved interpretations

Examples of Projects:

• Pb and Sr column chemistry for organic matrices
• Ar-Ar analysis of Neogene volcanics
• Intercalibration of Ar-Ar and U-Pb isotopic systems
• International Ar-Ar standard
• New SHRIMP zircon U-Pb and trace element standards
• SHRIMP zircon U-Pb calibration methods
• New cathode design SHRIMP zircon REEs, Sr isotopes
• Alunite Ar-Ar
• Chemistry of altered zircon
• Section project database
• SHRIMP data reduction