Joel Gagnon

Assistant Professor
Hybrid appointment with Earth and Environmental Science and GLIER

Having fun with light and ions.  

Phone:  519-253-3000  Ext. 2496
Office:  Room 209 Memorial Hall,  Room 230, GLIER
e-mail:  Joel Gagnon

Area of Expertise

Analytical and Applied Geochemistry, mineral deposits

Education

B.Sc. (Honours) - Geology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario
M.Sc. - Geology, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario
Ph.D. - Geology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec

Professional Certifications

Certified Professional Geologist, American Institute of Professional Geologists
Licensed Professional Geologist, State of Indiana
Certified Professional Geologist, State of Michigan 

Research Interests
 

Facilities/Equipment Used

Laser Ablation Microsampling
Quadrupole ICP-MS
Multi-collector ICP-MS
Raman Spectroscopy
Fluid Inclusion Microthermometry
Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope 

Publications

Gagnon, J.E., Samson, I.M. and Searcy, T.O. (submitted). The sulphur isotopic composition of sulphides in the Proterozoic MacLellan Au-Ag deposit, Manitoba: implications for deposit genesis. Mineralium Deposita. 43 p.
 
Bao, X., Secco, R.A., Gagnon, J.E., and Fryer, B.J. (submitted). Uranium partitioning between liquid iron and silicate melt at high pressures: implications for uranium solubility in planetary cores. Physics of Earth and Planetary Interiors.
 
Polat, A., Li, J., Fryer, B., Kusky, T., Gagnon, J. and Zhang, S. (2006). Geochemical characteristics of the Neoarchean (2800-2700 Ma) Taishan greenstone belt, North China Craton: Evidence for plume-craton interaction. Chemical Geology. 230, 60-87.
 
Chittaro, P.M., Hogan, J.D., Gagnon, J.E., Fryer, B.J. and Sale, P.F. (2006). In situ experiment of ontogenetic variability in the otolith chemistry of Stegastes partitus. Marine Biology. Web published March 2006.
 
Chittaro, P.M., Gagnon, J.E., and Fryer, B.J. (2006). The differentiation of Stegastes partitus populations using lapillar and sagittal otolith chemistry. Journal of Fish Biology. 68, 1909-1917.
 
Ludsin, S.A., Fryer, B.F. and Gagnon, J.E. (2006). Comparison of Solution-Based versus Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Analysis of Larval Fish Otolith Microelemental Composition. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 135, 218-231.
 
Melancon S., Fryer B.J, Ludsin S.A., Gagnon J.E., and Yang, Z. (2005). Effects of crystal structure on the uptake of metals by lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) otoliths. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 62, 2609-2619.

Shaw, C.S.J., Eyzaguirre, J., Fryer, B. and Gagnon, J. (2005). Regional variations in the Mineralogy of Metasomatic Assemblages in Mantle Xenoliths from the West Eifel Volcanic Field, Germany. Journal of Petrology. 28 p.
 
Burns, P.C., Kubatku, K.-A., Sigmon, G., Fryer, B.J., Gagnon, J.E., Antonio, M.R. and Soderholm, L. (2005). Actinyl Peroxide Nanospheres. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 44, 2135-2139.
 
Gagnon, J.E., Samson, I.M., Fryer, B. J. and Williams-Jones, A.E. (2004). The composition and origin of hydrothermal fluids in rare-element pegmatites, South Platte, Colorado: Evidence from LA-ICP-MS analysis of quartz- and fluorite-hosted fluid inclusions. Canadian Mineralogist. 42: 1503-1527.
 
Gagnon, J.E., Samson, I.M., and Fryer, B.J. (2003). LA-ICP-MS Analysis of Fluid Inclusions. In I. Samson, A. Anderson & D. Marshall (eds.), The Analysis and Interpretation of Fluid Inclusions, Mineralogical Association of Canada Short Course #32, 12/1-12/32.
 
Crowe, S.A., Fryer, B.J., Samson, I.M. and Gagnon, J.E. (2003). Precise isotopic ratio determination of common Pb using quadrupole LA-ICP-MS with optimized laser sampling conditions and a robust mixed-gas plasma. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry. 18: 1331-1338.

Gagnon, J.E., Samson, I.M., Fryer, B.J. and Williams-Jones, A.E. (2003). Compositional heterogeneity in fluorite and the genesis of fluorite deposits: insights from LA-ICP-MS analysis. Canadian Mineralogist. 41: 365-382.
 
Samson, I.M., Blackburn, W.H. and Gagnon, J.E. (1999). Paragenesis and Chemistry of Amphiboles and Biotites in the MacLellan Au-Ag Deposit, Lynn Lake Greenstone Belt, Manitoba. Canadian Mineralogist. 37: 1405-1421.
 
Samson, I.M., and Gagnon, J.E. (1995). Episodic Fluid Infiltration and Genesis of the Proterozoic MacLellan Au-Ag Deposit, Lynn Lake Greenstone Belt, Manitoba. Exploration and Mining Geology. 4: 33-50. 

Conference Presentations

Current Research Projects 

Current Graduate Students

Desiree Chevalier M.Sc. student (Co-supervised with Dr. Chris Weisener, GLIER)

Student Opportunities 

Our research group is currently seeking a number of highly-motivated students to pursue challenging M.Sc. and Ph.D. research opportunities. In general, these projects involve understanding metal cycling in aqueous systems, including low temperature (i.e., environmental) and higher temperature (i.e., mineral deposits) environments.

Depending on the interests of the applicant, the focus of these projects can be either analytical (e.g., method development) or applied (e.g., fluid inclusion and mineral microchemistry). Projects involving mineral deposits will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Iain Samson (Earth Sciences). Projects involving environmental applications will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Brian Fryer (Great Lakes Institute).

We are particularly interested in students that want to work on the development and application of microsampling techniques (specifically laser ablation) to the elemental and isotopic analysis of geologic (e.g., fluid inclusions) and biologic (e.g., otoliths, statoliths) media. Our research facilities include state-of-the-art nano, pico and femtosecond laser ablation and elemental and isotopic analytical capabilities.  Contact Dr. Gagnon for more information.