Lowell Program Field Courses

The trip will include a focused multi-day introduction to the “Anaconda-style” of detailed mapping as applied to multiple deposit types but with a focus on the Yerington district, Nevada. The district contains porphyry copper and skarn mineralization, but the mapping method is adaptable to any type of deposit. As part of this, we highlight how mapping can be used to understand zoning, the time-space evolution of mineralizing systems, and the relationships to the fundamental phase equilibria of hydrothermal alteration. In addition to numerous other geologic stops, the trip also anticipates to include overviews and/or tours of the following districts and deposits: 

• Goldfield, Nevada [high-sulfidation epithermal Au],
• Tonopah, Nevada [low-sulfidation epithermal Ag-Au],
• Birch Creek, California [F-Be-W-(Zn) greisen/skarn],
• Humboldt, Nevada [IOCG occurrences],
• Eureka district, Nevada [partially superimposed systems, with Carlin-type Au mines at Windfall, Rustler, and Archimedes, a porphyry Mo-Cu to replacement Zn-Pb-Ag deposit at Ruby Hill, and the top of a F-W-Zn-Be- (Mo-Sn) system at McCullough Butte]
• Robinson district, Nevada [porphyry Cu-(Mo-Au) and related skarn and distal Au-Ag deposits]. 

GEOS 504B in the course catalog

The trip is a 10-day round trip from Las Vegas, covering about 2,500 miles in 4WD vehicles. Industry participants should plan to arrive in Las Vegas no later than Wednesday evening, as the trip leaves early on Thursday morning. Industry participants should plan to depart from Las Vegas no earlier than Saturday night, September 7. 

Registration cost for non-university participants is US $ 4,100.00.

This includes ground transportation, all lunches in the field, double-occupancy accommodations in motels each night during the trip, and course materials. Breakfasts and most dinners are the responsibility of participants. Industry participants must also provide transportation to and from Las Vegas and their accommodations the night before and after the trip. 

Please contact brambila@arizona.edu for registration or questions.

During the course, you will be asked to sign a “Statement of Honoraria Recipients” (used in association with expenses associated with the activities of foreign visitors who come to the US on visa types B1/B2 and WB/WT). We will also make a photocopy of your passport page showing photograph and expiration date and the passport page showing the visa, or alternatively, Mexican Border Crossing Card. (Nationals of countries that participate in the “US visa waiver program” do not need a visa to enter the US.)

This intensive course deals with the lithologic, structural, and geochemical characteristics of selected major ore deposit types. Each offering focuses on an in-depth examination of a selected family of mineral deposits, including fundamental and comparative characteristics, petrology, and genesis, and how these can influence metallurgical, engineering, economic, and historical aspects of mining.

The deposit types that are covered include:

• porphyry copper systems
• alkaline Cu-Au deposits
• iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) systems

The lecture topics relating to these deposits include:

• distribution and geologic setting 
• character of related igneous systems
• hydrothermal alteration and ore mineral assemblages
• supergene processes - structural aspects
• pre-, syn-, and post-mineral
• geochemistry of ore-forming systems
• comparative geophysics
• economics and metallurgy

The laboratory topics include:

• alteration and ore mineral types and textures
• rock suites from all deposit types

Field trips visit accessible examples of these types of systems in southern and central Arizona.

The lecture sessions are held at the Marriott University Park Hotel on the edge of the campus at the University of Arizona. The laboratory sessions take place mostly at the Gould-Simpson Building, which is home to the Geosciences Department. The building is located at 1040 East 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85721-0077, and is located within walking distance from the Marriott Hotel.

The fee for the short course is US$3,700 (early registration fee until November 1: US$3,500).

What your registration fee payment entitles you to:

• Short course handbook, laboratory materials, field trip guides
• One-night hotel (overnight trip to the Globe-Miami area in a double occupancy)
• Two coffee breaks per day (coffee, tea, pastries) during lecture sessions
• Group dinners (one for the keynote dinner, one on the overnight trip, and another on the final evening in Tucson)
• Lunches (boxed sandwich meals) for field days 
• All transportation during field trips 

What you pay for:

• Hotel for all nights (except for the overnight trip to Globe-Miami)
• Meals (except for the 3 group dinners and four box lunches)
• Airfare or other form of transportation to and from Tucson

We work with the Marriott to get a discounted rate for the short course participants. Most participants enjoy staying at the Marriott because of the accommodations and the convenience of the lectures and labs.

During the course, you will be asked to sign a “Statement of Honoraria Recipients” (used in association with expenses associated with the activities of foreign visitors who come to the US on visa types B1/B2 and WB/WT). We will also make a photocopy of your passport page showing photograph and expiration date and the passport page showing the visa, or alternatively, Mexican Border Crossing Card. (Nationals of countries that participate in the “US visa waiver program” do not need a visa to enter the US.)

SeE 2025 Course flyer

The lecture sessions are usually held at the Marriott University Park Hotel on the edge of the campus at the University of Arizona. The laboratory sessions take place mostly at the Gould-Simpson Building, home to the Geosciences Department. The building is located at 1040 East 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85721-0077, and is located within walking distance from the Marriott Hotel.

Hyperspectral Imaging for Mining and Mineral Resources focuses on introducing participants to hyperspectral imaging using visible through long-wave infrared imaging spectrometers. Participants will learn how to collect laboratory and ground truth spectral data of rocks and minerals, process and interpret hyperspectral data from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Airborne, Satellite, and tripod mounted systems for mining and mineral resources. The course also dives into future applications of hyperspectral imaging focused on mining and mineral resources.

This course has the duration of 10 days and includes lectures, laboratories, field trips and a hand-on project. 

Topics covered in the Lectures

• Physics (Interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter);
• Mineral, vegetation, and gases spectra (VNIR-SWIR, MWIR-LWIR, FLWIR, Raman);
• Laboratory, field, drill core, aircraft, satellite measurements with imaging and non-imaging infrared spectrometers (VNIR-SWIR, MWIR-LWIR, Raman);
• Spectral Collections [Field collection: UAS – drone, Tripod (VNIR-SWIR, LWIR), Field measurements (Raman, VNIR-SWIR, Niton XRF), Laboratory measurements (VNIR, SWIR, MWIR Imagers, ASD/Spectral Evolution), Drill core measurements];
• Instrument calibration and storage of data in spectral data cubes and libraries;
• Preprocessing of image data, laboratory, and field measurements, assessments of data quality; 
• Spectral interpretation strategy: linking spectra to mineral/rock composition;
• Mineral mapping rock samples, drill core, airborne (UAS-drone and aircraft), spaceborne; 

• Link infrared spectra to rock/mineral properties, mineral processing, geometallurgical properties;

   

  Laboratory topics

• Laboratory measurements (Specim FX-10, SWIR camera, Specim FX-50, FNeoscanner, ASD/Spectral Evolution)
• Laboratory measurements and analysis of minerals using HSI data
• Measurements and analysis of rocks and/or core using laboratory HSI data
• Analysis of VSWIR Satellite HSI data
• Analysis of field collection HSI data 

• Analysis of LWIR HSI data

   

  Field trip

Field collection of Tripod (VNIR, SWIR, MWIR Imagers) and Field measurements (Raman, VNIR-SWIR, Niton XRF) at San Xavier Mine.

Dr. Riley earned a B.S. in Geology from Oregon State University, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to arriving at the University of Arizona in 2022, he spent over 20 years working on advanced research and development using hyperspectral sensors across from the visible through longwave infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum for the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), and several DoD/IC contractors. He was a Battalion Commander in the Army Reserve with earlier deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. Additionally, he is the Chief Technology Officer for a Canadian start-up focused on the software automation hyperspectral imaging analytics integrating subject matter expertise with machine learning and artificial intelligence. Dr. Riley’s research primarily focuses on hyperspectral and multispectral imaging and its relevance in mining, mineral resources, and geological sciences and engineering.

This short course was designed for graduate students, upper-level undergraduates, members of industry, and other professionals.

The lecture and laboratory sessions are held at the Gould-Simpson Building, located at 1040 East 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85721-0077. Campus Map here.

The fee for the short course is US$3,700 ($3,500 before the early registration deadline of December 13). 

What your registration fee payment entitles you to:

• Short course handbook, laboratory materials, and software
• Two coffee breaks per day (coffee, tea, pastries) during lecture sessions
• Lunches (boxed sandwich meals) for field days 
• All transportation during field trips 

What you pay for:

• Hotel for all nights
• Meals (except for the box lunch)
• Airfare or other form of transportation to and from Tucson

During the course, you will be asked to sign a “Statement of Honoraria Recipients” (used in association with expenses associated with the activities of foreign visitors who come to the US on visa types B1/B2 and WB/WT). We will also make a photocopy of your passport page showing photograph and expiration date and the passport page showing the visa, or alternatively, Mexican Border Crossing Card. (Nationals of countries that participate in the “US visa waiver program” do not need a visa to enter the US.)