Nigel Cook

Biography

NIGEL COOK graduated with a BSc in Geochemistry from Queen Mary College, University of London, U.K., in 1982 and a PhD in mineral deposit geology from Imperial College, University of London, U.K., in 1988. Later (1998), I obtained the Habilitation degree from the University of Würzburg, Germany.

Research Interest

My work over the past 20 years has been directed to the geology and mineralogy of sulphide ore deposits. In particular, I have aimed to analyse and interpret mineral assemblages, mineral chemistry and textural evidence to understand the genetic history of mineral deposits, and to discover controls on element partitioning, paragenesis and mineral stabilities. The approach has encompassed major, refractory mineral phases (e.g. pyrite), as well as the trace components such as sulphosalts and tellurides. Studies have been applied to deposits ranging from volcanic-hosted and SEDEX-type massive sulphides, epithermal precious metal, porphyry and skarns, and even liquid-magmatic Cu-Ni-PGE deposits. My research has often been of a generic character, i.e., common problems are applied to deposits across the world and across geological time, rather than to specific deposits or ore provinces. Personal milestones include: · Identification of pyrite as a major host for lattice-bound or sub-microscopic (‘invisible) gold’; work on the role of Bi-chalcogenides as precious metal carriers and on the distribution of trace elements (In, Ge, Ga etc.) in sphalerite. · Demonstrating the role that pyrite textures can play in deciphering the metamorphic history of deformed metamorphosed VMS deposits (Scandinavian Caledonides, Namibia, Romania); identifying the role and mechanisms involved in recrystallization of the major sulphides and the subsequent remobilization of trace elements · Assessment of the role of Cu-Ag-Pb-Bi sulphosalts, tellurides and selenides and the potential of Bi-chalcogenides as petrogenetic indicators in gold deposits ranging from Archean orogenic-gold deposits to telluride-rich volcanic-epithermal systems of Tertiary age. · Research on key mineral groups, including the (Fe,Ni,Co,Cu)3S4 thiospinel group, cuprobismutite and related Cu-Bi sulphosalts, and phases in the Bi-Te-Se-S system. Correlation of trace mineralogy and mineral chemistry of the major sulphides has been a central theme. I aim to show how mineralogical study can and should be applied to solve a range of questions in ore geology, and how research on the micro- or nanoscopic scales can be placed in the context of the orefield-scale geologic setting and regional metallogeny.