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Dr James Lambert-Smith
Lecturer in Exploration and Resource Geology
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Lambert-SmithJ@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29208 74323
- Main Building, Room 2.11, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
Access to metals and minerals is vital to the future development and wellbeing of global society. I research how mineral deposits form and how they can be discovered more efficiently.
- Metallogenesis
- Mineral deposits and mineral exploration
- Hydrothermal fluids
- Applied mineralogy
- Stable isotopes applied to ore deposits
Publication
2022
- Torvela, T., Chapman, R. and Lambert-Smith, J. 2022. An introduction to Recent Advances in Understanding Gold Deposits: from Orogeny to Alluvium: the importance of multi-method approaches and developing a characterization. Geological Society Special Publications 516(1) (10.1144/SP516-2022-196)
2020
- Lambert-Smith, J. S., Allibone, A., Treloar, P. J., Lawrence, D. M., Boyce, A. J. and Fanning, M. 2020. Stable C, O, and S isotope record of magmatic-hydrothermal interactions between the Falémé Fe Skarn and the Loulo Au systems in Western Mali. Economic Geology 115(7) (10.5382/econgeo.4759)
2017
- Lawrence, D., Allibone, A., Chang, Z., Meffre, S., Lambert-Smith, J. S. and Treloar, P. J. 2017. The Tongon Au Deposit, Northern Côte d’Ivoire: an example of Paleoproterozoic Au Skarn Mineralization. Economic Geology 112(7), pp. 1571-1593. (10.5382/econgeo.2017.4522)
2016
- Lambert-Smith, J. S., Rocholl, A., Treloar, P. J. and Lawrence, D. M. 2016. Discriminating fluid source regions in orogenic gold deposits using B-isotopes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 194, pp. 57-76. (10.1016/j.gca.2016.08.025)
- Lambert-Smith, J. S., Lawrence, D. M., Vargas, C. A., Boyce, A. J., Treloar, P. J. and Herbert, S. 2016. The Gounkoto Au deposit, West Africa: Constraints on ore genesis and volatile sources from petrological, fluid inclusion and stable isotope data. Ore Geology Reviews 78, pp. 606-622. (10.1016/j.oregeorev.2015.10.025)
- Lambert-Smith, J. S., Lawrence, D. M., Müller, W. and Treloar, P. J. 2016. Palaeotectonic setting of the south-eastern Kédougou-Kéniéba Inlier, West Africa: New insights from igneous trace element geochemistry and U-Pb zircon ages. Precambrian Research 274, pp. 110-135. (10.1016/j.precamres.2015.10.013)
- Lawrence, D. M., Lambert-Smith, J. and Treloar, P. J. 2016. A review of gold mineralization in Mali. In: Bouabdellah, M. and Slack, J. F. eds. Mineral Deposits of North Africa. Mineral Resource Reviews Springer, pp. 327-351., (10.1007/978-3-319-31733-5_13)
Articles
- Torvela, T., Chapman, R. and Lambert-Smith, J. 2022. An introduction to Recent Advances in Understanding Gold Deposits: from Orogeny to Alluvium: the importance of multi-method approaches and developing a characterization. Geological Society Special Publications 516(1) (10.1144/SP516-2022-196)
- Lambert-Smith, J. S., Allibone, A., Treloar, P. J., Lawrence, D. M., Boyce, A. J. and Fanning, M. 2020. Stable C, O, and S isotope record of magmatic-hydrothermal interactions between the Falémé Fe Skarn and the Loulo Au systems in Western Mali. Economic Geology 115(7) (10.5382/econgeo.4759)
- Lawrence, D., Allibone, A., Chang, Z., Meffre, S., Lambert-Smith, J. S. and Treloar, P. J. 2017. The Tongon Au Deposit, Northern Côte d’Ivoire: an example of Paleoproterozoic Au Skarn Mineralization. Economic Geology 112(7), pp. 1571-1593. (10.5382/econgeo.2017.4522)
- Lambert-Smith, J. S., Rocholl, A., Treloar, P. J. and Lawrence, D. M. 2016. Discriminating fluid source regions in orogenic gold deposits using B-isotopes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 194, pp. 57-76. (10.1016/j.gca.2016.08.025)
- Lambert-Smith, J. S., Lawrence, D. M., Vargas, C. A., Boyce, A. J., Treloar, P. J. and Herbert, S. 2016. The Gounkoto Au deposit, West Africa: Constraints on ore genesis and volatile sources from petrological, fluid inclusion and stable isotope data. Ore Geology Reviews 78, pp. 606-622. (10.1016/j.oregeorev.2015.10.025)
- Lambert-Smith, J. S., Lawrence, D. M., Müller, W. and Treloar, P. J. 2016. Palaeotectonic setting of the south-eastern Kédougou-Kéniéba Inlier, West Africa: New insights from igneous trace element geochemistry and U-Pb zircon ages. Precambrian Research 274, pp. 110-135. (10.1016/j.precamres.2015.10.013)
Book sections
- Lawrence, D. M., Lambert-Smith, J. and Treloar, P. J. 2016. A review of gold mineralization in Mali. In: Bouabdellah, M. and Slack, J. F. eds. Mineral Deposits of North Africa. Mineral Resource Reviews Springer, pp. 327-351., (10.1007/978-3-319-31733-5_13)
Research
I am interested in all aspects of hydrothermal mineral deposit genesis, with a focus on orogenic gold deposits. In particular, my research involves establishing the processes which lead to the concentration of gold in economic quantities, and the sources and character of the hydrothermal fluids that facilitate these processes. I am also interested in structural controls on the location and size of ore deposits, as well as developing new tools for mineral deposit exploration.
I address these topics through field studies, textural and chemical analysis of minerals, and investigation of the composition and original temperature and pressure of ancient gold-bearing hydrothermal fluids entrapped in mineral grains. I also use stable isotope geochemistry of minerals associated with ore (e.g. tourmaline, dolomite, pyrite) to explore the sources of hydrothermal fluids, and by proxy, sources of gold.
Teaching
I teach fundemental concepts in resource geology (including metal, industrial mineral and aggregate deposits, energy resources and hydrogeology) to first year students. I also lead a second year exploration case studies module, which includes an introduction to handling real-world mineral exploration data using industry computer software.
I lead field courses in Cornwall and North Wales, and coordinate industrial placmenents for the Exploration and Resource Geology BSc program at Cardiff.
Biography
- Lecturer in Exploration and Resource Geology – School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University (2017- present).
- Lecturer in Applied Geology and Metamorphic Petrology – Kingston University, UK (2014 - 2017).
- PhD – Kingston University and Randgold Resources (2010 - 2014).
- MSci Geology – University of Southampton, UK (2005 - 2009).
Professional memberships
- Fellow of The Geological Society
- Member of the Mineralogical Society
- Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists
Academic positions
- Lecturer in Applied Geology, Kingston University (2014 - 2017)
Supervisions
I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:
- Metallogenesis
- Mineral deposits and mineral exploration
- Hydrothermal fluids
- Applied mineralogy
- Stable isotopes applied to ore deposits
Current supervision
Charles Routleff
Research student
Impact
A detailed understanding of the mineralogy and geological evolution of mineral deposits has great potential to positively impact the effectiveness and efficiency of exploration, from near-mine to greenfield activities.
My research, in collaboration with industry, contributes the detailed characterisation of individual deposits, and to the development of conceptual mineral system models, which aid regional exploration campaigns.