Logo MAC/AMC Mineralogical Association of Canada
Association minéralogique du Canada
Home | Online Store | Site Map | Contact Us
Home
About us
Journal
Can Min online
Copyright and Reproduction Permission
Depository
Publications
Membership
Online Store
Awards
  • Peacock Medal
  • Young Scientist Award
  • Berry Medal
  • Hawley Medal
  • Pinch Medal
  • Ann Sabina Award
    • Students
    Meetings & Tutorials
    Mineralogical Resources
    Job Postings(8)
    Links

    The Young people site
  • Minerals of Canada Poster


    • Print Version

    Daniel J. Kontak, Jaroslav Dostal, T. Kurt Kyser and Douglas A. Archibald.

    Bio

    Dan Kontak is a mineral deposits geologist working for the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources. Dan was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia and was educated at St. Francis Xavier University (B.Sc., 1976), University of Alberta (M.Sc.,1980), and Queen's University (Ph.D.,1984). During these years, his studies focused on mineral deposits associated with felsic igneous rocks in eastern Canada and the Central Andes, with a strong bias towards anything granitic. Prior to commencing work in Nova Scotia in 1986, Dan spent a glorious year with Dave Strong at Memorial University, Newfoundland, working in granitic environments of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia and enjoying the local culture. During the past 15 years Dan has worked on a variety of mineral deposit environments in richly-endowed Nova Scotia, including mesothermal gold, VHMS, porphyry Cu-Mo-Au, granite-hosted Sn, pegmatites, MVT Zn-Pb, vein barite and fluorite, and basalt-hosted zeolites. Although geology remains a passion, he most enjoys time spent with his lovely family, participating in and watching numerous sport activities (especially his beloved X-men), gardening, reading, and hiking the scenic Nova Scotia coastline - most of all at Peggys Cove with his son Jason!

    Jaroslav Dostal is an igneous petrologist and geochemist teaching at St. Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Jarda, as he is known to his many friends and colleagues, was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and came to McMaster University in the 1960s to pursue a Ph.D. in geochemistry with Dennis Shaw. Shortly after finishing his studies he began a distinguished teaching and research program at St. Mary's University. His areas of research, encompassing many continents and involving numerous international colleagues, revolve around petrogenesis of basalts from ancient Archean terranes to more recent settings, mantle processes, and terrane evolution using geochemical tracers. Jarda's distinguished research career, represented in part by numerous publications, was recognized by his university with the granting of the President's Award for Excellence in Research. He presently lives in Halifax with his wife Debbie and two children.

    T. Kurtis Kyser is currently a professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. His research mainly focuses on the development and application of microanalytical techniques for analysis of isotopes and trace elements in both organic and inorganic Earth materials. Most of Kurt's interests are based on the origin, evolution, and timing of fluid-rock interactions in the present, and throughout geologic time. and has both stable isotope and ICP-MS research.

    Kurt and his group have also made advancements in the studies of metals in natural and human-influenced materials with the development of a new on-line continuous-leach method for HR-ICP-MS. His research interests continue to evolve and encompass, most recently, the study of stable isotopes and trace elements in migratory birds and tree rings and development of new techniques for the understanding of paleo-environments associated with the ancient glaciations and the origin of life on Earth. Dr. Kyser.

    Douglas A. Archibald is an adjunct faculty at the Department of Geological Sciences at Queen's University. His research interests comprise geochronology and regional tectonics: 40Ar/39Ar dating in the Precambrian, the Canadian Cordillera and the Appalachians; tectonothermal evolution of orogenic belts using geochronologic and metamorphic data, and thermal modeling of orogenic processes.

    Citation

    The Hawley Medal, for the best paper published in Volume 40 (2002) of The Canadian Mineralogist, is awarded to the contribution entitled "A petrological, geochemical, isotopic and fluid-inclusion study of 370 Ma pegmatite-aplite sheets, Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada". The authors are Daniel J. Kontak, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Jaroslav Dostal, Department of Geology, St. Mary's University and T. Kurt Kyser and Douglas A. Archibald, Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen\'s University.

    The Hawley medal committee noted that "when the conventional magmatic origin for the fluids associated with the genesis of pegmatites and aplites in the South Mountain Batholith was discounted on the basis of oxygen stable isotope data, the authors proposed a novel alternate model on the basis of a multi-method analytical approach that involved meticulous field work, petrography, isotope geochemistry, mineral chemistry, Ar/Ar geochronology and fluid inclusion work. The authors demonstrate that the fluids involved in the petrogenesis of the pegmatites and aplites were derived by the dehydration of metasedimentary enclaves present in the granites. The importance of this finding, along with the strength resulting from the integration of the multiple methods taken by the authors, make this manuscript a most remarkable contribution." In short this paper is a superb example of the scientific method in action!

    The manuscript is also superbly illustrated with numerous diagrams, excellent colour field photographs, photomicrographs and, of course, is clearly and logically written.

    Response

    Ladies and gentlemen, members of MAC Executive and Council, friends and colleagues:

    It is always an honor to be recognized by one's peers, thus for myself and my coauthors it is indeed an honor and privilege to be here as the recipients of the Hawley Medal of the Mineralogical Association of Canada. It is an honor because of the stature of this journal and a privilege because of the high calibre of the papers published in it each year. We sincerely thank the review committee for considering our contribution worthy of the Hawley Medal. However, for me this award carries with it some special gratification because of my affiliation with MAC and the special place that Peggys Cove is to me. Thus, if you permit me to indulge for a few minutes, I would like to share with you why this honor is so meaningful to me.

    Firstly, I was most fortunate several years ago to be invited by my esteemed colleague Bob Martin, editor extraordinaire of The Canadian Mineralogist, to join the board of associate editors of the journal. This association is one that I have both relished and, I might add, benefitted from immensely. In the capacity of an associate editor, one really learns first-hand the tremendous effort put in by Bob and his staff to maintain the impeccable standard established by the journal. However, I might also say for those that are curious, that when an associate editor wears the author's hat, as in the case of the Peggys Cove paper, there is no favouritism extended from Bob the Editor, even if the topic like pegmatites is close to his heart - this is of course in no way implying that Bob is without heart!

    Secondly, I sat as a councillor for MAC for a number of years and now have the honor to fill the role of Vice President, which if you are not aware carries a six-year sentence, since the roles of the VP, President and Past President run consecutively, each with their own two-year term. However, on a more serious note, it is really an exciting time to be associated with this organization, as the Earth sciences are in a state of constant flux and change, but MAC is addressing these issues head on. The council and executive are doing great things, people have lots of innovative ideas and are full of energy, and it is truly a privilege to be part of this premier mineralogical organization.

    And thirdly, Peggys Cove occupies a special place in my heart. For many years, my family and friends have been visiting this Maritime hamlet as if it were our own special retreat and refuge. I have spent countless hours hiking the glaciated outcrops under both bright blue skies or the foulest of Maritime weather while gazing in wonder at what Mother Nature has bequeathed to granite afficionados like myself. On display are the most amazing swarms of sheeted aplite and pegmatite. The pegmatites are commonly zoned with cores of beautiful, coarse tourmaline, whereas the aplitic layers have the most intricately laminated line rock that defies explanation. Note that in the paper, we did not offer an explanation for this texture. To be recognized here today for conveying some of this geological mystery to the Earth-science community is indeed both gratifying and humbling.

    Before concluding, I would like to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to some special people involved in this and other projects that I have had the privilege to work on. Firstly my coauthors, Jarda, Doug and Kurt, a sincere thank you for your collaborative support over the years. I operate on a modest budget, and it is because of the exceptional generosity of colleagues such as yourselves that I am able to supplement my field observations with only the best-quality data, that comes with unsolicited and volunteered expert interpretation and moral support. Next, I have a management in my department that endorses my work, recognizes its relevance, and permits me the latitude to pursue a variety of fascinating projects. Thanks to Bob, Mike and Scot. I also have the pleasure of working and interacting with a fascinating group of talented geologists, each with a great sense of humour and commitment to their profession. I sincerely acknowledge your friendship and support over the years. In addition, I have benefitted from the association with some remarkably talented student assistants during the summers. To Dree, Jerry, Michelle and the many others, thank you for your efforts and camaraderie. Finally, to my family that has always supported by endeavors and time away from home with understanding and love, thanks to Jason, Julia and Lynn.

    © 2006 Mineralogical Association of CanadaLast update 2012-11-15