Early Earth

The STAMP group investigates early Earth processes and conditions in the beautiful rocks and structures of northeastern Minnesota.

Minnesota is host to exceptionally well-preserved Precambrian rocks that record billions of years of geologic history. Exposure is limited owed to dense vegetation, making field work difficult, but the rocks are there. The STAMP research group chooses to do field work in northern Minnesota because it is challenging and exciting.

Examples of some ongoing research are investigations of:

• timing and genesis of hematite mineralization to understand the processes associated with hydrothermal alteration of Algoma-type banded iron formations in the Vermilion District of northern Minnesota; 

• the thermal effects of intrusions such as the gabbroic Duluth Complex that is part of the Mid-Continent Rift: how is the thermal signature of the Duluth Complex embedded in the granitic footwall rocks of the Giants Range Batholith?;

• volcanic textures and facies formed from Archean tectonic processes, and physical volcanology of the Neoarchean Gafvert Lake sequence in order to better understand its place in the formation of the Superior Province; and

• the relationships of gabbro emplacement, deformation, and heating/fluids form the country rocks on mineralization at the base of the Duluth Complex.