The Hutchison Lecture Tour is undertaken each year by the winner of the Hutchison Medal. The lecture tour typically consists of several multi-day trips to different parts of Canada where a number of lectures are given at university, government, and geological society venues. The Hutchison Lecture Tour is supported by the Canadian Geological Foundation’s Hutchison Fund.

2025 W. W. Hutchison Medalist

Dr. John Jamieson, Professor, University of Ottawa

 

2025-2026 Hutchison Lecture Schedule

 

Date	Day	Region	Location	University/Organizations	Topic	Time (local to venues)	Time (EST)	Event Location	Platform
Thursday, 23 October 2025	Thursday	ON	Ottawa	Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa (Logan Club Lecture Series)	Topic 1	2:00 PM	2:00 PM	Allison Hall	In-person
Friday, 14 November 2025	Friday	ON	Kingston	Queen’s University		13:30 pm	13:30 pm	Miller Hall, Queen’s University	In-person
Thursday, 20 November 2025	Thursday	ON	Toronto	University of Toronto					In-person
21-Nov-25	Friday	ON	London	Western University	Topic 2				In-person
Monday, 24 November 2025	Monday	QC	Quebec City	Université Laval /INRS	Topic 2				In-person
28-Nov-25	Friday	BC	Kelowna	UBC-Okanagan	Topic 1	11:00 AM	8:00 AM		In-person
Tuesday, 2 December 2025	Tuesday	BC	Vancouver	UBC					In-person
03-Dec-25	Wednesday	AB	Calgary	University of Calgary	Topic 1	12:00 PM	2:00 PM		In-person
Friday, 5 December 2025	Friday	AB	Edmonton	University of Alberta	Topic 2	12:00 PM	2:00 PM	Henry Marshall Tory Building 3-36	In-person (and over Zoom)
09-Jan-25	Friday	BC	Victoria	University of Victoria	Topic 2	3:00 PM	6:00 PM	Engineering and Computer Science room 116	In-person

 

 

 

Topic 1: “More than just sulfides… Assessing the global diversity of seafloor hydrothermal systems”

Abstract: Since the discovery of black smoker-style hydrothermal venting at EPR 21°N in 1979, over 400 sites of high-temperature venting have been discovered on the seafloor. Vent fields are typically characterized by the formation of metal-rich chimneys and mounds dominated by sulfide and sulfate minerals, and host unique ecosystems composed largely of vent obligate species. Mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic characterization of the deposits show variability that reflects regional tectonic and local geological controls on hydrothermal deposit compositions. Despite these advances, recent discoveries continue to exceed the known limits of compositional variability. These new discoveries range from sulfur-poor, talc-rich deposits (e.g., Von Damm Vent Field on the Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre or Loki’s Castle on the Mohns Ridge) to deposits dominated by primary oxidized mineral assemblages (e.g., the Suye field on the Southwest Indian Ridge). In this presentation, I will discuss this increasing variety of hydrothermal depositional styles and compositions, with a focus on the implications of this variety on our understanding of global submarine hydrothermal chemical budgets, and the mineral resource potential of hydrothermal deposits on the seafloor.

 

Topic 2: “Geological mapping and mineral resource assessments at the Seafloor”

Abstract: Deep-sea mining is seen by many as the last frontier for terrestrial mining, and a secure, untapped source of critical minerals. Although deep-sea mining is yet to occur, exploration by both countries and private industry has been ongoing for decades, and there is now a rush to establish regulations for mining in international waters. Conversations regarding deep-sea mining are often dominated by the uncertainties associated with environmental impact, economic viability, and the regulatory framework. However, a critical, but surprisingly often overlooked, yet fundamental aspect of the deep-sea mining discussion is the resource potential of deep-sea minerals (i.e. how many deposits are on the seafloor, and are they big enough or rich enough to mine). In this presentation, I will present an overview of mineral exploration at the seafloor, including how deposits are found, and how their economic viability is determined. I will discuss how established land-based mineral exploration approaches are combined with novel deep-sea exploration technology to find and evaluate seafloor massive sulfide deposits that form at hydrothermal vents, and manganese nodules that form on the abyssal plains.