91亚色

Dr. Alison Leitch

 

Associate Professor
Department of Earth Sciences
91亚色 of Newfoundland
St John檚, NL A1B 3X5 Canada
709.864.3305
aleitch@mun.ca

With a background in physics, geophysics and magma dynamics, I have broad interests in the field and laboratory. Recent projects involve environmental studies and investigations of traditional and non-traditional geological targets using a range of geophysical techniques.

Mini-bio:

  • Associate Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, 91亚色 (2005-)
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, 91亚色 (2000-04)
  • Teaching Post-doctoral Fellow, 91亚色 (1998-00)
  • Research Fellow, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University (1992-98)
  • Research Fellow, Minnesota Supercomputer Institute, University of Minnesota (1988-91)
  • Post-doctoral Fellow, Mechanical Engineering, University of Toronto (1986-87)
  • Post-doctoral Fellow, Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Toronto (1985)
  • Ph.D. Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University (1986)
  • B.Sc. (Honours) Physics, Australian National University (1979)


Teaching

  • 3172 Electric and Electromagnetic Methods in Geophysics
  • 3420 Global Tectonic Processes
  • 4105 Field Course in Applied Geophysics
  • 3170 Seismic and Potential Fields Methods in Geophysics
  • 2100 Subsurface Geosceicne for Environmental & Humanitarian Challenges
  • 2150 The Solar System
  • 1000 Earth Systems
  • 6040 Igneous Petrogenesis

Publications

Published papers (*=my student)
  1. Leitch, A.M. and Davies, G.F. 2001 "Mantle plumes and flood basalts: Enhanced melting from plume ascent and an eclogite component", J. Geophys. Res., 106, 2047-2060.
  2.  Leitch, A.M. and Weinberg, R.F. 2002 "Modelling granite migration by mesoscale pervasive flow", Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 200, 131-146.
  3. Leitch, A.M. 2004 "Analog experiments on melting and contamination at the roof and walls of magma chambers", J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 129, 173-197.
  4.  Kerr, A. and Leitch, A.M. 2005 "Self-Destructive Sulfide Segregation Systems and the Formation of High-Grade Magmatic Ore Deposits", Economic Geology, 100, 311-332.
  5.  Leitch, A.M. and *Boone, C.R. 2007, 淎 study of the SP geophysical technique in a campus setting. Atlantic Geology, 43, 91-111.
  6.  Zavala, K., Leitch, A.M. and Fisher, G. 2011, 淪ilicic segregations of the Ferrar Dolerite Sills, Antarctica Journal of Petrology, 52: 1927-1964.
  7. Kilfoil, G., *Blagdon, A., Leitch, A., Campbell, H., Irvine, M., Batterson, M., Roberts, G. and B. Baker, B. 2018, 淭he Application and Testing of Two Geophysical Methods (Direct-Current Resistivity and Ground-Penetrating Radar) as Part of the Coastal Monitoring Program to Assess Terrain Stability, Current Research (2018) Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Natural Resources Geological Survey, Report 18-1, pages 31-57.
  8. *Graham, B., Dunning, G. and Leitch, A.M. 2020,  淢agma Mushes of the Fogo Island Batholith : a Study of Magmatic Processes at Multiple Scales, Journal of Petrology, Oct 27.
  9. *Flanagan, M., Leitch, A.M. and Wall, A. 2023, 淔inding fault in a shear zone: a magnetic and drill core study in the Valentine Lake Property, Newfoundland, Canada, Atlantic Geoscience, 59, 165-181.
Papers in revision
  1. Leitch, A.M., *Chen, J. and Rashid, H. 淎 tale of two ponds (submitted to Atlantic Geosciences, June 2024).
Papers in Preparation
  1. Abbott, S.M., Leitch, A.M. and Wall, A. 淎 Gravity Survey over the Valentine Gold Project, West-Central Newfoundland, Canada (for Economic Geology)
  2. Leitch, A., and *Lynch, N. 淕eophysical Detection of Reducing Springs in the Tablelands Ophiolite, Newfoundland (for Earth and Planetary Science Letters).
  3. *Wall, A., Leitch, A., Sparkes, G. and Farquharson, C., 淒elineating the Alteration Zone at the Big Easy Low-Sulphidation Gold Prospect using Geophysical Methods (for Economic Geology).
  4. *Blagdon, A.G., Leitch, A.M. and Kilfoil, G., 淕eophysical Investigation of a Region of Landslide Vulnerability in Western Newfoundland, Canada, (for Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics).
  5. Leitch, A.M., *Thistle, J. and Kilfoil, G., 淥ld and new gravity reference stations in St John檚 Newfoundland, (for Atlantic Geology).
Presentations (last 6 years)
  1. *Graham, B., Dunning, G. and Leitch, A., 淓arly Devonian Magmatism, NE Dunnage Zone, Newfoundland and the nature of basaltic to granitic additions to large magma chambers, AGS Annual Meeting, Truro NS, Feb 23, 2018.
  2. *Abbott, S. and Leitch, A., 淢agnetics and coring study of a newly discovered reducing spring in the Tablelands ophiolite, AGS Annual Meeting, Truro NS, Feb 2-3, 2018.
  3. *Chen, J., Leitch, A. and Burden, E., 淪ediment core analysis of a post-glacial lake over a mineral prospect, Eastern Newfoundland, NL GAC Annual Spring Meeting, St John檚 NL, Feb 19-20, 2018.
  4. *Blagdon, A.B. and Leitch, A.M., 淕eophysical Study of an Abandoned Tailings Dam, Gullbridge, Central Newfoundland, NL GAC Annual Spring Meeting, St John檚 NL, Feb 19-20, 2018. *(Best poster award.)
  5. *Chen, J., Leitch, A., Burden, E. and Finch, C. 淟ake sediment core analysis over a gold prospect, Eastern Newfoundland, 9th PDAC-SEG Student Minerals Colloquium, March 3-7, 2018.* (3rd place, MSc student posters.)
  6. *Blagdon, A.B. and Leitch, A.M., 淕eophysical Investigation of the Gullbridge Tailings Facility, Central Newfoundland, 9th PDAC-SEG Student Minerals Colloquium, March 3-7, 2018.
  7. *Abbott, S.M. and Leitch, A.M. 淎 gravity study of the Valentine Lake Gold Property, west-central Newfoundland, GAC MAC Annual Meeting (online), Nov 1-3, 2021
  8. Leitch, A.M. 淪eeking seeps with geophysics in Blow Me Down Massif, western Newfoundland, AGS Annual Meeting (online), Feb 11-12, 2022.
  9. *Arshian, M. and Leitch, A.M. 淕eophysical and geomorphological monitoring of coastal erosion of Bread and Cheese site, Bay Bulls town, Newfoundland, Canada, AGS Annual Meeting (online), Feb 11-12, 2022.
  10. *Arshian, M. and Leitch, A.M. 淕eophysics over a vulnerable cliff-side road, Bay Bulls, NL GAC Annual Spring Meeting, St John檚 NL, Feb 20-21, 2022.
  11. *Turanli, F.T. and Leitch, A.M. 淪eeking hot and cold water in the Sand谋kl谋 graben, Turkiye, NL GAC Annual Spring Meeting, St John檚 NL, Feb 20-21, 2022.
  12. Morrill P.L., Coxon, I.N., Cook, M., Ventura, T., Leitch, A., Poduska, K., White, N., LeGrow C., Honarvar, P., Gao B., Yulmetova, M.A., Mahdianpari M., English J., Gill M.J. 淭he SERP Research Program: The Study of Electrical Potential, Remote Sensing, and Preservation of Biosignatures at Sites of Serpentinization, GAC MAC Annual Meeting, Halifax, May 15-18, 2022.
  13. *Arshian, M. and Leitch, A.M. 淭hree endangered sites on shoreline roads, Bay Bulls, Newfoundland, GAC MAC Annual Meeting, Halifax, May 15-18, 2022.
  14. Leitch, A.M., *Abbott, S.M and Morrill, P.L. 淢odels of serpentinized fracture zones in the Tablelands, Bay of Islands ophiolite complex, western Newfoundland, GAC MAC Annual Meeting, Halifax, May 15-18, 2022.
  15. Morrill P.L., Coxon, I.N., Cook, M., Ventura, G., Leitch, A., Poduska, K., White, N., LeGrow C., Gao B., Yulmetova, M.A., Mahdianpari M., English J., Gill M.J. 淭he Study of Electrical Potential, Remote Sensing, and Preservation of Biosignatures at Sites of Serpentinization (SERP), Goldschmidt Conference, Lyon, France, July 9-14, 2023.
  16. *Arshian, M. and Leitch, A. 淕eophysical and geomorphological monitoring of three sites prone to coastal erosion, Bay Bulls, Newfoundland, Canada, NL GAC Annual Spring Meeting, St John檚 NL, Apr 25-26, 2023.
  17. *Dendup, T., Farquharson, C.G. and Leitch, A. 淕eophysical study of the historical landfill at Wishingwell Park, NL GAC Annual Spring Meeting, St John檚 NL, Apr 25-26, 2023.
  18. *Malone, A., Leitch, A. and Farquharson, C. 淎 geophysical investigation of coastal erosion: Manuels, Conception Bay South, NL GAC Annual Spring Meeting, St John檚 NL, Apr 25-26, 2023.
  19. *Dendup, T., Farquharson, C.G. and Leitch, A. 淕eophysical study of the historical landfill at Wishingwell Park, NL GAC Annual Spring Meeting, St John檚 NL, Feb 21-22, 2024.
  20. *Abbasian, L., Leitch, A. and Butt, S. 淒evelopment of a Methodology to Measure Electromagnetic Wave Velocity for High-Accuracy Time-Depth Conversion in Mineral Exploration, RockEng 2025, 23rd Canadian Rock Mechanics Symposium, Ecole de Technologie Superieure, Montreal, QC, Aug 17-19, 2025.

Famous Field Flubs

We learn by experience. Here are some lessons learned. Student names withheld to protect the embarrassed (you know who you are).

  • Student A: When transporting gravimeter by snowmobile, secure it carefully. It doesn檛 like being dropped in the snow.
  • Student B: When taking a job as a field assistant, ensure proper footwear beforehand. Sneakers are not good in bogs.
  • Professor & Student C: If van seems to be stuck on a sheet of ice, check the parking brake is off before asking for a tow.
  • Student D: When undertaking winter fieldwork, ensure proper footwear beforehand. Sneakers are no good at -20 C.
  • Student A: Do not attach a sled to a snowmobile with zip ties. Wooden GPR sled was reduced to matchsticks.
  • Professor: Check there is data storage space on magnetometer before sending student on day-long hike to collect data.
  • Students E&F: Do not place the gravimeter on its side in the trunk of a car. It has to be kept upright at all times to avoid months of PTSD.
  • Students C&G: Don檛 forget a proper hat when heading off to the field on a sunny day.
  • Professor: Attach extension piece for bog-corer properly to avoid sinking sampler in metre of stinking bog, requiring students to dig it up by hand (gagging).
  • Professor: Do not forget to pick up hard-won bog core samples when leaving a remote site.
  • Student H: Don檛 forget to pack a lunch and water when heading off to the field for a day.

Recent Research Projects

 click here to see my recent projects!