Faculty

Paul G. Spry

Professor
Economic Geology

256 Science I
Dept. of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
Phone: (515) 294-9637
Email: pgspry@iastate.edu

Education
B.S. (with Honors) University of Adelaide, 1977
M.S. University of Adelaide, 1979
Ph.D. University of Toronto, 1984

Resume
 
Research Interests
Dr. Spry's research interests are in economic geology, mineralogy and petrology and include the geochemistry of metallic and non-metallic deposits. He is particularly interested in the petrological, mineralogical, structural, geochronological, stable isotope and fluid inclusion characteristics of epithermal and mesothermal gold deposits, as well as the effects of metamorphism on massive sulfide deposits. Current research projects include: stable tellurium isotopes of tellurides in gold-silver telluride deposits; the origin of gold telluride deposits in Greece, and Fiji; sulfidation-oxidation relations associated with metamorphosed ores at the Angas Pb-Zn-Ag deposit, South Australia; the origin of meta-exhalites associated with metamorphosed massive sulfides in the southern Curnamona Province, Australia (including the Broken Hill Pb-Zn-Ag deposit); the origin of nodular sillimanite rocks and their genetic relationship to metamorphosed massive sulfide deposits; and the crystallographic characterization of precious metal sulfides and sulfosalts.

Research Projects

Teaching
GEOL 105X Gems and Gemstones
GEOL 316X/542 Optical Mineralogy
GEOL 365 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
Geol 420X/520X Mineral Resources
GEOL 507 Midwestern Geology Field Trip
Course Descriptions

Recent Refeered Publications
Bonsall, T.A., Spry, P.G., Voudouris, P., St. Seymour, K., Tombros, S., and Melfos, V., 2011, The geochemistry of carbonate-replacement Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization in the Lavrion district, Attica, Greece:  Fluid inclusion, stable isotope, and rare earth element studies. Economic Geology, v. 106, 619-651.

Voudouris, P., Spry, P.G., Sakellaris, G.A., and Mavrogonatos, 2011, A cervelleite-like mineral and other Ag-Cu-Te-S minerals [Ag2CuTeS and (Ag,Cu)2TeS] in gold-bearing veins in metamorphic rocks of the Cycladic Blueschist Unit, Kallianou, Evia Island, Greece. Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 101, p. 169-183

Fornadel, A.P., Spry, P.G., Melfos, V., Vavelidis, M., and Voudouris, P. Ch., 2011, Is the Palea Kavala Bi- Te-Pb-Sb±Au district, northeastern Greece, a reduced intrusion-related system? Ore Geology Reviews, v. 39, p. 119-133.

Heimann, A., Spry, P.G., Teale, G.S., Conor, C.H.H., and Pearson, N.J., 2011, Chemical and crystallographic constraints on the composition of garnet in garnet-rich rocks, southern Proterozoic Curnamona Province, Australia. Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 101, p. 49-74 (+ 41 page electronic supplement).

Bindi, L., Pratesi, G., and Spry, P.G., 2010, Crystallographic and chemical constraints on the nature of the proustite-pyrargyrite solid solution series. American Mineralogist, v. 95, p. 1725-1729.

Heimann, A., Spry, P.G., Teale, G.S., Conor, C.H.H., and Leyh, W.R., 2009, Geochemistry of garnet-rich rocks in the southern Curnamona province, Australia, and their genetic relationship to Broken Hill-type Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization. Economic Geology, v. 104, p. 687-712

Full Publication List