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: the origin of gold telluride deposits in Greece, Fiji, Montana, and Papua New Guinea; 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 epithermal and mesothermal gold deposits in Turkey; the crystallographic characterization of precious metal sulfides and sulfosalts.
Research Projects

Teaching
GEOL 105X Gems and Gemstones
GEOL 311 Mineralogy and Earth Materials
GEOL 365 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
Geol 420X/520X Mineral Resources
GEOL 507 Midwestern Geology Field Trip
Course Descriptions

Recent Refeered Publications
Voudouris, P., Melfos, V., Spry, P. G., Bonsall, T., A., Tarkian, M., and Solomos, C., 2008, Mineralogical and fluid inclusion study of the Kamariza carbonate-replacement deposit, Lavrion, Greece.  Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 80, DOI 1007/s00710-008-0007-4.

Spry, P.G., Plimer, I.R., and Teale, G.S. 2008, Did the giant Broken Hill (Australia) Zn-Pb-Ag deposit melt? Ore Geology Reviews, DOI 10.1016/joregeorev.2007.11.001.

Voudouris, P., Melfos, V., Spry, P. G., Bonsall, T., A., Tarkian, M., and Economou-Eliopoulos, M., 2008, Mineralogical study and constraints on fluid evolution in the Plaka-related ore system, Lavrion, Greece.  Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 93, p. 79-110. 

Bindi, L., Bonazzi, P., and Spry, P.G., 2008, Effects of the Se→S substitution on the crystal structure of laphamite [As2(Se,S)3]. Canadian Mineralogist, v. 46, p. 269-274.

Bindi, L., Evain, M., Spry, P.G., and Menchetti, S., 2007, Proposal for new nomenclature rules belonging to the pearceite-polybasite group. American Mineralogist, v. 92, p. 918-925.

Spry, P.G., Heimann, A., Messerly, J., and Houk, R.S., 2007, Discrimination of metamorphic and metasomatic processes at the Broken Hill Pb-Zn-Ag deposit, Australia: Rare earth element signatures of garnet-rich rocks. Economic Geology, v. 102, p. 471-494.

Full Publication List