Niki E. Wintzer

Interests: 

Economic Geology: assessment of sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits, porphyry copper deposits, and volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits

Structural Geology: ductile deformation of the mid to deep crust (including refolded folds and kinematic microstructures) that provides insights into the strain field

Sedimentology: carbonate nodules and their paleoenvironmental implications

Contact: 

nwintzer@usgs.gov

509-368-3110 voice

509-368-3199 fax

Education

Experience

I joined the USGS in 2007 when I began assisting Cynthia Dusel-Bacon with her fascinating research of east-central Alaskan geology and its associated mineral deposits. Subsequent assessment work with Dr. Steve Ludington introduced me to world-class mineral deposits in the basin-and-range province of Northern Nye County, Nevada. Additionally, I was able to study the complicated structure of the Brooks Range on the north slope of Alaska as a field assistant to Dr. Thomas Moore during the summer of 2009. As of December 2009, the Spokane, Washington Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics (GMEG) office is my permanent home where I use my numerous geologic skills to assess mineral potential worldwide.

My passion for geology began in the summer of 2002 when I participated in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) led by Dr. Julie Maxson. During this research experience, I conducted 5 weeks of field work in Dinosaur National Monument, subsequently performed independent academic and laboratory research, and presented that research at the national Geological Society of America (GSA) meeting the following Fall. My undergraduate senior thesis came from this research and is titled “Paleoenvironmental Implications of Carbonate Nodules.” The Sauropod found in the Cedar Mountain Formation lived in an arid to semi-arid climate that is an unexpected—and interesting—conclusion because most Sauropods are envisioned in lush tropical climates.

While earning my M.S. in Geology, I analyzed the structure of the mid to deep crust exposed as part of the Skagit Gneiss Complex in the North Cascades, Washington under the tutelage of Dr. Robert B. Miller. Multiple deformational episodes, including three fold generations, were separated out, and episode age was constrained in conjunction with on-going geochronological studies of the Skagit Gneiss Complex. Domains of top-to-the-NW and top-to-the-SE shear were revealed and correlated with lower (300-400 ˚C) and higher (≥450 ˚C) deformation temperature domains, respectively. Two geologic maps, a 72-page thesis, and an article in the Journal of Structural Geology are the products of this research.

Current Activities

• Qualitative assessment of numerous sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits worldwide
• Stratigraphic, geochronological, and structural research and analysis for the Udokan sediment-hosted copper deposit in Russia and for the Central African Copperbelt as a part of the GMRAP (Global Mineral Resource Assessment Project)
• Translating, recoding, and assessing Belgian and Russian geologic maps in ArcMap (GIS) of the Central African Copperbelt