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Charles Normand

Profile image for Charles Normand
Adjunct Professor, Ph.D.
Precambrian Research Geologist, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Government of Saskatchewan

Contact Info

Office: 306-787-2578

Research Interests: 

  • Mineral deposits
  • Hydrothermal geochemistry
  • Thermodynamics
  • Mineralogy 

Expertise and Areas of Study: 

Critical mineral resources of Saskatchewan: Athabasca Basin (Ni, Co, V, Mn, Sc, W, Mo, REE, etc.) 

Investigation of rare earth element (REE) occurrences in Northern Saskatchewan including the Athabasca Basin 

Nickel (Ni) - copper (Cu), gold, and antimony mineralization 

Platinum group metals geochemistry 

Cobalt geochemistry 

Antimony geochemistry 

Ultramafic rocks:  origin of Ni-Fe-Co alloys, hydrocarbon speciation during serpentization, and studies of serpentine 

Minerals from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec 

 

Background: 

  • Employed by the Saskatchewan Geological Survey since August 2008.  
  • 2005 and 2008 - substitute professor at Université du Québec À Montréal (UQÀM). 

       Taught 5 different B.Sc. courses and 1 M.Sc. course. 

       Supervised 1 M.Sc. student (supported with my NSERC Discovery Grant).  

       Supervised or co-supervised 8 bachelor level research projects.  

 

Education:  

Post-doc in hydrothermal geochemistry at the Department of Geological Sciences, University of Idaho 

Ph.D. in hydrothermal geochemistry in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University 

M.Sc. and B.Sc. in geology from the Département des Sciences de la Terre, UQÀM 

 

Additional Experience 

Field assistant (including at the Geological Survey of Canada) and research assistant 

Teaching assistant (McGill and UQAM as an undergraduate student – 3 years - and as graduate student)  

 

Courses taught at the University of Regina:  

Geol870 – Recent advances in geochemistry (Winter, 2015) 

 

Selected Publications: 

 

Recent articles in peer-reviewed journals 

Chi, G., Li, Z., Chu, H., Bethune, K.M., Quirt, D.H., Ledru, P., Normand, C., Card, C., Bosman, S., Davis, W.J., Potter, E.G. (2018): A shallow-burial mineralization model for the unconformity-related uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin; Economic Geology, v. 113, p. 1209-1217. 

Chi, G., Blamey, N.J.F., Rabiei, M., Normand, C. (2018): Hydrothermal REE (xenotime) mineralization at Maw Zone, Athabasca Basin, Canada, and its relationship with unconformity-related uranium deposits – A reply; Economic Geology, v. 113, p. 998-999. 

Rabiei, M., Chi, G., Normand, C., Davis, W.J., Fayek, M. and Blamey, N.J.F. (2017): Hydrothermal rare earth element (Xenotime) mineralization at Maw Zone, Athabasca Basin, Canada, and its relationship to unconformity-related uranium deposits; Economic Geology, 112, 483-1507. 

Migdissov, Art.A., Williams-Jones, A.E., Normand, C. and Wood, S.A. (2008) A spectroscopic study of samarium (III) speciation in chloride solutions at elevated temperatures. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 72, 1611-1625. 

Normand, C. and Williams-Jones, A.E. (2007) Physicochemical conditions and timing of rodingite formation; evidence from rodingite-hosted fluid inclusions in the JM Asbestos mine, Asbestos, Québec. Geochemical Transactions, 8: 11 DOI 10.1186/1467-4866-8-11 (19 pages). 

Wood, S.A. and Normand, C. (2007) Mobility of palladium chloride complexes in mafic rocks: insights from a flow-through experiment using air-saturated, acidic, and Cl-rich solutions. Mineralogy and Petrology, 92: 81-97. 

Wood, S.A., Taunton, A.E., Normand, C., and Gunter, M.E. (2006) Mineral-fluid interaction in the lungs: insights from reaction-path modeling. Inhalation Toxicology, 18: 975-984. 

Normand, C., Williams-Jones, A.E., Martin, R.F., and Vali, H. (2002) Hydrothermal alteration of olivine in a flow-through autoclave: nucleation and growth of serpentine phases. American Mineralogist, 87: 1699-1709. 

Williams-Jones, A.E., Normand, C., Clark, J., Vali, H., Martin, R. F., Dufresne, A., and Nayebzadeh, A. (2001) Controls of amphibole formation in chrysotile deposits: Evidence from the Jeffrey mine, Asbestos, Quebec. In The health effects of chrysotile asbestos: contribution of science to risk management decisions, Nolan, R. P., Langer, A. M., Ross, M., Wicks, F. J. and Martin, R. F., editors. Canadian Mineralogist Special Publication 5: 89-104. 

Nayebzadeh, A., Dufresne, A., Case, B.W., Vali, H., Williams-Jones, A.E., Martin, R.F., Normand, C., & Clark, J.R. (2001) Lung mineral fibre of former miners and millers from Thetford and Asbestos regions: A comparative study of fibre concentration and dimension.  Archives of Environmental Health. 56: 65-76. 

Williams-Jones, A. E. and Normand, C. (1997) Controls of mineral parageneses in the system Fe-Sb-S-O. Economic Geology. 92: 308-324. 

Normand, C., Gauthier, M. and Jébrak, M. (1996) The Québec Antimony deposit: An example of gudmundite-native antimony mineralization in the ophiolitic mélange of the Southeastern Québec Appalachians. Economic Geology. 91: 149-163. 

 

Field trip guidebooks 

Normand, C. and Tarassoff, P. (2006) Mineralogy and geology of the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec. Field trip 4A: Guidebook, Geological Association of Canada – Mineralogical Association of Canada 2006 Joint Annual Meeting, Montréal, Québec, 24 p. 

 

Reports 

Normand, C., Macnab, B. and Ferguson, D. (2023): Manganiferous Carbonate Nodules in the Pierre Shale, Pasquia Hills, Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Miscellaneous Report 2022-5, 41p.  

Ogilvie, W.T., Lafrance, B. and Normand, C. (2017): Brittle deformation and associated hydrothermal mineralization in the southern Tantato Domain and northern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan; in Summary of Investigations 2017, Volume 2, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy, Miscellaneous Report 2017-4.2, Paper A-13, 14p.  

Normand, C. (2016): Au-PGE-U and REE-Th-U mineralization in altered Tantato Domain basement gneiss, Stony Rapids area, Saskatchewan; in Summary of Investigations 2016, Volume 2, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy, Miscellaneous Report 2016-4.2, Paper A-5, 25p. 

Rabiei, M., Chi, G. and Normand, C. (2015): Field and petrographic investigations of the Maw Zone REE deposit, Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan; in Summary of Investigations 2015, Volume 2, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy, Miscellaneous Report 2015-4.2, Paper A-7, 16p.  

Normand, C. (2015): Geology of the Axis Lake East Zone nickel-copper deposit, Tantato Domain, northern Saskatchewan; in Summary of Investigations 2015, Volume 2, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy, Miscellaneous Report 2015-4.2, Paper A-3, 25p.  

Normand, C. (2014): Tantato metallogenic studies: Preliminary data from auriferous brittle structures in the Algold Bay-Pine Channel area, Lake Athabasca; in Summary of Investigations 2014, Volume 2, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy, Misc. Rep. 2014-4.2, 11p. 

Normand, C. (2014): Rare earths in Saskatchewan: mineralization types, settings, and distributions; Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Report 264, 98p. 

Normand, C. (2013): Bedrock geology of the Nevins Lake area, central Beaverlodge Domain, and investigations of REE distribution in the historic Nisto mine, southeastern Tantato Domain, and in historic mines in the Uranium City area, Beaverlodge and Zemlak domains; in Summary of Investigations 2012, Volume 2, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Sask. Minist. Econ., Misc. Rep. 2012-4.2, Paper A-4, 24p. 

Normand, C. (2011): Investigation of the REE mineralization potential in the Forget Lake and Archie Lake areas, Beaverlodge Domain; the Miller Lake area, Train Domain; and the Bompas Lake–Upper Eva Lake area, Tantato and Mudjatik domains; in Summary of Investigations 2011, Volume 2, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Sask. Energy Resour., Misc. Rep. 2011-4.2, Paper A-2, 24p. 

Normand, C. (2010): Bedrock geology of the Oshowy Lake–Buchanan Lake area and investigation of the REE mineralization potential in the Ena Lake, Bear Lake and Alces Lake areas; in Summary of Investigations 2010, Volume 2, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Sask. Energy Resources, Misc. Rep. 2010-4.2, Paper A-3, 23p. 

Normand, C., McEwan, B. and Ashton, K. (2009): Geology and REE Mineralization of the Hoidas Lake – Nisikkatch Lake area Revisited; in Summary of Investigations 2009, Volume 2, Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Misc. Rep. 2009-4.2, 17p. 

 

Selected seminars and other presentations 

Normand, C. (2023): Occurrences of Gallium, Hafnium, Lithium and Heavy Rare Earth Elements and Yttrium in the Athabasca Basin; in Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Open House 2023 Abstract Volume, Miscellaneous Report 2023-2, p.21. 

Ferguson, D., Chi, G., Normand, C., Mercadier, J. Robbins, J. and Doney, A. (2022): The Midwest Uranium Deposit: A “Modèle Réduit” for Polymetallic Mineralization in the Athabasca Basin; Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Open House 2022 Technical Poster. 

Normand, C. (2022): Critical metals in Saskatchewan I: Sc, W, V, and Mo in URU deposits; in Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Open House 2022 Abstract Volume, Miscellaneous Report 2022-2, p.7. 

Normand, C. (2019): First row transition metals (V-Mn-Co-Ni) in Saskatchewan: Highlights of the 2018-2019 field seasons; in Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Open House 2019 Abstract Volume, Miscellaneous Report 2019-3, p.14. 

Ferguson, D., Chi, G., Normand, C., Ledru, P. and Maufrais-Smith, O. (2019): Petrographic and Paragenetic Study of Uranium Mineralization along the Midwest Trend, Northeastern Athabasca Basin; Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Open House 2019 Technical Poster. 

Normand, C., Mohrbutter, R., and Hughes, Matt (2018): Nickel and Cobalt in the Athabasca Basin: Dufferin Lake and Cree Lake Areas; in Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Open House 2018 Abstract Volume, Miscellaneous Report 2018-3, p.23. 

Normand, C., Mohrbutter, R., and Hughes, Matt (2018): Ni-Co in the Athabasca Basin: Dufferin Lake and Cree Lake Areas; Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, Open House 2018 Technical Poster. 

Normand, C., Comtois‐Poissant, A., and Raharimahefa, T. (2017): Geochemistry of Mafic Granulites from the Fond Du Lac River and Axis Lake Areas, Upper-Deck of the Tantato Domain, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada; in Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy, Open House 2017 Abstract Volume, Miscellaneous Report 2017-3, p.24. 

Ogilvie, W.T., Lafrance, B., and Normand, C. (2017): Brittle Deformation and Hydrothermal Mineralization in the Southern Tantato Domain and Northern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan; in Saskatchewan Geological Survey, Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy, Open House 2017 Abstract Volume, Miscellaneous Report 2017-3, p.50. 

Comtois‐Poissant, A., Raharimahefa, T., and Normand, C. (2017): Petrogenesis and Geochemistry of Mafic Granulites from the Upper‐Deck of the Tantato Domain, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada; PDAC-SEG SMC 2017, Royal York Hotel, Toronto, March 6, Abstracts. 

Comtois‐Poissant, A., Raharimahefa, T., and Normand, C. (2017): Petrogenesis and Geochemistry of Mafic Granulites from the Upper‐Deck of the Tantato Domain, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada; AME Roundup 2017, Vancouver, B.-C., January 23 – January 28, Poster Session Presentation Abstracts, p13. 

Ogilvie, W.T., Lafrance, B., and Normand, C. (2016): Brittle Deformation and Associated Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralisation in the Southern Tantato Domain, Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2016, November 28 – November 30, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p.26. 

Normand, C. (2016): Au-PGE-U and REE-Th-U Mineralization in Altered Tantato Domain Basement Gneiss, Stony Rapids Area, Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2016, November 28 – November 30, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p26. 

Rabiei, M., Chi, G., Normand, C., Davis, W.J., and Fayek, M. (2015): Petrographic, Geochronological, and Stable Isotope Studies of the Maw Zone REE Deposit:  Implications for Potential Relationship with Unconformity-related Uranium Mineralization in Southeastern Athabasca Basin; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2015, November 30 – December 2, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p4. 

Normand, C. (2015): Geology of the Axis Lake East Zone Ni-Cu Deposit; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2015, November 30 – December 2, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p24. 

Stroh, B., Chi, G., and Normand, C. (2015): Field and Petrographic Studies of Zone 3 and Zone 7 Gold Occurrences in the Tantato Domain, Northern Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2015, November 30 – December 2, Saskatoon, poster presentation. 

Samson, B., Ansdell, K., Normand, C., and Knox, B. (2015): Field and Petrological Relationships of the Axis Lake East Zone Deposit, Tantato Domain, Northern Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2015, November 30 – December 2, Saskatoon, poster presentation. 

Ogilvie, W.T., Bethune, K., Normand, C., and Knox, B. (2015): Geological Characterization of Ni-Cu Sulfide Bearing Mafic Dyke, Tantato Domain; PDAC-SEG Student Minerals Colloquium 2015, poster presentation.  

Rabiei, M., Chi, G., Normand, C., Davis, W.J., and Fayek, M. (2015): Petrographic, Geochronological, and Stable Isotope Studies of the Maw Zone REE Deposit:  Implications for Potential Relationship with Unconformity-related Uranium Mineralization in Southeastern Athabasca Basin; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2015, November 30 – December 2, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p4. 

Rabiei, M., Chi, G., and Normand, C. (2014): The MAW REE Zone Revisited: Field, Petrographic and Preliminary Fluid Inclusion Studies; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2014, December 1 – December 3, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p15. 

Normand, C., Bachynski, R., and Liang, R. (2014): Tantato Domain Metallogenic Studies: Preliminary Data from Auriferous Brittle Structures in the Algold Bay–Pine Channel Area, Lake Athabasca; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2014, December 1 – December 3, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p17. 

Normand, C. (2014): Rare Earths in Saskatchewan: Mineralization Types, Settings, and Distribution; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2014, December 1 – December 3, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p44. 

Normand, C. (2013): Scandium: A Little Known REE in Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2013, December 2 – December 4, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p17.  

Normand, C. (2013): Scandium: A Little Known REE in Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2013, December 2 – December 4, Saskatoon, Presentation () and Poster. 

Normand, C. (2012): Heavy Rare Earths in Saskatchewan: Distribution and Occurrences; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2012, December 3 – December 5, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p32.  

Normand, C. (2012): Heavy Rare Earths in Saskatchewan: Distribution and Occurrences; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2012, December 3 – December 5, Saskatoon, Presentation (http://economy.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=57f149a8-744a-4dd4-be42-8337c18a04e0) and Poster. 

Chi, G., Ashton, K., Normand, C., Liang, R. (2012): Characterization of fluids associated with albitite, the Martin Group, and uranium mineralization in the Beaverlodge district: preliminary field and petrographic studies. Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2012, December 3 – December 5, Saskatoon, poster presentation. 

Ashton, K.E. and Normand, C. (2012): Surface Geology of the Ace-Fay-Verna-Dubyna Mines Area, Beaverlodge Uranium District; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2012, December 3 – December 5, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p38. 

Normand, C. (2011): Typology and Distribution of Monazite Occurrences in the Beaverlodge and Zemlak Domains, Northern Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2011, November 28 – November 30, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p30.  

Normand, C. (2011): Typology and Distribution of Monazite Occurrences in the Beaverlodge and Zemlak Domains, Northern Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2011, November 28 – November 30, Saskatoon, Presentation (http://economy.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=c2967cf2-5d1b-40f4-8d8f-94e75efb46e4) and poster. 

Normand, C. (2010): REE mineralization potential of northern Saskatchewan II: results of the summer 2010 investigations in the Oshowy-Buchanan lakes, Ena Lake, Bear Lake, and Alces Lake areas; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2010, November 29 – December 1, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p46.  

Normand, C. (2010): REE mineralization potential of northern Saskatchewan II: results of the summer 2010 investigations in the Oshowy-Buchanan lakes, Ena Lake, Bear Lake, and Alces Lake areas; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2010, November 29 – December 1, Saskatoon, Presentation (http://economy.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=32df573a-2a2d-460e-96ab-f90d6b466ee9) and poster. 

Normand, C. and Williams-Jones, A. E. (2010): Origin of low molecular weight hydrocarbon gases during serpentinization: insights from fluid inclusions in rodingites; GeoCanada 2010 – Working with the Earth, Calgary, AB. May 10-14, 2010. 

Normand, C., McEwan, B., and Ashton, K. (2009): Geology and REE Mineralization of the Hoidas-Nisikkatch Lakes Area Revisited; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2009, November 30 – December 2, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p24.  

Normand, C., McEwan, B., and Ashton, K. (2009): Geology and REE Mineralization of the Hoidas-Nisikkatch Lakes Area Revisited; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2009, November 30 – December 2, Saskatoon, Presentation (http://economy.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=5f220e98-1d25-4842-bea1-aad5e8c6af7a) and poster. 

Maxeiner, R. and Normand, C. (2009): Bedrock Geology of the Keg-Trade Lakes Area (Churchill River), Central Glennie Domain; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2009, November 30 – December 2, Saskatoon, Abstract Volume, p27.  

Maxeiner, R. and Normand, C. (2009): Bedrock Geology of the Keg-Trade Lakes Area: A new Bedrock Mapping Project in the Central Glennie Domain; Saskatchewan Geological Survey Open House 2009, November 30 – December 2, Saskatoon, Presentation (http://economy.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=5f220e98-1d25-4842-bea1-aad5e8c6af7a) and poster.