Geology and Mining
HomePeopleProfile

Profile

Photo of Dr Lawrence Carter

Dr Lawrence Carter

Honorary Research Fellow

Email:

I specialise in the formation of magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits, with expertise in integrating macro-scale field observations with multiple layers of micro-scale textural, geochemical and geochronological data. My PhD focused on unravelling the archetypal Yerington porphyry system of Nevada, with publications including a Scientific Reports’ ‘Top 100’ of 2022, and I gained Post-Doc research experience on the EU Horizon 2020 GREENPEG project (see https://www.greenpeg.eu/ for more information).  Prior to moving into magmatic-hydrothermal systems, I worked for BP in Operations, Wellsite, and Well Planning geology roles after completing an MSc in Mining Engineering and BSc in Applied Geology at Camborne School of Mines. I continue to provide exploration and research consultancy services to major-, mid-tier-, and junior-mining companies around the globe.

 

Media Cove​rage

"An elaborate guide to rock textures: inside a new toolkit for finding copper" - Mine Magazine

"Textures preserved in rock may give an early indication of where porphyry-type copper deposits are located, Researchers from the University of Exeter, UK, reveal" - IOM3, Materials World

"New insights into how to discover porphyry-type copper deposits"- MINING.com

"New toolkit aids discovery of mineral deposits crucial to 'green economy' transistion" - Exeter news article 

"Understanding how porphyry-type copper deposits are formed may lead to new resources – study"  - MINING.com

"Pioneering study gives new insight into formation of copper deposits" - Exeter news article

"Insights into the 'missing link' of how copper ore deposits form" - BGS research highlight

 

Additional Grants Secured

  • UK National Ion Beam Centre 'Pump-Primer' grant. Total Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) study. £6,496. 

  • Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) Student Travel Grant for SEG Santiago 2019. US$1,260.

  • SelFrag Ag. Sample preparation support in kind for CA-ID-TIMS study. 

  • NERC NIGL Isotope Geosciences Facilities. CA-ID-TIMS study. £85,000 in kind.

  • Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) Student Research Grant - Hugh McKinstry Fund. US$4,500.

 

Professional History

  • 2017 - present: LC Geoscience Ltd - Consultant Geologist to the oil & gas and mineral exploration industries.

  • 2017: BP - Operations Geologist, Schiehallion Field. 

  • 2016 - 2017: BP - Wellsite Geologist, North Sea and West of Shetland.

  • 2015 - 2016: BP - Production & Well Planning Geologist, Clair Field.

  • 2015: IMERYS - Geotechnical Engineer, UK Kaolin Platform

  • 2013: BP - Intern Exploration Geologist, Namibian Exploration.

  • 2012: IMERYS - Intern Production Geologist, UK Kaolin Platform.

 

Academic Qualifications

  • MSc Mining Engineering (Distinction), 2015 (Camborne School of Mines). Sponsored by SRK Consulting Ltd. Working with IMERYS, for my dissertation I performed a geotechnical assessment of current excavations and the proposed life of mine excavation design for Melbur Pit, and recommendations therein.

  • BSc (Hons) Applied Geology (1st Class), 2014 (Camborne School of Mines). Working with BP, my dissertation investigated the conjugate margin of the South Atlantic - implications on petroleum systems therein.

 

Honours and Awards

  • SEG best student poster presentation - SEG conference, Santiago, 2019

  • RioTinto best PhD student presentation - MDSG conference, Falmouth, 2019

  • University of Exeter Dean's Commendations; 2013, 2014, 2015 - In recognition of outstanding academic performance.

  • CSMA's John Brook & John Trounson Prizes, 2015 - Awarded for best performance in management modules and best overall performance amongst the MSc cohort.

  • Excellence in Cornwall Postgraduate Scholarship, and further support from SRK Consulting Ltd for my MSc degree.

  • Richard Pearce Gold Medal, 2014 - awarded for best overall performance in cohort.

  • Martyn Nicholas Costello Memorial Prize, 2013 - For best overall academic result (2nd year Geology)

  • Mineralogical Society Student Award, 2013 - Best aggregate mark in mineralogical modules.

  • CSM Trust's Highest Achiever Award, 2012.

  • CSM Undergraduate Scholarship, 2011.

 

Affiliations

  • Camborne School of Mines Association.

  • Member of Society of Economic Geologists (SEG).

  • Member of Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA). 

  • Member of the Mineral Deposits Study Group.

  • Member of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain.

 

Publications

Journal Articles

Carter, L. C., Tapster, S. R., Williamson, B. J., Buret, Y., Selby, D., Rollinson, G. K. , Millar, I. & Parvaz, D. B., 2022. A rapid change in magma plumbing taps porphyry copper deposit-forming magmas. Scientific Reports, 12, 17272. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-20158-y

Carter, L. C. & Williamson, B. J., 2022. Textural indicators of mineralisation potential in porphyry magmatic systems - A framework from the archetypal Yerington district, Nevada. Ore Geology Reviews, 143, 104783. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2022.104783 

Carter, L. C., Williamson, B. J., Tapster, S. R., Costa, C., Grime, G. W. & Rollinson, G. K., 2021. Crystal mush dykes as conduits for mineralising fluids in the Yerington porphyry copper district, Nevada. Communications Earth & Environment 2, 59. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00128-4

 

Conference Presentations

Carter, L. C., Tapster, S., Williamson, B. J., Buret, Y., Selby, D., Millar, I., Rollinson, G. K. & Parvaz, D. 2022. An abrupt switch in magmatic plumbing taps porphyry copper deposit-forming magmas. SEG 2022 Denver, Minerals for our future.

Carter, L. C., Williamson, B. J., Tapster, S. R., Costa, C., Grime, G. W. & Rollinson, G. K., 2021. Crystal mush dykes as conduits for porphyry copper deposit-forming fluids. SEG 100: Celebrating a Century of Discover, Whistler (Online).

Carter, L. C., Tapster, S. R., Williamson, B. J., Buret, Y., Millar, I., Selby, D., & Parvaz, D. B., 2021. Abrupt switch in magmatic plumbing to tap porphyry copper-‘fertile’ magmas. SEG 100: Celebrating a Century of Discover, Whistler (Online).

Carter, L. C., Tapster, S. R., Williamson, B. J., Buret, Y., Selby, D. & Parvaz, D. B., 2021. The 4D Trans-Crustal Architecture of a Porphyry Copper-Forming Magmatic System. Goldschmidt, Lyon (Online). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7185/gold2021.6175

Carter, L. C., Tapster, S. R., Williamson, B. J. & Buret, Y., 2020. The porphyry fertility switch – detail from the Yerington District, Nevada. MDSG annual meeting (Online).

Carter, L. C., Williamson, B. J, Tapster, S. R., Costa, C. & Grime, G. W., 2020. Crystal mush dykes as the source and conduit for porphyry deposit forming fluids. SEG Student Showcase (Online).

Carter, L. C., Williamson, B. J, Tapster, S. R., Costa, C. & Grime, G. W., 2020. Total-IBA Detailing Mineralising Fluid Migration & Exsolution to form Porphyry Copper Deposits. 17th International Conference on Nuclear Microprobe Technology and Applications (ICNMTA) (Online).

Carter, L. C., Williamson, B. J., Armstrong, R. N., Tapster, S. & Buret, Y., 2020. Yerington District, Nevada: New porphyry system petrogeochronology. MDSG annual meeting, NHM, London. 

Carter, L. C., Williamson, B. J., Armstrong, R. N. & Tapster, S., 2020. Exsolution and migration of mineralising fluids in porphyry magmatic systems - Evidence from the Yerington District, Nevada. MDSG annual meeting, NHM, London.

Carter, L. C., Williamson, B. J., Armstrong, R. N. & Tapster, S., 2019. Mineralising fluid exsolution and migration in porphyry systems - New perspectives from the Yerington District, Nevada. SEG 2019 Santiago, South American Metallogeny: Sierra to Craton. [SEG award for best student presentation]

Carter, L. C., Williamson, B. J., Armstrong, R. N. & Tapster, S., 2019. The nature of fluid exsolution and migration in porphyry systems - evidence from the Yerington District, Nevada. Proceedings of the 15th SGA Biennial Meeting, Glasgow, Scotland, pp. 973-976.

Carter, L. C., Williamson, B. J., Armstrong, R. N. & Tapster, S., 2019. New perspectives into the timing and nature of fluid exsolution and migration in Cu porphyry-forming magmatic systems – evidence from the Yerington District, Nevada. Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 21, EGU2019-13169.

Carter, L. C., Williamson, B. J., Armstrong, R. N. & Tapster, S., 2019. Exsolution depth and migration pathways of mineralising fluids in porphyry systems – examples from the Yerington District, Nevada. Applied Earth Science, 128(2), p. 42. DOI: 10.1080/25726838.2019.1601354 [RioTinto award for best PhD student presentation]

 

Invited Talks

Carter, L. C., 2022. The nature and timing of fluid exsolution and migration in porphyry forming magmatic systems. Industrial University of Santander, Colombia – SEG chapter.


 

 

 

[1] Dilles, J. H., Einaudi, M. T., Proffett, J. and Barton, M. D., 2000. Overview of the Yerington porphyry copper district: Magmatic to non-magmatic sources of hydrothermal fluids, their flow paths, alteration effects on rocks, and Cu-Mo-Fe-Au Ores. SEG guidebook vol. 32.