Dr Steve Prevec

Dr Steve Prevec

Head of Department

Senior Lecturer
Geochemistry and petrology

Ph.D. University of Alberta (Canada)
M.Sc. McMaster University (Canada)
B.Sc. (Hons) Geology McMaster University (Canada)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My interests involve the study of mafic intrusions and associated high grade metamorphic rocks, based on field and thin section petrography, major, trace and radioisotope geochemistry, and geochronology. Often associated with these rocks is Cu-Ni±PGE sulphide and oxide mineralisation in various settings, whose origins and distribution are closely tied to the magmatic petrogenesis and/or subsequent metamorphism.

• Proterozoic mafic intrusions and associated rocks
• Large meteorite impact melt evolution]

For contact information, see the "Staff" page.

TEACHING IN THE DEPARTMENT

• GLG201: Mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry
• GLG301: Metamorphic Petrology
• Honours: Magmatic ore-forming processes, ± Metamorphic Petrology
• Honours field school: Ore deposition and regional mapping

POST-DOCTORAL EMPLOYMENT

• Senior Research Officer, BPI Geophysics / Hugh Allsopp Laboratory, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa (1998-2004)
• Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada (funded in part through a research/exploration contract with Inco Ltd.) (1994-1998)
• GEOTOP, University of Quebec at Montreal, Canada (funded by analytical contracts with Cominco) (1992-1994)
• Geochronology Section, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Canada (1991-1992)

SELECTED RECENT PAPERS
21 published papers in refereed journals, internally-reviewed outputs, and book chapters. Selected offerings since 2002 provided here; a complete list available on request.

• PREVEC, S.A. and BAADSGAARD, H. (2005) Evolution of Paleoproterozoic mafic intrusions located within the SIC thermal aureole: isotopic, geochronological and geochemical evidence. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 69, 3653-3669.
• PREVEC, S.A., ASHWAL, L.D. and MKAZA, M.S. (2005) Mineral disequilibrium from the Merensky pegmatoid, western Bushveld Complex, South Africa: new Sm-Nd isotopic evidence. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 149, 306-315.
• PREVEC, S.A., COWAN, D.R. and COOPER, G.R.J. (2005) Uplift and impact at the site of the world's largest nickel deposit: the Levack Gneiss Complex revisited. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 42, 1-9.
• PREVEC, S.A., ANHAEUSSER, C.R. and POUJOL, M. (2004) Origin and evolution of late mafic dykes in an Archaean gneissic assemblage, Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa. South African Journal of Science 100, 549-555.
• PREVEC, S.A. (2004) Basement tracing using Mid Proterozoic anorthosites straddling a palaeoterrane boundary, Ontario, Canada. Precambrian Research 129, 169 184.
• ZHONG, H., YAO, Y., PREVEC, S.A., WILSON, A.H., VILJOEN, M.J., VILJOEN, R.P., LIU, B.G., YING, H.L. and LUO Y.N. (2004) Sr-Nd isotopic variations in the basal cycle in the Xinjie layered intrusion in the Sichuan Province, SW China: Implications for a magmatic mixing model. Chemical Geology 203, 237-252.
• PREVEC, S.A. (2003) Tectono-geochemical controls on PGE-sulphide and chromite mineralisation in Fennoscandian mafic rocks. Economic Geology Research Institute Information Circular No. 372, 17 pp.
• PREVEC, S.A. (2002) H2O: a functional analogue for continental margin rift tectonics? Economic Geology Research Institute Information Circular No. 366, 17 pp.
• PREVEC, S.A. and CAWTHORN, R.G. (2002) Thermal evolution and interaction between impact melt sheet and footwall: a genetic model for the Contact Sublayer of the Sudbury Igneous Complex, Canada. Journal of Geophysical Research 107(0), 10.1029/2001JB000525.
• ROUSELL, D.H., MEYER, W. and PREVEC, S.A. (2002) Bedrock geology and mineral deposits in Physical Environment of the Regional Municipality of Sudbury. Edited by Don H. Rousell. 86 typed pages, 17 figures, 15 photographs and 3 tables.

Abstracts
Thirty-five odd abstracts published in international conference proceedings, accompanying oral presentations, and occasionally posters. Details for those since 2003 are provided here.

• PREVEC, S.A., KUHN, B.K. and BÜTTNER, S.H. (2008) Tectosilicate oikocrysts in impact melt-hosted mafic xenoliths, contact sublayer of the Sudbury Igneous Complex, Canada. Large Meteorite Impacts and Planetary Evolution IV, Abstract Volume, 182-183.
• GASTALDO, R.A., KAMO, S., NEVELING, J., PREVEC, R., PREVEC, S. AND REID, S.B. (2008) An assessment of terrestrial ecosystem response to the End Permian Crisis, Karoo Basin, South Africa. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting and Exposition, Houston, USA. Abstract 146775.
• PREVEC, S.A. and ASHWAL, L.D. (2006) Radiogenic isotopic evidence for mineral disequilibrium associated with mineralized horizons in mafic intrusions in Geological Association of Canada/ Mineralogical Association of Canada program with abstracts, vol. 31 p. 124.
• PREVEC, S.A. (2005) Tectono geochemical controls on PGE sulphide mineralisation in Fennoscandian mafic rocks. Proceedings of the 10th International Platinum Symposium, Oulu, Finland.
• PREVEC, S.A. and STEININGER, C.M. (2005) A preliminary investigation of diagenesis and fossilisation of bone in Archaean dolomitic host rock, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. Fifth International Bone Diagenesis Meeting abstracts, Cape Town, South Africa.
• PREVEC, S.A. (2005) On the enigma of impact aged zircons in apparently pre impact rocks. GEO2005 abstracts, GSSA Annual Meeting, Durban, South Africa.
• PREVEC, S.A., ASHWAL, L.D. and MKAZA, M.S. (2004) Sm Nd isotopic evidence for mineral disequilibrium from the Merensky pegmatoid, Bushveld Complex, South Africa in Twelfth Annual V.M. Goldschmidt Conference proceedings.
• PREVEC, S.A. (2004) Unstable fracture propagation as a mechanism for magmatic conduit generation. Geoscience Africa 2004, abstract.
• PREVEC, S.A., ANHAEUSSER C.R. and POUJOL, M. (2004) Evidence of fertile mantle in the Archaean beneath the Kaapvaal Craton: calc alkaline lamprophyres in the Johannesburg Dome. Geoscience Africa 2004 abstract.
• PREVEC, S.A. (2004) Science outreach and promotion through festivals and fairs: money and time well spent, or better spent elsewhere? Geoscience Africa 2004 abstract.
• PREVEC, S.A., COWAN, D.R. AND COOPER, G.R.G. (2003) Coincidence and catastrophism: new geophysical insights into the evolution of the Sudbury Igneous Complex, Canada. Geological Association of Canada/Mineralogical Association of Canada B Society of Economic Geologists, abstracts c.d.
• PREVEC, S.A., COWAN, D.R. AND COOPER, G.R.G. (2003) The tectonic environment of the Sudbury Igneous Complex, Canada: a unique deposit demands a unique setting. GSSA GeoForum, program with abstracts.
• MAIER, W.D., ANDREOLI, M.A.G., McDONALD, I., IRVINE, G.J., ASHWAL, L.D. and PREVEC, S. (2003). The Morokweng impact melt sheet, South Africa: a reconnaissance study with implications for Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide mineralisation. Applied Earth Sci. (Trans. Inst. Min. Metall. B), 112 (2), 150-152.

OTHER INFORMATION

CURRENT RESEARCH STATUS

1. RSA-China NRF Collaborative Project grant with Prof. M.-F. Zhou (Hong Kong) for petrological-geochemical research on end-Permian mineralised layered mafic intrusions and extrusions.
2. Finnish Academy grant with Prof. T. Alapieti for ongoing research on Palaeoproterozoic Kemi and Penikat Intrusions, Finland.
3. Palaeontology and Palaeo-Anthropological Scientific Trust (PAST) grant for preliminary study of geochemical changes in diagenesis of fossils, Cradle of Humankind.
4. Rhodes University JRC annual grants, supporting various ongoing projects relating to mafic intrusions and mineralisation, impact-related mineral growth studies.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY ACTIVITY

• Associate Member of the Geological Association of Canada (since 1984)
• Member of the Geological Society of South Africa (since 2003)
• Fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa (since 2008)
• Editor of the Geobulletin, the GSSA’s quarterly magazine (since 2003)
• Eastern Cape Branch Representative for the GSSA (since 2004)
• Regional Member of the Council of the GSSA (07/2004-06/2005, and 07/2008-06/2009))
• Co-opted Member for MINSA at Rhodes University (since 2006)
• Currently lapsed but registered member of the Geochemical Society, the AGU, and the GSA (and the Musician's Union, Hamilton, Ontario).