Professor Nick Cook

Group Leader - Total Deposit Knowledge

BRC

+61 7 336 55927

nick.cook@uq.edu.au

Researcher biography

Professor Nick Cook is an experienced multi-disciplinary geologist, team leader and business person with expertise in mineral exploration and collaborative project operations.

Nick's career includes periods of University research and teaching, mineral exploration and as a finance professional. Formerly the Chief Geologist for Mawson Gold and Technical Advisor for Southern Cross Gold, global roles that included responsibility for international collaborative industry-government-university research projects and as an industry supervisor for PhD, Masters and Honours projects (Finland, UK and Australia). This was in addition to providing on-the-job training for internal geological and technical staff.

Nick's career highlights include numerous voluntary training and research activities, supporting an international standing in mineral exploration. Leading a stable technical team from the first discovery drill holes through to the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) stage of the Rajapalot Au-Co deposit in northern Finland is just one highlight.

The role as Group Leader – Total Deposit Knowledge will allow Nick to bring together his diverse skill base in mineral exploration and ore deposits and apply it to the full spectrum of mining-related activities (exploration to mine closure & rehabilitation). A deeper understanding of the relationship of the minerals to lithogeochemistry in the exploration and mining of critical metals will be a focus.

Featured projects	Duration
NW Mineral Province Deposit Atlas
NE Queensland Mineral Deposit Atlas
Queensland New Economy Minerals Compilation

Publications

Book Chapters (2)

Journal Articles (26)

Conference Paper (1)

Research Reports (2)

Book Chapters

Vanhanen, E., Cook, N. D. J., Hudson, M. R., Dahlenborg, L., Ranta, J. P., Havela, T., Kinnunen, J., Molnár, F., Prave, A. R. and Oliver, N. H. S. (2015). The Rompas Prospect, Peräpohja Schist Belt, Northern Finland. Mineral deposits of Finland. (pp. 467-484) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-410438-9.00018-2

Davidson, I., Cook, N. D. J., Fischer, M., Ridges, M., Ross, J. and Sutton, S. A. (2005). Archaeology in another country: exchange and symbols in North West Central Queensland. Many exchanges: archaeology, history, community and the work of Isabel McBryde. (pp. 101-128) Canberra, ACT Australia: Aboriginal History.

Journal Articles

Sayab, Mohammad, Menzies, A., Palin, R. M., Butcher, A. R., Cook, N., Kuva, J. and Dehaine, Q. (2024). Structural controls on cobalt mineralisation during regional metamorphism: an example from the Rajapalot area, Finland. Mineralium Deposita. doi: 10.1007/s00126-024-01315-x

Tepsell, J., Lahaye, Y., Molnár, F., Rämö, O. T. and Cook, N. (2024). Silver isotope analysis and systematics of native gold from the Rajapalot Co-enriched gold deposit, Finnish Lapland. Mineralium Deposita, 59 (5), 931-947. doi: 10.1007/s00126-023-01239-y

Raič, Sara, Molnár, Ferenc, O'Brien, Hugh, Cook, Nick and Vasilopoulos, Mikael (2023). Building geochemical vectors with trace element compositions of sulfides in orogenic gold mineral systems in northern Finland. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 251 107252, 1-21. doi: 10.1016/j.gexplo.2023.107252

Raič, Sara, Molnár, Ferenc, Cook, Nick, O'Brien, Hugh and Lahaye, Yann (2022). Application of lithogeochemical and pyrite trace element data for the determination of vectors to ore in the Raja Au–Co prospect, northern Finland. Solid Earth, 13 (2), 271-299. doi: 10.5194/se-13-271-2022

Tapio, Juho, Ranta, Jukka-Pekka, Cook, Nick, Lahaye, Yann and O'Brien, Hugh (2021). Paleoproterozoic Rajapalot Au-Co system associated with evaporites: Chemical composition and boron isotope geochemistry of tourmaline, and sulfur isotopes of sulfates, Peräpohja belt, northern Finland. Precambrian Research, 365 106410, 1-21. doi: 10.1016/j.precamres.2021.106410

Ranta, Jukka-Pekka, Cook, Nick and Gilbricht, Sabine (2021). SEM-based automated mineralogy (SEM-AM) and unsupervised machine learning studying the textural setting and elemental association of gold in the Rajapalot Au-Co area, northern Finland. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Finland, 93, 129-154. doi: 10.17741/bgsf/93.2.003

Ranta, J.-P., Molnár, F., Hanski, E. and Cook, N. (2018). Epigenetic gold occurrence in a Paleoproterozoic meta-evaporitic sequence in the Rompas-Rajapalot Au system, Peräpohja belt, northern Finland. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Finland, 90 (1), 69-108. doi: 10.17741/bgsf/90.1.004

Molnár, Ferenc, O’Brien, Hugh, Stein, Holly and Cook, Nick (2017). Geochronology of Hydrothermal Processes Leading to the Formation of the Au–U Mineralization at the Rompas Prospect, Peräpohja Belt, Northern Finland: Application of Paired U–Pb Dating of Uraninite and Re–Os Dating of Molybdenite to the Identification of Multiple Hydrothermal Events in a Metamorphic Terrane. Minerals, 7 (9) 171, 1-23. doi: 10.3390/min7090171

Nykänen, V., Niiranen, T., Molnár, F., Lahti, I., Korhonen, K., Cook, N. and Skyttä, P. (2017). Optimizing a knowledge-driven prospectivity model for gold deposits within Peräpohja Belt, Northern Finland. Natural Resources Research, 26 (4), 571-584. doi: 10.1007/s11053-016-9321-4

Ranta, Jukka-Pekka, Hanski, Eero, Cook, Nick and Lahaye, Yann (2016). Source of boron in the Palokas gold deposit, northern Finland: evidence from boron isotopes and major element composition of tourmaline. Mineralium Deposita, 52 (5), 733-746. doi: 10.1007/s00126-016-0700-x

Molnár, Ferenc, Oduro, Harry, Cook, Nick D. J., Pohjolainen, Esa, Takács, Ágnes, O’Brien, Hugh, Pakkanen, Lassi, Johanson, Bo and Wirth, Richard (2016). Association of gold with uraninite and pyrobitumen in the metavolcanic rock hosted hydrothermal Au-U mineralisation at Rompas, Peräpohja Schist Belt, northern Finland. Mineralium Deposita, 51 (5), 681-702. doi: 10.1007/s00126-015-0636-6

Vernon, R. H., Collins, W. J. and Cook, N. D. J. (2012). Metamorphism and deformation of mafic and felsic rocks in a magma transfer zone, Stewart Island, New Zealand. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 30 (5), 473-488. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1314.2012.00977.x

Stephenson, N. C. N. and Cook, N. D. J. (1997). Metamorphic evolution of calcsilicate granulites near Battye Glacier, northern Prince Charles Mountains, East Antarctica. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 15 (3), 361-378. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1314.1997.00024.x

Coombs, D. S., Cook, N. D. J., Kawachi, Y., Johnstone, R. D. and Gibson, I. L. (1996). Park Volcanics, Murihiku Terrane, New Zealand: Petrology, petrochemistry, and tectonic significance. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 39 (4), 469-492. doi: 10.1080/00288306.1996.9514727

Ashley, P. M., Cook, N. D. J. and Fanning, C. M. (1996). Geochemistry and age of metamorphosed felsic igneous rocks with A-type affinities in the Willyama Supergroup, Olary Block, South Australia, and implications for mineral exploration. Lithos, 38 (3-4), 167-184. doi: 10.1016/0024-4937(96)00011-4

Ashley, P. M., Cook, N. D. J., Hill, R. L. and Kent, A. J. R. (1994). Shoshonitic lamprophyre dykes and their relation to mesothermal AU-SB veins at Hillgrove, New-South-Wales, Australia. Lithos, 32 (3-4), 249-272. doi: 10.1016/0024-4937(94)90043-4

Graham, I. J., Coombs, D. S. and Cook, N. D. J. (1993). Effects of low-temperature alteration on the RB-SR age of andesitic igneous rocks - Park Volcanics Group, Southland, New-Zealand. Chemical Geology, 104 (1-4), 281-292. doi: 10.1016/0009-2541(93)90157-e

Stephenson, N. C. N. and Cook, N. D. J. (1992). High KNa alkaline mafic dykes near Radok Lake, northern Prince Charles Mountains, East Antarctica. Lithos, 29 (1-2), 87-105. doi: 10.1016/0024-4937(92)90035-w

Coombs, D. S., Cook, N. D. J. and Campbell, J. D. (1992). The Park Volcanics group: field relations of an igneous suite emplaced in the Triassic‐Jurassic Murihiku Terrane, South Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 35 (3), 337-351. doi: 10.1080/00288306.1992.9514527

Cook, N. J. D. and Ashley, P. M. (1992). Meta-evaporite sequence, exhalative chemical sediments and associated rocks in the Proterozoic Willyama Supergroup, South-Australia - implications for metallogenesis. Precambrian Research, 56 (3-4), 211-226. doi: 10.1016/0301-9268(92)90102-t

Pillai, D. D. L., Landis, C. A., Cook, N. D. J. and Campbell, H. J. (1991). Permian ammonoids from the Greville Formation, Upukerora valley, Southland. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 34 (3), 365-372. doi: 10.1080/00288306.1991.9514475

Ashley, P.M., Cook, N.D.J. and Hill, R.L. (1990). Occurrence and significance of Aurostibite in Sb-Au ore from Hillgrove, New South Wales, Australia. Neues Jahrbuch Fur Mineralogie-Monatshefte (12), 537-551.

Cook, N.D.J., Davidson, I. and Sutton, S. (1990). Why are so many ancient rock paintings red?. Australian Aboriginal Studies, 1, 30-32.

Cook, N. D.J., Davidson, I. and Sutton, S. (1989). Seeing red in Queensland. Nature, 342 (6249), 487-487. doi: 10.1038/342487a0

Cook, N. D. J. (1988). Diorites and associated rocks in the Anglem Complex at The Neck, northeastern Stewart Island, New Zealand: an example of magma mingling. Lithos, 21 (4), 247-262. doi: 10.1016/0024-4937(88)90031-x

Cook, N.D.J. (1987). Tarpaulin Metagranite, Stewart Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 30 (4), 445-447. doi: 10.1080/00288306.1987.10427548

Conference Paper

Tepsell, Johanna, Rämö, Tapani, Lahaye, Yann, Cook, Nick and Molnár, Ferenc (2023). New insights into the formation of the Rajapalot deposit from stable Ni, Cu and Fe isotopes. Goldschmidt2023, Lyon, France, 9-14 July 2023. Paris, France: European Association of Geochemistry. doi: 10.7185/gold2023.17935

Research Reports

Savinova, Katerina, Barbosa, Karina, Rodrigues, Sandra, Esterle, Joan and Cook, Nick (2023). Utilising Hyperspectral Imagery Scanning for Geotechnical Characterisation. Brisbane, Australia: Australian Coal Research.

Micklethwaite, Steven, Cook, Nicholas and Rybak, Nikodem (2023). Bowdens Silver - Research Review and Recommendations. Brisbane, Queensland: The University of Queensland, Sustainable Minerals Institute.