Paul Spry

  • Professor Emeritus

Contact

256 Science Hall
2237 Osborn Dr
Ames, IA 50011-1027

Bio

Research

Dr. Spry’s research interests are in economic geology, mineralogy and petrology, and the geochemistry of metallic mineral deposits. He is particularly interested in the petrological, mineralogical, structural, geochronological (Re-Os), light (S, C, O and H) and light and non-traditional stable isotope (Te, Zn, Cd), and fluid inclusion characteristics of epithermal and mesothermal gold deposits, as well as the effects of metamorphism on massive sulfide deposits. Current research projects include: the origin of metamorphosed Proterozoic base metal-gold deposits (Colorado); the origin of gold telluride deposits in Greece; the use of trace elements in oxides, silicates, and sulfides as exploration guides to metamorphosed Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-Au ores; the origin of nodular sillimanite rocks and their genetic relationship to metamorphosed massive sulfide deposits; and the crystallographic characterization of precious metal sulfides and sulfosalts (see sulfosalt “Spryite” named after Spry).

Education

B.S. University of Adelaide South Australia, 1976

B.S. (with Honors) University of Adelaide South Australia, 1977

M.S. University of Adelaide South Australia, 1979

Ph.D. University of Toronto, 1984