Elliott Skierszkan

I am an environmental geochemist researching the mobility of metals in the environment by adopting techniques in geochemistry, hydrogeology, and mineralogy.

During my PhD I developed methods to trace molybdenum and zinc mobility in mine wastes through stable isotope analyses. This research was conducted at UBC's Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research with a multicollector ICP-MS instrument.

I am currently working as a Mitacs post-doctoral fellow in partnership with UBC and Lorax Environmental Services on a study of geogenic uranium and arsenic release into groundwater in the Dawson Range, Yukon. Advanced mineral exploration projects are present in this region, and a better understanding of metal release from the local geological formations into water has implications for water-quality management at eventual mine sites.

Beginning Feb. 2021, I will begin a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Saskatchewan, where I will oversee a research program on the impacts of thaw of perennially frozen ground (permafrost) on metal(oid) release in subarctic and arctic regions.

Peer-reviewed publications

1. Skierszkan, E.K., Dockrey, J.W., Mayer, K.U., Beckie, R.D., 2020. Release of geogenic uranium and arsenic results in water-quality impacts in a subarctic permafrost region of granitic and metamorphic geology. J. Geochemical Explor. 17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2020.106607`
2. Vriens, B., Skierszkan, E. K., St-arnault, M., Salzsauler, K., Aranda, C., Mayer, K. U., & Beckie, R. D. 2019. Mobilization of Metal(oid) Oxyanions through Circumneutral Mine Waste-Rock Drainage. ACS Omega, 4, 10205–10215. research-article. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b01270
3. Skierszkan, E. K.; Robertson, J.; Lindsay, M. B. J.; Stockwell, J. S.; Dockrey, J. W.; Das, S.; Weis, D.; Beckie, R. D.; Mayer, K. U. Tracing Molybdenum Attenuation in Mining Environments Using Molybdenum Stable Isotopes. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b00766.
4. Skierszkan, E. K.; Mayer, K. U.; Weis, D.; Robertson, J.; Beckie, R. D. Molybdenum Stable Isotope Fractionation during the Precipitation of Powellite (CaMoO4) and Wulfenite (PbMoO4). Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 2019, 244, 383–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2018.09.030.
5. Skierszkan, E. K.; Stockwell, J. S.; Dockrey, J. W.; Weis, D.; Beckie, R. D.; Mayer, K. U. Molybdenum (Mo) Stable Isotopic Variations as Indicators of Mo Attenuation in Mine Waste-Rock Drainage. Appl. Geochemistry 2017, 87 (April), 71–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2017.10.008.
6. Skierszkan, E. K.; Mayer, K. U.; Weis, D.; Beckie, R. D. Molybdenum and Zinc Stable Isotope Variation in Mining Waste Rock Drainage and Waste Rock at the Antamina Mine , Peru. Sci. Total Environ. 2016, 550, 103–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.053.
7. Drevnick, P. E.; Cooke, C. A.; Barraza, D.; Blais, J. M.; Coale, K. H.; Cumming, B. F.; Curtis, C. J.; Das, B.; Donahue, W. F.; Eagles-Smith, C. A.; et al. Spatiotemporal Patterns of Mercury Accumulation in Lake Sediments of Western North America. Sci. Total Environ. 2016, 568 (2016), 1157–1170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.167.
8. Skierszkan, E. K.; Amini, M.; Weis, D. A Practical Guide for the Design and Implementation of the Double-Spike Technique for Precise Determination of Molybdenum Isotope Compositions of Environmental Samples. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2015, 407, 1925–1935. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-014-8448-6.
9. Korosi, J. B.; Irvine, G.; Skierszkan, E. K.; Doyle, J. R.; Kimpe, L. E.; Janvier, J.; Blais, J. M. Localized Enrichment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil , Spruce Needles , and Lake Sediments Linked to in-Situ Bitumen Extraction near Cold Lake , Alberta. Environ. Pollut. 2013, 182, 307–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.07.012.
10. Skierszkan, E. K.; Irvine, G.; Doyle, J. R.; Kimpe, L. E.; Blais, J. M. Is There Widespread Metal Contamination from In-Situ Bitumen Extraction at Cold Lake , Alberta Heavy Oil Field? Sci. Total Environ. 2013, 447, 337–344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.12.097.