June Cho
Research Assistant/Technician
I have 6+ years combined education and employment experience using geochemistry to answer a variety of questions relevant to academic research and the mining and mineral exploration sector. Currently, I'm a research assistant in the Carbonate Mineralization group at UBC.
My graduate and undergraduate research to date has primarily involved studying mafic layered intrusions (MLI). MLI are excellent natural laboratories for understanding important petrologic concepts, especially in closed-system intrusions where slow-cooling with little interaction can be achieved.
I completed my MSc degree in December 2019 under the supervision of Dr. Dominique Weis and Dr. James Scoates. I investigated the geochemical compositions of plagioclase and alkali feldspar in the Skaergaard intrusion using two complementary microanalytical approaches: (1) major and minor element characterization by electron microprobe and (2) Pb isotope compositions and trace element concentrations by split stream LA-ICP-MS. The combined results provide new insights on the crystallization history of the Skaergaard intrusion, the extent of modification of mantle-derived melts in the crust during flood basalt magmatism, and the role of the Skaergaard intrusion in the evolution of the North Atlantic Igneous Province. My thesis can be downloaded here.
Teaching Assistantships:
EOSC 110 · The Solid Earth: A Dynamic Planet (Term 1: 2016)
EOSC 220 · Introductory Mineralogy (Term 1: 2017, 2018, 2019)
EOSC 322 · Metamorphic Petrology (Term 2: 2017, 2018, 2019)
Education
- MSc in Geological Sciences: University of British Columbia. Supervisors: Drs. James Scoates and Dominique Weis. 2016-2019.
- BSc in Geological Sciences: University of British Columbia. 2010-2015.
Abstracts
- Cho, J. O., Scoates, J. S., Weis, D., and Amini, M. Feldspars in the Skaergaard intrusion: Ternary relationships, zoning & Pb isotope geochemistry. Goldschmidt Virtual, June 21-26, 2020 (submitted abstract).
- Cho, J.O., Scoates, J.S., Weis, D., and Amini, M. Assessing the link between the Skaergaard intrusion and East Greenland Flood Basalts from In Situ LA-ICP-MS lead isotope geochemistry of plagioclase. Resources for Future Generations Meeting, Vancouver, Canada, June 16-21, 2018 (oral).
- Cho, J.O., Scoates, J.S., and Weis, D. Extreme compositional variation of feldspar in the Skaergaard intrusion. GAC-MAC Annual Meeting, Kingston, Canada, May 14-18, 2017 (poster).
- Cho, J.O., Fourny, A., Scoates, J.S., and Weis, D. Symplectites in the Kiglapait layered intrusion, Labrador. GSA Penrose Conference, Montana, USA, August 8-12, 2016 (oral).
Awards
2020
- Léopold Gélinas Silver Medal: funded through Volcanology and Igneous Petrology Division of the Geological Association of Canada
2018
- Egil H Lorntzsen Scholarship: funded through Department of EOAS, UBC
2017
- Egil H Lorntzsen Scholarship: funded through Department of EOAS, UBC
2016
- MAGNET Graduate Trainee: funded by NSERC CREATE
- GSA Penrose Student Award: funded by GSA
2015
- MAGNET Undergraduate Trainee: funded by NSERC CREATE
- Undergraduate Student Research Award: funded by NSERC
- Endeavour Silver Corporation Undergraduate Scholarship: funded through Department of EOAS, UBC
2014
- Dr. A.C. Skerl Memorial Scholarship in Geology, funded through Department of EOAS, UBC
2010
- UBC President's Entrance Scholarship: funded by Faculty of Science, UBC
- Passport to Education: funded by the Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Education
Publications:
Cho, J. O., Scoates, J. S., Weis, D., and Amini, M. (2022). Lead isotope geochemistry of plagioclase in the Skaergaard intrusion by LA-ICP-MS: Assessing the effects of crustal contamination and link with East Greenland flood basalts. Chemical Geology, 592, 120723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2022.120723.