About
Hello, I’m a PhD exploration geologist and this is my public scientific communication website about the geology and earth science behind some amazing places. I like to understand and explore the earth sciences behind places I travel (either for fun or work). And with this blog I try and share this to anyone.
More about the author
I am from Canada and have a BSc in Earth Science from the University of Victoria, B.C., Canada, and a PhD from CODES at the University of Tasmania, Australia. My thesis and research was on a large gold deposit (Lihir) in Papua New Guinea. I have several scientific publications from this body of work, as well as other collaborative projects. I have worked as a staff and consultant exploration geologist with many companies, ranging from small juniors to majors. This has been largely in generative and projects for copper and gold mineral exploration and mining. Currently I am a consultant mineral exploration geologist (for professional enquires, please email). Additionally I have worked within various media platforms as a contributor.
About the science
I focus my posts on my expertise of earth science, specifically geology and geomorphology (how the land was formed, rocks, etc.). I occasionally write about other natural sciences as well (astronomy, ecology, etc.). Scientific sources are short referenced in each post (Author, Year). However, if you would like the full reference or the paper (or any other interesting papers related to the subject) please send me an email.
Scientific Publications:
Cooke, D.R., Sykora, S., Lawlis, E., Blackwell, J.L., Ageneau, M., Jansen, N.H., Harris, A.C., and Selley, D., 2020, Lihir Alkalic Epithermal Gold Deposit, Papua New Guinea: SEG Special Publication, n. 23, p. 579–597.
Kuhn, S., Cracknell, M.J., Reading, A.M., and Sykora, S., 2020, Identification of intrusive lithologies in volcanic terrains in British Columbia by machine learning using Random Forests: the value of using a soft classifier: Geophysics, v.85 (6), p. 1–40.
Sykora, S., Selley, D., Cooke, D.R. and Harris, A.C., 2018, The structure and significance of anhydrite-bearing vein arrays, Lienetz orebody, Lihir gold deposit, Papua New Guinea: Economic Geology, v. 113, p. 237–270.
Sykora, S., Cooke, D.R., Meffre, S., Stephanov, A.S., Gardner, K., Scott, R., Selley, D. and Harris, A.C., 2018, Evolution of pyrite trace element compositions from porphyry-style and epithermal conditions at the Lihir gold deposit: implications for ore genesis and mineral processing: Economic Geology, v. 113, p. 193–208.
Byrne, K., Stock, E., Ryan, J., Johnson, C., Nisenson, J., Jimenez, T.A., Lapointe, M., Stewart, H., Grubisa, G., and Sykora, S., 2013, Porphyry Cu-(Mo) deposits in the Highland Valley district, south-central British Columbia, in Logan, J., and Schroeter, T., (eds), Society of Economic Geologist Field Trip Guidebook, Series 43, p. 99–116.
Featured and/or guest writer with:
For updates on new post, please subscribe (by entering your email in the top-right sidebar or below). I would love to hear back from you so feel free to leave a comment, share, or follow me on any of the social media outlets.
Cheers!
Hi Stephanie, Awesome travel pictures! One of your photos popped up in an advanced Google image search as being free to use for commercial purposes. Would it be ok if I reuse it as a header in a website?
Hey Kristen. First of all, thank you so much for asking me for use of the photo. I have no issues with you reusing it as a header in a website, however, if you can credit me and my blog when appropriate I would appreciate the acknowledgment and support very much! This can be with either keeping the watermark in the lower left-hand corner, or just mentioning © Stephanie Sykora (www.exploringtheearth.com) somewhere on your website? Thanks a lot and if you need a high-resolution version of the photo, please send me an email (sykorastephanie@gmail.com) and I can pass it along to you. Cheers!
Stephanie,
Thanks for stopping by Travel Bugg. I’m looking forward to following your adventures, and best of luck on your studies. ^.^
Thank you Ashleigh, I will try my best to keep up the adventures, blogging and studies all in top-condition 🙂
Hi Stephanie, thanks so much for stopping by and following my blog! I was a geology undergrad. at McGill before I started travel writing, so I especially enjoy getting back in touch with all things rock-related! If you’re ever in Brisbane (I’m over at UQ at the moment) please let me know 🙂
Hi Teal, back at you 🙂 Awesome, so you’re a Canadian geology undergrad student as well? I did my undergrad at UVic on Vancouver Island. I will let you know if I’m ever in Brisbane for sure, and likewise let me know if you are ever in Tasmania! Cheers!
Hi, i love your blog and wish i had your life xD
What kind of work do you plan on doing with your masters degree?I’m about to start school and I’ve been warbling on whether or not do to geology atm, and the postings on forums and indeed.com about job competition aren’t helping-.-.
like people screaming this stuff from 2 months ago:
“I’ve learned this all too late and first hand! It is spelled out on the AAPG web page if you look under career advice. 90+% of M.Sc. geologist are either loggers, or looking for work. Sad facts but true. Good Luck!”
“It’s quite unfortunate the amount of geologists that are being churned out worldwide each year. The money was great here in Australia but now the market is flooded with overseas geo’s and I’ve recently been made redundant due to the downturn. I CAN’T GET A JOB IN MY OWN COUNTRY. OS geos have been working for less and have driven wages way down; Australia is one of the most expensive places on Earth to live so you can’t own a house on what these foreign geo’s have driven the wages down to. I’ve got >5yrs mining experience but I know people with 10 that can’t get a job. Institutions need to raise the entry requirements so everyone can work that completes a degree.”
I love the earth and nature just worried geology might not be the best field for travel.
Previously i envisioned exploration geology thusly: You get contracted to go deep in the woods in canada for 6 months, then another company contracts you to go to south america to find emeralds, and then off to europe for gold and your lifes full of endless travel.
-Is there any position that requires frequent international travel like this?
– Perhaps a PHD would be better suited for more frequent earth travel? albeit i assume its highly competitive
– Also, how do you get to such fantastic exotic places? Is it through school/savings?
Sorry for such a big post, im just really curious about the geology reality right now.
Thanks!
Hi Ian,
Thanks for the comment and I’m glad you like my blog! First of all, my apologize for not responding right away; sorry! I understand where the comments are coming from, and the fact is geology (particularly mining/economic geology) is a very cyclic career. When metal prices are up, there aren’t enough Geos, and vise versa when metal prices drop. This is a risk that most geologist will have to live with in that field, but if you want something more stable consider government or university work.
Geology is one of the best fields for travel I think, because you can really make the rocks come to you. Also, you get to go to places other people wouldn’t even consider, and you always see the world differently. Your envisioned exploration geologist isn’t quite the reality for the norm, but perhaps one day if you have a lot of experience and good reputation companies will want to hire you as a consultant, and that opens up lots of travel opportunities. The more credibility you have the better, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a PhD, it could mean 20+ years of experience with only a BSc or MSc.
And lastly, about myself… I regret to say (as nice as it would be) this isn’t my full time job (yet!). I am a full-time researched based graduate student at university, where I study ore deposits, in particular copper and gold. I get to these places from savings I earned via working as an exploration geologist (before I started university) and through opportunities through school, such as field trips. It actually doesn’t cost that much to travel if you are smart about it. The plane ride might be expensive, but you combine it will other activities (perhaps a conference, etc) and be smart on the ground (i.e. stay in hostels, camp, don’t eat out that often, etc.).
Anyways I hope this helps. Sorry again for the delay in response. All the best with your future endeavors, be them geology-related or not. Cheers!
Stephanie
It’s going to be ending of mine day, except before finish I am reading
this great paragraph to improve my experience.
Hi Stephanie. Thank you for following my blog. Will try to read all your entries in the coming days. I just started mine so I got a lot of catching up to do. Stay cool! From what I’ve seen so far, your blog is very very nice.
Thank you very much! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it so far 🙂
Greetings from California! I’m bored at work so
I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break.
I love the knowledge you provide here and can’t wait to take
a look when I get home. I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded
on my phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, superb blog!
Thank you for stopping by…great site…you have a very interesting background…exactly what my son wants to do!
Thank you, and good for him, that’s great to hear 🙂
Thank you for checking out and following my blog (World Adventures with Aunty Jane) and leading me to yours! You have a great page full of wonderful photos and information about geology … my nieces and nephews will love it and I look forward to following along too! Happy travels!
Thank you very much, I’m happy you liked it and hopefully your nieces and nephews will as well!
Stephanie, I love your blog! My daughter is 5 and wants to be a scientist and wildlife photographer and is really into geodes, minerals and all things earthy. She is always excited to hear of women scientists 🙂 Thank you for checking out kartwheels, and we will certainly be following you here. Best of luck in life and travel!
Karen
Thank you! Glad you enjoy it and that’s fantastic to hear, earth science and really any science in general, are amazing fields to pursue that will always leave you curious and informed about the world! Best of luck to you and your daughter as well 🙂
Hi Stephanie! You have a nice blog! Thanks for visiting mine!
Thank you very much Esme 🙂
Great Blog. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Enjoy the travels!
Thanks for stopping by my blog as well and I’m glad you like it, cheers!
Thank you for visiting by Blog. Geology is my favorite subject and you have got an awesome blog. 🙂
Thanks! Good to hear you are a fan of geology as well and thanks for reading my blog 🙂
Thanks for visiting and liking a post on The He Said She Said Experience!
You have a really neat blog!
Your welcome and thank you as well 🙂
Hi Stephanie – Thanks for checking out and following the Beagle Project. I see some of your recent journeys have crossed Darwin’s paths! As a geologist myself, I also appreciate what you have done with your blog – I look forward to reading along.
Thank you! I remember the day in university when our professor told us about the founder of crystal fractionation. I had no clue that Darwin was a geologist prior to that, but thought it was very inspiring 🙂
Hey,
I came here from one of Nadines videos, seems that the travelling is a family thing 🙂 Hope you had lots of fun in Europe! On your next trip you can visit Germany or France, lots of things to see there too 🙂 Have a nice day and stay safe!
Greetings from Germany!
Thanks Tobias. The traveling is a pretty recent thing for myself but I’ve enjoyed it so far! And yes, will definitely have to visit Germany or France next time, didn’t quite get the chance to make it there on this trip 🙂
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