Specialist in Precambrian geology, mineral deposits, structural geology and tectonics

Wouter Bleeker is a graduate from the Free University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He obtained his PhD in structural and economic geology from the University of New Brunswick, in 1990, after completing a detailed structural and stratigraphic analysis of the Thompson Nickel Belt and its nickel sulphide deposits. Prior to and following his PhD research, he taught at the University of Botswana and worked as a research geologist for Swedish and Canadian mining and exploration companies. From 1990 to 1994, he was the structural geology specialist for Falconbridge Ltd., during which time he unravelled the structural, stratigraphic, and geochronological complexity of the Kidd Creek giant massive sulphide deposit near Timmins, contributing to significant down-plunge extension of the known ore body.

In recognition of his work, he received the "William Harvey Gross Award" from the Geological Association of Canada. In 2001, he was GAC’s "H.S. Robinson Distinguished Lecturer".

Wouter joined the Geological Survey of Canada in 1994 and has been leading the regional tectono-stratigraphic research of the Slave structural province (Slave NATMAP project). This project has led, among other achievements, to the detailed definition of a broad ancient basement complex underlying much of the central and western Slave craton, which includes Earth’s oldest known intact rocks—the Acasta gneisses. Through collaborative research in several other cratons in Canada and around the world, Wouter has gained expert knowledge in global Precambrian geology, particularly Archean cratons and their pre-break up correlations. He is the Chair of the Subcommission on Precambrian Stratigraphy of IUGS. Currently, Wouter is continuing his research on the Slave and Superior cratons under the NRD and TGI3 programs.

List of publications for Wouter Bleeker (from GEOSCAN)