Expertise

Dr. Lawrence W. Snee is a certified professional geologist (CPG-11085 and Qualified Person) with more than 30 years experience in US government, academic, and foreign projects.  He is a specialist in field geology, petrology, geochemistry, isotope geology, structural geology, tectonics, economic geology, and the geology of world gemstone deposits, and he has been a manager of more than 100 scientists, technicians, and administrative personnel in the U. S. Geological Survey.  He has been a professor at Oregon State University and a research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.  His work throughout the world includes projects throughout North America including Montana, Idaho, Nevada, California, Alaska, Colorado, and other states, in South America including, Brazil, Peru, and Argentina, in Asia including studies on gemstone deposits in Afghanistan and Pakistan, mineral resource (gold, tin, tungsten, and gemstones) studies in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China, as well as Australia, and framework geology studies in Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, Mongolia, India, and elsewhere.  Dr. Snee has more than 300 publications covering a wide range of geologic subjects.  He has done geological consulting in the U.S., Afghanistan, Tajikistan, China, Guatemala, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and southeastern Europe.  He has supervised more than 50 graduate students, both U.S. and foreign, and he has hosted two Fulbright Fellows from Pakistan.  Currently he is President of Global Gems and Geology, a partner in Pan Asian Gemstones Mining Limited, a member of the Advisory Board for Timeless Precious Metals Fund, and senior consulting geologist and gemologist for Mayfair Mining and Minerals.  He is retired from the U.S. Geological Survey but is Scientist Emeritus and remains an active member of the U.S. A.I.D.-funded U.S. Geological Survey Project assisting in the reconstruction effort in Afghanistan.

EMPLOYMENT:

Current (2009):
President, Global Gems and Geology, LLC (www.globalgemsandgeology.com)
Co-owner, Pan-Asia Gemstones Mining Limited (www.tashkurganemerald.com)
Advisory Board Member, Timeless Precious Metals Fund (www.timeless-gold.com)
Senior Geologist, Gemologist and Consultant, Mayfair Mining and Minerals, Inc. (www.mayfair-mining.com)
Emeritus Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado

Dr. Snee is continuing his work in Afghanistan in providing assistance to the Afghan government and Afghan gem minerals in an U.S. Agency for International Development-funded project.  He has joined Mayfair Mining and Minerals to assist the company with their exploration efforts for precious metals in the Iberian Pyrite Belt and in Zambian and to help the company in their development of amethyst deposits in Zambia.  He also sits on the Advisory Board of The Timeless Precious Metals Fund, a Swiss-based fund that invests primarily in junior company previous metals exploration and mining companies throughout the world.  He recently completed a consultation effort for Brazilian Resources to help their assessment of the potential to mine jadeitite held by Ventana Mining Company in Guatemala.  Early in 2009, he was involved in negotiations between Amerix Precious Metals Cooperation and interested investors and cooperators on the Amerix-held Vila Porto Rico Property in Brazil.  As an emeritus scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, he continues to assist the USGS on various projects including their work in Afghanistan.

2008:
President, Global Gems and Geology, LLC (www.globalgemsandgeology.com)
Senior Consultant, Amerix Precious Metals Cooperation (www.amerixcorp.com)
Co-owner, Pan-Asia Gemstones Mining Limited (www.tashkurganemerald.com)
Advisory Board Member, Timeless Precious Metals Fund (www.timeless-gold.com)
Emeritus Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado

His work over 2008 and into 2009 included continuing to advise Amerix on its exploration and public communication efforts in Brazil and with the negotiations between Amerix and companies interested in developing cooperative agreements on Amerix-held properties.  He and his partners in Pan-Asia Gemstones Limited conducted negotiations with the Chinese government to obtain exploration concessions on a newly discovered emerald deposit in Xinjiang China.  He continued in his participation in ongoing efforts in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and he advised Timeless Precious Metals Fund in reviews of Mexican, Panamanian, Tajik, and US gold and silver projects for Fund investment.

2007:
President, Amerix Precious Metals Corporation
Emeritus Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey
President, Global Gems and Geology, LLC

Most effort was devoted to the direction of Amerix Precious Metals Corporation in its exploration of properties in the Amazon of Brazil.  As President and VP-Exploration an aggressive diamond drilling program was conducted on properties in the Amazon, investors were apprised of the results, the Toronto Stock Exchange was advised of progress, press releases were made, contracts were negotiated, and sensitive issues with artisanal miners were addressed.  Additionally work in Afghanistan continued through contract relationships with Sibley International and funding from the US Agency for International Development.   Assessment work continued on the new emerald find in western China.

2006:
VP-Exploration, Amerix Precious Metals Corporation
President, Global Gems and Geology, LLC
Emeritus Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey

• Work on a new emerald find in the Xinjiang Province in Western China
As Emeritus Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
• Emeritus director of the Argon Geochronology Laboratory.
• Field geologist mapping geology of Big Bend National Park, Texas
• Field geology and laboratory studies of gemstone deposits, Afghanistan
• Field geology, satellite-image processing, laboratory studies in geochronology, petrography, and geochemistry in support of geologic mapping of Afghanistan
• Tectonic and argon geochronologic studies in California, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Texas, Arizona, Peru, China, Australia, Brazil, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and elsewhere
Prior to February 2006:
Research Geologist 1999-2006
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
• Supervisor of the Argon Geochronology Laboratory
• Field geologist mapping geology of Big Bend National Park, Texas
• Field geology and laboratory studies of gemstone deposits, Afghanistan
• Field geology, satellite-image processing, laboratory studies in geochronology, petrography, and geochemistry in support of geologic mapping of Afghanistan
• Argon geochronologic studies in Alaska, California, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Peru, China, Australia, Brazil, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and elsewhere
Team Chief Scientist and Branch Chief 1994-1999
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
• Team Chief Scientist, Geologic Mapping Team
• Branch Chief, Branch of Isotope Geology
• Acting Branch Chief, Central Regional Geology
• In all three cases, supervised up to 100 scientific and technical personnel conducting research.
• Responsible for budgets up to $10 million.
• Managed programs and projects funded by the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program and the Department of Energy
Research Geologist 1986-1994
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
• Developed first 40Ar/39Ar geochronology laboratory at the USGS
• Project chief of projects funded by many USGS programs
• Over 100 guest investigators including Fulbright Fellows and NRC Post-doctoral candidates sponsored
• Conducted studies throughout the U.S. and world
Assistant Professor 1983-1986
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
• Specialized in petrology
• Taught graduate and undergraduate courses in igneous petrology, metamorphic petrology, petrography, lithology, introductory geology, isotope geology, and geochemistry
• Supervised many graduate students conducting research project in Montana and Pakistan
• Funded by US-AID and NSF to study tectonics of northern Pakistan
• Published numerous research papers, abstracts and a book on emerald deposits
• Worked during summers as a term employee for the USGS
• Hosted a Fulbright Fellow from Pakistan
• Many research trips to Pakistan, China, and western US
Post-doctoral Fellow 1982-1983
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia
• Strontium isotopes, major and trace element geochemistry, and paleomagnetism of the Pioneer Batholith, southwestern Montana
• Strontium isotope geochemistry by solid source mass spectrometry
• Major and trace element geochemistry by x-ray fluorescence and instrumental neutron activation analysis
• Paleomagnetic study of plutonic rocks of the Pioneer Batholith conducted at the USGS, Flagstaff, Arizona
• Microprobe study of mineral phases in plutons of the Batholith
Pre-doctoral Fellow 1980-1982
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia
• Complete PhD study on the age, cooling, and uplift history of the Pioneer Batholith, southwestern Montana
• Argon and fission track geochronology
• Major and trace element geochemistry including instrumental neutron activation analysis

EDUCATION:

Gates-Chili High School, Rochester New York Diploma - 1965
Florida State University Geology/Chem/Biology 9/70 to 3/74 B.S. 1974
The Ohio State University Geology/Geochemistry 9/75 to 6/77 M.S. 1977
The Ohio State University Geology/Geochemistry 1/78 to 6/82 Ph.D. - 1982

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

40Ar/39Ar Geochronology and Geochemical Reconnaissance of the Lowland Creek Volcanic Field,
west-central Montana: Francis O. Dudas, Vladimir O. Ispolatov, Stephen S. Harlan, Lawrence W. Snee, Journal of Geology, submitted 2009.

Broad Synchroneity of Three Gold Mineralization Styles in the Kalgoorlie Gold Field: SHRIMP UPb and Ar/Ar Geochronological Evidence: Noreen M. Vielreicher, David I. Groves, Lawrence W. Snee, Ian Fletcher, Neal J. McNaughton, Economic Geology, submitted 2008.
Paleomagnetism of Proterozoic Mafic Dikes from the Tobacco Root Mountains, Southwest Montana: Stephen S. Harlan; John W Geissman; Lawrence W Snee, Precambrian Research, v. 163, pp.239-264, 2008.
RELAÇÃO ENTRE A MINERALIZAÇÃO AURÍFERA DO DEPÓSITO OURO ROXO E A ZONA DE CISALHAMENTO OURO ROXO-CANTAGALO, PROVÍNCIA TAPAJÓS, PARÁ: Rocha, A.S., Santos, M., Santos, W.P. dos, and Snee, L.W., Abstract, 44º Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia, SP9, 2008.
Uranium-lead zircon ages and Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope geochemistry of selected plutonic rocks from western Idaho: Daniel M. Unruh, Karen Lund, Mel A. Kuntz, and Lawrence W. Snee, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008–1142, pp. 1-38, 2008.  Online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1142/
Introduction to geological studies of the Salmon River suture zone and adjoining areas, west-central Idaho and eastern Oregon: Kuntz, M.A., Snee, L.W., U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1738, pp. 1.14, 2007
Geologic Map of Quadrangle 3568, Pulkhumri (503) and Charaikar (504) Quadrangles, Afghanistan: Lindsay, C.R., Snee, L.W., Bohannon, R.G. Wahl, R. and Sawyer, D., U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1101-A. Online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1101/A
Geologic Map of Quadrangle 3570, Tagab-Munjan (505) and Samar-Kamdes (506) Quadrangles, Afghanistan: Lindsay, C.R., Snee, L.W., Bohannon, R.G. Wahl, R. and Sawyer, D., U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1102-A. Online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1102/A
40Ar/39Ar geochronology of hypabyssal igneous rocks in the Maranon Basin of Peru: a record of thermal history, structure, and alteration: Prueher, L.M., Erlich, R., and Snee, L.W., U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigation Report 2005-5132. Online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2005/5132/
Composition, age, and petrogeneisis of Late Cretaceous intrusive rocks in the central Big Belt Mountains, Broadwater and Meagher Counties, Montana: duBray, E.A., and Snee, L.W., U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1657, 2007. Online at http://pubs/er.usgs.gov/usgspubs/pp/pp1657/
Geologic, geochemical and 40Ar/39Ar and U-Pb thermochronologic constraints for the tectonic development of the Salmon River suture zone near Orofino, Idaho: Snee, L. W., Davidson, G. F., and Unruh, D. M., in press, in Kuntz, M. and Snee, L.W., eds., Geology of the Salmon River suture zone, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1738 (1044-9612), pp. 51-94, 2007. Online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/pp1738/
Emerald deposits of the Panjsher Valley, Afghanistan—preliminary assessment of geologic setting and origin of the deposits: Snee, L.W., 2005, Administrative report submitted to U.S. Agency for International Development.
40Ar/39Ar and K-Ar geochronology and tectonic significance of the Upper Cretaceous Adel Mountain Volcanics and spatially associated Tertiary igneous rocks, northwestern Montana: Harlan, S.S., Snee, L.W., Reynolds, M.W., Mehnert, H.H., Schmidt, R.G., Sheriff, S.D., and Irving, A.J., U.S.G.S. Professional Paper 1696, 2005. Online at http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/usgs/pubs/pp/pp1696
Paleoproterozoic high-sulfidation mineralization in the Tapajós gold province, Amazonian Craton, Brazil: geology, mineralogy, alunite argon age, and stable-isotope constraints: Caetano Juliani, Robert O. Rye, Carmen M.D. Nunes, Lawrence W. Snee, Rafael H. Corrêa Silva, Lena V.S. Monteiro, Jorge S. Bettencourt, Rainer Neumann and Arnaldo Alcover Neto, 2005, Chemical Geology, v. 215, p. 95-125.
Evaluation of argon ages and integrity of fluid-inclusion compositions: stepwise noble gas heating experiments on 1.87 Ga alunite from Tapajós Province, Brazil: G.P. Landis, L.W. Snee and C. Juliani, 2005, Chemical Geology, v. 215, p. 127-153.
Geochemistry and geochronology of Middle Tertiary volcanic rocks of the central Chiricahua Mountains, southeast Arizona: duBray, E.A., Snee, L.W., and Pallister, J.S., 2004, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1684, 45p.
Geology and timing of mineralization at the Cangshang gold deposit, north-western Jiaodong Peninsula, China: Zhang, X., Cawood, P.A., Wilde, S.A., Liu, R., Song, H., Li, W., and Snee, L.W., 2003, Mineralium Deposita, v. 38, p. 141-153.
The Mesoproterozoic Beaverhead impact structure and its tectonic setting, Montana-Idaho: 40Ar/39Ar and U-Pb isotopic constraints: Kellogg, K.S., Snee, L.W., and Unruh, D.M., 2003, The Journal of Geology, v. 111, p. 639-652.
Dextral slip reactivation of an arc-forearc boundary, southern Alaska: Roeske, S.M., Snee, L. W., and Pavlis, T., 2003, in Pavlis, T., and Sisson, V. (eds.), Studies along the Border Ranges Fault System, Alaska, Geological Society of America Special Paper 371, p. 141-169.
Multiple gold mineralizing events in the northern margin of the North China craton: Ar geochronology and fluid chemistry: Hart, C., Qiu, Y., Goldfarb, R., Snee, L. W., Miller, L., Miller, M., and Nie, F.-J., 2002, Mineralium Deposita, v. 37, p. 326-351.
Geochronological constraints on pre-, syn-, and postmineralization events at the world-class Cleo gold deposit, Eastern Goldfields Province, Western Australia: Brown, S.M., Fletcher, I.R., Stein, H.J., Snee, L.W., and Groves, D.I., 2002, Economic Geology, v. 97, p. 541-559.
New constraints on the opening of the northern Rio Grande rift: evidence from 40Ar/39Ar geochronology from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, south-central Colorado and northern New Mexico: Miggins, D.P., Thompson, R.A., Pillmore, C.L., Snee, L. W., and Stern, C.R., 2002, in Menzies, M., and others (eds.), Volcanic rifted margins, Geological Society of America Special Paper 362, p. 47-64.
Argon thermochronology of mineral deposits—a review of analytical methods, formulations, and selected applications: Snee, L. W., 2002, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2194, 39 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/b2194/
Review of “Dictionary of Gems and Gemology” by Manutchehr-Danai: Mineralium Deposita: Snee, L. W., 2001, v. 36, no. 5, p.472.
Dating of major fault systems using thermochronology: an example from the Raft River detachment, Basin and Range, western United States: Wells, M.L., Snee, L.W., and Blythe, A.E., 2000, Journal of Geophysical Research, v.105, p.16,303-16,327.
Age constraints on Jerritt Canyon and other Carlin-type gold deposits in the western United States – relationship to mid-Tertiary extension and magmatism: Hofstra, A.H., Snee, L.W., Rye, R.O., Folger, H.W., Phinisey, J.D., Loranger, R.J., Dahl, A.R., Naeser, C.W., Stein, H.J., and Lewchuk, M., 1999, Economic Geology, v.94, p.769-802.
40Ar/39Ar thermochronology of Mesoproterozoic metamorphism in the Colorado Front Range: Shaw, C.A., Snee, L.W., Selverstone, J., and Reed, J.C., Jr., 1999, Journal of Geology, v.107, p.49-67.
Emerald mineralization and metasomatism of amphibolite, Khaltaro granitic pegmatite – hydrothermal vein system, Haramosh Mountains, northern Pakistan: Laurs, B. M., Dilles, J. H., and Snee. L. W., 1996, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v.34, p.1253-1286.
An 40Ar/39Ar chronicle of the tectonic development of the Salmon River suture zone, western Idaho: Snee, L. W., Lund, K., Sutter, J. F., Balcer, D. E., and Evans, K. V., 1995, in Vallier, T. L, and Brooks, H. C., eds., Geology of the Blue Mountains Region of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington: petrology and tectonic evolution of pre-Tertiary rocks of the Blue Mountains region, U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1438, p. 359-414.
40Ar/39Ar evidence that formation of blueschists in continental crust was synchronous with foreland fold and thrust deformation, western Brooks Range, Alaska: Till, A. B., and Snee, L. W., 1995, Journal of Metamorphic Geology, v.13, p.41-60.
Geology and geochemistry of Indian Plate rocks south of the Indus Suture Zone, Besham area, northwest Himalaya Pakistan: LaFortune, J. R., Snee, L. W., and Baig, M. S., 1992, Kashmir Journal of Geology, v. 10, p. 27-52.
40Ar/39Ar systematics and argon diffusion in amber: implications for ancient earth atmospheres: Landis, G. P. and Snee, L. W., 1992, Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology (Global and Planetary Change Section), v. 97, p. 63 67.
Rapid dewatering of the crust deduced from ages of mesothermal gold deposits: Goldfarb, R. J., Snee, L. W., Miller, L. D., and Newberry, R. J., 1991, Nature, v. 354, p. 296 298.
Review of "Gemstones of Pakistan Geology and Gemology": Snee, L. W., 1991, Gems and Gemology, v. 27, p. 193.
40Ar/39Ar age of Cretaceous Tertiary boundary tektites from Haiti: Izett, G. A., Dalrymple, G. B., and Snee, L. W., 1991, Science, v. 252, p. 1539 1542.
Emeralds of the Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan: Bowersox, G., Snee, L. W., Foord, E. E., and Seal, R. R., II, 1991, Gems and Gemology, v. 27, p. 26 39.
A discovery of Late Archean to Early Proterozoic komatiite from the northwestern margin of the Indian Plate, Besham area, northwest Himalaya Pakistan: Baig, M. S., and Snee, L. W., 1991, Kashmir Journal of Geology, v. 8 and 9, p. 19-23.
Emeralds of Pakistan and Afghanistan: Snee, L. W., 1991, Society of Economic Geologists Newsletter, n. 5, p. 20 22.
Emeralds of Pakistan: Geology, Gemology, and Genesis: Kazmi, A. H., and Snee, L. W., eds., 1989, New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 269 p.
Regional chemical differences among emeralds and host rocks of Pakistan and Afghanistan: implications for the origin of emerald: Snee, L. W., Foord, E. E., Hill, B., and Carter, S. J., 1989, in Kazmi, A. H., and Snee, L. W., eds., Emeralds of Pakistan: Geology, Gemology, and Genesis: New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold, p. 93 124.
Geological setting of the emerald deposits: Lawrence, R. D., Kazmi, A. H., and Snee, L. W., 1989, in Kazmi, A. H., and Snee, L. W., eds., Emeralds of Pakistan: Geology, Gemology, and Genesis: New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold, p. 13 38.
Origin and classification of Pakistani and World emerald deposits: Snee, L. W., and Kazmi, A. H., 1989, in Kazmi, A. H., and Snee, L. W., eds., Emeralds of Pakistan: Geology, Gemology, and Genesis: New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold, p. 229 238.
Geology of world emerald deposits: a brief review: Kazmi, A. H., and Snee, L. W., 1989, in Kazmi, A. H., and Snee, L. W., eds., Emeralds of Pakistan: Geology, Gemology and Genesis: New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold, p. 165 228.
Timing of pre-Himalayan orogenic events in the northwest Himalaya: 40Ar/39Ar constraints: Baig, M. S., Snee, L. W., LaFortune, R. J., and Lawrence, R. D., 1989, Kashmir Journal of Geology, v. 6 and 7, p. 29-40.
Thermochronology of economic mineral deposits: dating the stages of mineralization at Panasqueira, Portugal by high precision 40Ar/39Ar age spectrum techniques on muscovite: Snee, L. W., Sutter, J. F., and Kelly, W. C., 1988, Economic Geology, v. 83, p. 335 354.
Metamorphism, structural development, and age of the continent island arc juncture in west central Idaho: Lund, K., and Snee, L. W., 1988, in Ernst, G., ed., Ruby Colloquium, no. VII, Metamorphism and crustal evolution in the western conterminous U.S., p. 296 331.
Mineral resource appraisal of the west Pioneers Wilderness Study Area (RARE II), Beaverhead County, Montana: Berger, B. R., Snee, L. W., Hanna, W., and Benham, J. H., 1983, U. S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF 83 1576A, 21 p. and map.
Emplacement and cooling of the Pioneer batholith, southwestern Montana: Snee, L. W., 1982, Ohio State University, unpub. Ph.D. Thesis, 320 p.
Petrography, K Ar ages, and field relations of the igneous rocks of part of the Pioneer batholith, southwestern Montana: Snee, L. W., 1978, Ohio State University, unpub. M.S. thesis, 110 p.
Shock induced deformation features in terrestrial peridot and lunar dunite: Snee, L. W., and Ahrens, T. J., 1975, Proceedings, Lunar Science Conference, 6th, p. 833 842.