Montana Tech Researcher Wins Prestigious Cameron-Hall Cooper Medal

A paper authored by Montana Technological University researchers has won the Association for Applied Geochemists’ newest medal.

“Geochemistry of natural acid rock drainage in the Mt Evans area, Anaconda–Pintler Range, Montana, USA,” by Dr. Chris Gammons, a geological engineering professor, and Meg Doolittle, a recent graduate student, won the Cameron-Hall Cooper Medal.

This new medal was established in 2019 and is awarded to the author of the most outstanding scientific publication in the journal Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis (GEEA). The GEEA Editorial Board recommends nominees from those papers published during the year; the members of the AAG Awards and Medals Committee then vote on the recommendations, and a majority vote must then approve their selection of the AAG Council. The council approved the award in July.

Other coauthors of the paper include grad student Kyle Eastman and Dr. Simon Poulson of the University of Nevada-Reno.

“Natural acidic streams such as the ones we studied are unique ecosystems and provide an interesting contrast to waterways acidified by mining activities,” Dr. Gammons said. 

A medal and citation will be presented at the 29th International Applied Geochemistry Symposium in Vina del Mar, Chile this October 23-28. The paper will also be available to read through Open Access via The Geological Society of London.