Cynthia Dusel-Bacon

Interests: 

Regional geology of east-central Alaska and the northern Cordillera

Trace-element tectonic fingerprinting of (meta)igneous rocks

Syngenetic hydrothermal mineralization (VMS and Sedex deposits)

Contact: 

Telephone: (650) 329-5719

Education

Experience

• the potential for stratiform, syngenetic base-metal deposits in east-central Alaska and the regional tectonic setting of the host rocks (see USGS Open-file Report 98-340)
• the configuration and mineral potential of the Paleozoic Ancient Pacific Margin of western North America from east-central Alaska to southern British Columbia (Alaskan component of a National Mapping Program of Canada project)
• the regional magmatic, metamorphic, and deformational history of east-central Alaska
• the distribution and tectonic significance of metamorphic rocks in all of Alaska (Metamorphic Facies Map of Alaska)

Cynthia has been a geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey since 1975. In 1977, during her third field season mapping in the Big Delta quadrangle of east-central Alaska, she was mauled by a black bear and lost both arms as a result of her injuries. Her disability has not kept her from continuing with fieldwork in Alaska.

Current Activities

Cynthia Dusel-Bacon is a Research Geologist in the Western Mineral Resources Team of the U.S. Geological Survey, based in Menlo Park, California.  Her current assignment, which began October 1, 2007, is to lead a study on "Base metal deposits in the Fortymile district, east-central Alaska” (a component of the Concealed Mineral Deposits Project).  The overall objectives of the Fortymile study are to 1) characterize the nature of the mineralization, associated metasedimentary and metavolcanic host rocks, and igneous intrusions by means of petrography, radiometric and conodont dating, whole rock and mineral chemistry, and stable isotopic analysis of outcrop and drill core samples; 2) utilize ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) scenes across the area to identify vegetation stressed by underlying sulfides, and to identify and delineate surface expressions of known and undiscovered base-metal and silver prospects; 3) identify buried plutons and structural/ deformational/ lithologic controls on mineralization utilizing airborne and ground-based geophysics; and 4) determine the tectonic framework that controlled plutonism and mineralization in the Fortymile District through geologic and kinematic field investigations.  Cynthia is also completing several journal articles on her recently concluded study of the bedrock geology and metallogenesis of the Bonnifield volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposits in the northern Alaska Range.