Elizabeth Holley

Associate Professor, Mining Engineering

Elizabeth Holley

 

 

For updated information on Dr. Holley’s projects, publications, and open positions, please visit Dr. Holley’s Mining Geology Research Group Website.

 

 

 

Research Interests

  • Mineral exploration vectors and genetic models: Carlin-type, porphyry and epithermal deposits
  • Sulfide and sulfate mineral behavior in the heap leach and mine waste environments
  • Geological controls on production, processing and reclamation
  • Public policy and public participation in the mining industry
  • Pedagogical innovation in STEM education

Current Research

  • Geochemical characterization of artisanal gold mine sites, Colombia and Peru. Funded by National Science Foundation, Co-PI, Funded PhD Positions Available with Dr. Holley – CLICK HERE
  • Dating mineralization in a Carlin-type gold deposit: A test of the Fe-oxide (U-Th)/He chronometer. Funded by National Science Foundation, PI.
  • Ore characterization at the Wharf Mine, South Dakota. Funded by Coeur Mining, PI.
  • New exploration models for sediment-hosted gold, Nevada. Funded by Newmont Mining, PI.
  • Agglomeration methods for sulfide sequestration, Cripple Creek. Funded by CC&V, Co-PI.
  • Capacity Building for Ground Control. Funded by NIOSH, Co-PI.
  • Exploratory research on rock damage from geologic and induced thermal loading. Funded by National Science Foundation, Co-PI.
  • Corporate social responsibility and social license in mining projects. Funded by Gates Foundation, PI.

Courses Taught

  • MNGN 428/429: Mining Engineering Design
  • MNGN 625: Mining Graduate Seminar
  • Undergraduate geology for mining engineers
  • MNGN 528: Graduate Mining Geology

Previous Courses Taught

  • GEGN 403: Mineral Exploration Design
  • GEOL 520: New Developments in the Geology & Exploration of Mineral Deposits
  • GEOL 523: Reflected Light & Electron Microscopy
  • GEOL 598: Geology & Mineral Deposits of Northern Nevada

Education

  • Colorado School of Mines
    Ph.D. Geology, 2012
    Emphasis: Economic geology
  • University of Otago, New Zealand
    M.Sc. Geochemistry, 2006
    Emphasis: Geochemistry of mine wastes
  • Pomona College, California
    B.A. Geology, 2004
    Emphasis: Metamorphic petrology

Professional Experience

  • 2012 – 2014: Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Geology & Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
  • 2010 – 2012: Adjunct Faculty, Regis University
  • 2009: Exploration Geologist, Ur-Energy, Littleton, Colorado
  • 2007 – 2009: Project Geologist, contracting to Underworld Resources, Yukon, Canada; Queensland Minerals, Australia; Reunion  Gold Corporation, Suriname
  • 2004 – 2005: Science and Mathematics Instructor, Pacific View Charter School, Oceanside, California
  • 2004 – 2005: Staff Geologist, Geothermal Surveys Inc., Pasadena, California

Professional Activities and Service

  • 2012 – Present: Education & Training Program Coordinator, Society of Economic Geologists; organized over 50 short courses, workshops and field trips
  • Member of SME, SEG, and GSA

Awards

  • 2005 – 2006: Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to New Zealand
  • 2004 Watershed Management Program Exchange: Tahoe-Baikal Association

Publications

Book Chapters

  1. Holley, E.A., Mitcham, C., 2012. The Pebble Mine dialogue: A preliminary analysis of an effort to integrate geoscience, market exploitation, and the public good. Participation and Scientific Culture: International Perspectives, I. Díaz García and A. Muñoz van Eynde, eds, Arbor / Los Libros de La Catarata, Madrid, Spain.

Magazine Articles

  1. Holley, E.A., 2019. Pebble, Alaska: Teaching economic geology and its broader context through a case study of a controversial mining project. In the Trenches, April 2019, National Association of Geoscience Teachers.

Referred Journal Articles *indicates student advisee
*indicates student advisee of E. Holley at Colorado School of Mines
† indicates student, not primarily advised by E. Holley 

  1. *Nicco, M., Holley, E.A., Hartlieb, P., Pfaff, K., in review. Mineralogical controls on microwave-induced cracking of granites. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering.
  2. *Huff, D.E., Holley, E.A., Guenthner, W.R., †Kaempfer, J.M., in review. Fe-oxides in jasperoids from two gold districts in Nevada: characterization, geochemistry, and (U-Th)/He dating. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.
  3. Holley, E.A., Smith, N., †Casabuenas Cabezas, I., Restrepo-Baena, O.J., in review. Coexistence or conflict between small-scale and large-scale mining at Marmato, Colombia: Technical and social drivers. Resources Policy.
  4. *Teschner, B., Holley, E.A., in press. The cost of mine suspension from social conflict: A decision tree model. Resources Policy.
  5. *Young, M., Walton, G., Holley, E., in press. Factors predictive of roof instability in addition to the existing CMRR criteria at two case study coal mines. Journal of Coal Geology.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2019.103255
  6. Holley, E.A., *Lowe, J.A., Johnson, C.A., Pribil, M.J., 2019. Magmatic-hydrothermal gold mineralization at the Lone Tree Mine, Battle Mountain, Nevada. Economic Geology, v. 114, p. 811-856. https://doi.org/10.5382/econgeo.4665.
  7. *Young, M., Walton, G., Holley, E., 2019. Investigation of factors influencing roof stability at a Western U.S. longwall coal mine, International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, v. 29, p. 139-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2018.11.019
  8. Holley, E.A., *Yu, Y.T., Sitchler, A., Winterton, J., 2018. Quantitative mineralogy and geochemistry of pelletized sulfide-bearing gold concentrates in an alkaline heap leach, Hydrometallurgy, v. 181, p. 130-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2018.06.017
  9. *Fithian, M.T., Holley, E.A., Kelly, N.M., 2018. Geology of the Marigold gold deposits, Battle Mountain district, Nevada, Reviews in Economic Geology: Diversity of Carlin-type deposits, J. Muntean, ed., v. 20, p. 120-155. Invited contribution; special publication not available online.
  10. *Nicco, M., Holley, E.A., Hartlieb, P., Kaunda, R., Nelson, P.P., 2018. Comprehensive method for characterization of induced rock fractures: a case study of microwave irradiated granodiorite, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, v. 51 no. 7, o. 2075-2093.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-018-1445-x
  11. Holley, E.A., Monecke, T., Bissig, T., Reynolds, T.J., 2017. Evolution of high-level magmatic-hydrothermal systems: new insights from ore paragenesis of the Veladero high-sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag deposit, El Indio-Pascua belt, Argentina, Economic Geology, v. 112, p. 1747-1771. https://doi.org/10.5382/econgeo.2017.4528
  12. Holley, E.A., 2017. Engaging mining engineers in geoscience through case studies and active learning. Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 65, n. 3, p. 240-249. https://doi.org/10.5408/16-145.1
  13. Holley, E.A., Bissig, T., Monecke, T., 2016. The Veladero high-sulfidation epithermal gold deposit, El Indio-Pascua belt, Argentina: Geochronology of alunite and jarosite. Economic Geology, v. 111, p. 311-330. https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.111.2.311
  14. Holley, E.A., Mitcham, C., 2016. The Pebble Mine dialogue: a case study in public engagement and the social license to operate. Resources Policy, v. 47, p. 18-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2015.11.002
  15. Holley, E.A., Craw, D., Kim, J.P., 2010. Natural and mining-related mercury in an orogenic greywacke terrane, South Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, v. 53, p. 103-114. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288306.2010.498784
  16. Holley, E.A., Craw, D., McQuillan, A. J., 2007. Mercury mobilization from oxidative dissolution of cinnabar and metacinnabar. Chemical Geology, v. 240, p. 313-325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2007.03.001

Refereed Conference Abstracts
*indicates student advisee of E. Holley
† indicates student, not primarily advised by E. Holley 

  1. Smith, J., Rulifson, G., Grady, C., Smith, N., Battalora, L., McClelland, C., Sarver, E., Kaunda, R., and Holley, E., 2019. Critical Approaches to CSR as a Strategy to Broaden Engineering Students’ Views of Stakeholders. Proceedings of the ASEE Conference and Exposition, Tampa, Florida.
  2. †Salgado Cabeza, M., Holley, E., Restrepo-Baena, O., 2019. Traditional and small-scale mining in Marmato, Colombia; a case study of mercury-free professing in Colombia. Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Mineral Exploration conference abstracts.
  3. Restrepo-Baena, O., *Delgado-Jimenez, A., Smith, N., Holley, E, Lucena, J., 2019. Mining in the coffee lands: Lessons of coexistence in Andes, Colombia. Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Mineral Exploration conference abstracts.
  4. *Nicco, M., Holley, E., Hartlieb, P., Kaunda, R., Nelson, P., 2019. Microwave-enhanced comminution: Which rock types are suitable? Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Mineral Exploration conference abstracts.
  5. *Nicco, M., Holley, E., Pfaff, K., Hartlieb, P., Nelson, P., 2019. Characterization of rock microcracks using thin section petrography, SEM automated mineralogy, and microCT. Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Mineral Exploration conference abstracts.
  6. *Huff, D., Holley, E.A., Guenthner, W., 2019. “Distal-Disseminated” deposits in the Battle Mountain mining district: Possible expressions of a Porphyry-Carlin continuum? AMEBC Mineral Exploration Roundup, abstracts.
  7. *Huff, D., Holley, E.A., Guenthner, W., 2019. Hunting Elephants with Microanalyses – LA-ICP-MS Geo- and Thermochronology Applied to Carlin Exploration. Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Mineral Exploration conference abstracts.
  8. *Teschner, B., Holley, E., 2019, Incorporating social conflict risk into project valuation: A stochastic modeling approach. Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Mineral Exploration conference abstracts.
  9. *Young, M., Walton, G., Holley, E., 2019. What factors beyond those included in the existing Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR) could also be predictive of roof instability in underground coal mines? Invited presentation, Best of Ground Control Session, Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Mineral Exploration conference abstracts.
  10. *Teschner, B., Holley, E., 2018. Proposed mercury abatement and disposal at Donlin Gold, Western Alaska: Geology, stakeholders, and mine permitting. Society of Economic Geologists annual conference, abstracts.
  11. *Huff, D., Holley, E., Guenthner, W., 2018. “Distal-disseminated” deposits in the Battle Mountain District: Possible expressions of a porphyry-Carlin continuum? Society of Economic Geologists annual conference, abstracts.
  12. *Young, M., Walton, G., Holley, E., 2018. What factors beyond those included in the existing Coal Mine Roof Rating (CMRR) could also be predictive of roof instability in underground coal mines? International Conference on Ground Control in Coal Mines conference abstracts.
  13. *Teschner, B., Holley, E., Smith, N., 2018. The grand challenges of social licensing in mining. Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Mineral Exploration conference abstracts.
  14. *Teschner, B., Berberick, D., Grubb, J., Holley, E., 2018. Managing an uncertain future: Monte Carlo simulation of a real options valuation model to improve investment decision making. Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Mineral Exploration conference abstracts.
  15. *Huff, D., Holley, E., Guenthner, W., 2018. Do crystal morphology and jasperoid geochemistry affect Fe-oxide (U/Th)/He cooling ages in Carlin systems? Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Mineral Exploration conference abstracts.
  16. *Huff, D., Holley, E., Guenthner, W., 2017, A history of fluid flow at the Marigold gold deposit, as determined by apatite and Fe-oxide minerals. Canadian Mining Institute Student Symposium at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, abstracts.
  17. *Huff, D., Holley, E., Guenthner, W., 2017. Evaluating the hydrothermal fluid flow history of the Marigold deposit, Nevada using (U/Th)/He thermochronology. Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Mineral Exploration conference abstracts.
  18. Arora, S., Kaunda, R., Holley, E., Hartlieb, P, *Nicco, M., Nelson, P., 2016. Understanding the effects of microwave irradiation on physical properties of rocks using numerical modeling. Geological Society of America abstracts.
  19. *Foiles, L,. Holley, E., Goldfarb, R., Zhou, W., 2016. Targeting areas of gold favorability through factor analysis of stream sediment data, Fairbanks district, east-central Alaska. Geological Society of America abstracts.
  20. Holley, E.A., *Fithian, M.T., Carver, J., 2016. Geology of the Marigold Deposit, Battle Mountain trend, Nevada: New Exploration Insights for Sedimentary-Rock Hosted Gold. Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, abstracts.
  21. *Huff, D., Holley, E., Guenthner, W., 2016. Constraining the timing of hydrothermal fluid flow at the Marigold deposit, Nevada using (U/Th)/He thermochronology. Geological Society of America abstracts.
  22. *Lowe, J., Holley, E., 2016. A petrographic and geochronologic study of gold mineralization at the Lone Tree deposit, Nevada. Geological Society of America abstracts.
  23. *Meyer, J., Holley, E., Steele, J., 2016, Robotic mapping using LiDAR: Case study from the Edgar Experimental Mine, Idaho Springs, Colorado, Geological Society of America abstracts.
  24. *Meyer, J., Holley, E., Steele, J., 2016. Underground resource prospecting using a semi-autonomous, multi-instrumented robot. Space Resources Roundtable: Planetary and Terrestrial Mining Sciences Symposium, abstracts.
  25. *Nicco, M., Holley, E.A., Kaunda, R., Hartlieb, P., Arora, S., Nelson, P.P., 2016. A mineralogical study of rock fracture patterns under thermal loading. Geological Society of America abstracts.
  26. *Pedraza Rojas, J., Holley, E.A., Wendlandt, R., Pfaff, K., Rasumssen, H., 2016. Geologic characterization of the Wharf mine, South Dakota. Geological Society of America abstracts.
  27. Tsuruoka, S., Monecke, T., Reynolds, T.J., Holley, E., 2016. Evolution of the magmatic-hydrothermal system at the Summitville high-sulfidation epithermal Au deposit, Colorado. Geological Society of America abstracts.
  28. *Yu, Y.T., Holley, E.A., Sitchler, A.N., Winterburn, J., 2016. Sequestration of acid-generating mill concentrates, Cripple Creek, Colorado. Geological Society of America abstracts.
  29. Holley, E.A., 2015. Teaching deeper thinking through controversy: a case study from a graduate ore deposits course. National Association of Geoscience Teachers Earth Educators Rendezvous.
  30. Holley, E.A., Ressel, M.W., *Fithian, M.F., Carver, J., Kofoed, R., 2015. Battle Mountain revisited: Major Cretaceous and Eocene intrusion-related hydrothermal systems. Geological Society of Nevada Symposium, New Concepts and Discoveries.
  31. *Cervera-Acosta, J., Holley, E.A., *Gonchig, T., *Vasquez, E., *Lagrava, P., *Lowe, J., 2014. Quartz-sulfosalt relationships in high-sulfidation deposits- Goldfield  Deposit, Nevada, USA: Genetic Implications. Society of Economic Geologists abstracts.
  32. Erickson, J., Pfaff, K., Kelly, N., Holley, E.A., Monecke, T., Lowers, H., Van Gosen, B., 2014. Rare-earth element mineralization and formation of the Iron Hill Carbonatite Complex, Gunnison County, Colorado. Society of Economic Geologists abstracts.
  33. *Fithian, M., Holley, E.A., 2014. Geochemical characterization of gold mineralization and alteration in sedimentary host rocks and porphyritic intrusions, Marigold deposit, Nevada. Society of Economic Geologists abstracts.
  34. Oseguera, O., Monecke, T., Holley, E.A., Kuiper, Y., Kelly, N., 2014. The significance of magma mingling and mixing during the formation of the volcanic host rock succesions of the Archean Horne and Quemont massive sulfide deposits, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. Society of Economic Geologists abstracts.
  35. *Skewes, W., Holley, E.A., 2014. Post-mineralization displacement of Carlin-type deposits: effects of the Northern Nevada rift. Society of Economic Geologists abstracts.
  36. Holley, E.A., Monecke, T., Bissig, T., 2013. Quartz paragenesis at the Veladero deposit, Argentina: New insights into lithocap alteration in the high-sulfidation epithermal environment. Society of Economic Geologists abstracts.
  37. Holley, E.A., Monecke, T., Bissig, T., 2012. Alunite and jarosite geochemistry and ages at the Veladero high-sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag deposit, Argentina. Society of Economic Geologists abstracts.
  38. Holley, E.A., Monecke, T., Bissig, T., 2012. Alunite and jarosite alteration ages at the Veladero high-sulfidation epithermal Au-Ag deposit, Argentina. 34th International Geological Congress abstracts.
  39. Holley, E.A., Monecke, T., Bissig, T., 2010. Ore-hosting breccias at the Veladero high-sulfidation epithermal deposit, El Indio-Pascua belt, Argentina. Society of Economic Geologists abstracts.
  40. Fleming, A., Paulsen, H.K., Holley, E.A., 2009. Underworld Resources’ White Gold Discovery, Yukon Territory. Abstract, AMEBC Mineral Exploration Roundup.
  41. Holley, E.A., Craw, D., 2007. Mercury concentration and mobility in an orogenic greywacke terrane, South Island, New Zealand. International Association of Applied Geochemists.
  42. Holley, E.A., Cheney, J., Ross, T., 2004. Pressure-Temperature Conditions of Metamorphism in Eclogites, Syros, Greece. Geological Society of America; Cordilleran Section.
  43. Morton, N., Holley, E.A, Myers A., Reinen, L., 2003. Deformation Bands and Host Rock Characteristics, San Onofre, Ca. Geological Society of America; Cordilleran Section.

Contact

303-273-3409
Brown Hall 216
eholley@mines.edu