Dr. John A. Percival

Research Scientist

Research, science management, advisor on geoscience and resources in northern Canada

601 Booth St., Ottawa

Current research and/or projects

Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals Program, focused on improving geoscience knowledge as part of Canada's Northern Strategy to promote social and economic development in the North.

Professional activities / interests

John joined the GSC in 1981 after obtaining his Ph.D. from Queen’s University on the Kapuskasing structure of northern Ontario, where he discovered a block of deep-crustal rocks up-thrust 20 km to the surface. His work caught the attention of the geoscience community and contributed to the launch of Lithoprobe, Canada’s national geoscience program from 1984 to 2004. John co-led the first Lithoprobe transect (1984-1994), combining geological and geophysical studies of the Kapuskasing uplift, thereby setting the stage for an additional 9 transects across Canada that provided a composite three-dimensional view of the continent. He expanded his work on the Superior geological province through regional research in the western Superior Province (1982-1985), followed by mapping and associated petrogenetic, tectonothermal and geochronological studies in large parts of the Ashuanipi complex (1986-1988) and Minto block of northern Quebec (1989-1997). In 2008 he was awarded the Jean Descarreaux prize by the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association for the impact of his work in stimulating industry exploration in the region. Between 1997 and 2003 John co-led the collaborative (GSC-OGS-MGS) Western Superior NATMAP project, aimed at improving the regional tectonic framework for a large part of northwestern Ontario and eastern Manitoba, that operated in conjunction with the Western Superior Lithoprobe transect. He conducted studies including greenstone-belt and regional-scale research covering structural, petrogenetic, geochronologic and isotopic aspects, co-edited two journal special issues, and led a comprehensive synthesis initiative that produced a series of compilation maps and overview paper outlining the regional three-dimensional tectonic evolution through time. During this period (1996- 2006), John was also responsible for spearheading the Pan-Lithoprobe synthesis project, assembling scientists and knowledge from the ten Lithoprobe transects, and formulating, writing and co-editing Tectonic Styles in Canada: The Lithoprobe Perspective, published in 2012 as Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 49. John was Program Manager of the Northern Resource Development (2007-2009) and Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM, 2008-2013) Programs and Head of the Regional Geology Section. He served on the editorial boards of Geology, Precambrian Research and Journal of Metamorphic Geology, and was adjunct professor in the Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre. He currently serves as Head of the Ore Systems Section and Science Lead in the GEM II program.

Education and awards

1976: B.Sc. Geology (Hons) Concordia University

1978: M.Sc. Geology, Queen`s University

1981: Ph.D. Geology, Queen`s University

2008: Jean Descarreaux prize of the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association for the impact of work in stimulating industry exploration in the Grand Nord region of Quebec

Key publications

Percival, J.A., Cook, F.A. and Clowes, R.M., 2012. Tectonic Styles in Canada: The Lithoprobe Perspective, Edited by J.A. Percival, F.A. Cook and R.M. Clowes. Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 49, 498 p.

Percival, J.A., Cook, F.A. and Clowes, R.M., 2012. Tectonic Styles in Canada: The Lithoprobe Perspective- Preface. In Tectonic Styles in Canada: The Lithoprobe Perspective, Edited by J.A. Percival, F.A. Cook and R.M. Clowes. Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 49, pp. vii-ix.

Percival, J.A., Skulski, T., Sanborn-Barrie, M., Stott, G.M., Leclair, A.D., Corkery, M.T. and Boily, M., 2012. Geology and tectonic evolution of the Superior Province, Canada; In Tectonic Styles in Canada: The Lithoprobe Perspective, Edited by J.A. Percival, F.A. Cook and R.M. Clowes. Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 49, pp. 321-378.

Cook, F.A., Percival, J.A. and Clowes, R.M., 2012. Tectonic styles in Canada: Lithoprobe perspectives on the evolution of the North American continent; In Tectonic Styles in Canada: The Lithoprobe Perspective, Edited by J.A. Percival, F.A. Cook and R.M. Clowes. Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 49, pp. 469-498.

Percival, J.A., and Sanborn-Barrie, M., 2013. Ultramafic cumulates east of Kingnait Fiord, Cumberland Peninsula, Nunavut: possible origin and mineral potential. Geological Survey of Canada, Current Research 2013-4, 15p.

Percival, J.A., Nadeau, L., Wodicka, N., Berman, R.G., Bethune, K.M., Davis, W.J., others, 2012. Operation GEM: Reconnaissance geology of some poorly known parts of mainland Nunavut and NWT. Yellowknife Geoscience Forum (oral)

Pehrsson, S.J., Percival, J.A., Kjarsgaard, B.K., Davis, W.J., Berman, R.G., Hillary, E.M, others, 2012. Operation GEM South Rae: Reconnaissance geology of the most poorly known part of the Churchill Province, NWT and Nunavut. Yellowknife Geoscience Forum (oral)

Harris, J.R., Percival, J.A., others. 2012. Toward improved geological maps of Northern Canada: Remote Predictive Mapping contributions to Operation GEM. Yellowknife Geoscience Forum (poster)

Percival, J.A., 2013. The Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals Program: recent results. AMEBC Roundup (poster)

Pehrsson, S.J., Percival, J.A., Kjarsgaard, B.K., Davis, W.J., Berman, R.G., Hillary, E.M, others, 2013. Operation GEM South Rae: Reconnaissance geology of the most poorly known part of the Churchill Province, NWT and Nunavut. AMEBC Roundup (poster)

Berman, R.G.; Percival, J.A.; Harris, J.R.; Davis, W.J.; McCurdy, M.; Normandeau, P.; Case, G.; Nadeau, L.; Hillary, E.M.; Girard, E.; Jefferson, C.W.; Kellett, D.; Camacho, A.; Bethune, K.; Pehrsson, S.; Hunt, P. 2013. Operation GEM Chantrey: Reconnaissance geology and economic geology of one of the most poorly known parts of the Churchill Province, Nunavut. AMEBC Roundup (poster)

Wodicka, N., Whalen, J., Kellett, D., McMartin, I., Day, S., Percival, J., Buenviaje, R., Hillary, B., Girard, É., Joseph, J., and Bazor, D., 2013. Summary and highlights of 2012 activities in the Tehery area, Nunavut: a contribution to the Operation GEM project. AMEBC Roundup (poster)

Pehrsson, S.J., Percival, J.A., Kjarsgaard, B.K., Davis, W.J., Berman, R.G., Hillary, E.M, others, 2013. New insights on Churchill province metallogeny. PDAC Annual Convention (oral)

Percival, J.A., Pehrsson, S., Berman, R., Wodicka, N., Nadeau, L., Davis, W.J., Tschirhart, V., MacKinnon, A., 2013. Geo-mapping Frontiers: New insights on mineral potential in some under-explored parts of Nunavut and NWT. PDAC Annual Convention (poster)

Berman, R.G.; Percival, J.A.; Harris, J.R.; Davis, W.J.; McCurdy, M.; Normandeau, P.; Case, G.; Nadeau, L.; Hillary, E.M.; Girard, E.; Jefferson, C.W.; Kellett, D.; Camacho, A.; Bethune, K.; Pehrrson, S.; Hunt, P. 2013, Geo-Mapping Frontiers' Chantrey project: Reconnaissance geology and economic potential of a transect across the Thelon tectonic zone, Queen Maud region, and adjacent Rae craton. GSC Open File 7394.

Harris, J.R., Hillary, E., Percival, J.A., Buller, G., Buenviaje, R., Bazor, D., Baer, S., Kiessl, G.M., 2013. Geo-mapping Frontiers: Updated information on the regions covered by Operations Baker, Bathurst, Keewatin, Northern Keewatin, Thelon and Wager; Nunavut and Northwest Territories. GSC Open File 7434-7448.