Lukas Zurcher, PhD
Lukas is a Research Geologist and Deputy Center Director with Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. He received a Ph.D. and MS in Geosciences from the University of Arizona, and a BS in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. He has worked on topics under the broad category of mineral resources.
Dr. Zurcher conducts mineral resource assessments and investigates mineral potential mapping techniques to predict the ore-forming environment, quality and quantity of mineral deposits. He has expertise in porphyry, skarn, IOCG, orogenic Au, lateritic Au and impact-generated ore systems, geologic mapping, tectonics and structural geology, igneous and hydrothermal geochemistry, statistical methods, GIS-based prospectivity mapping, and personnel training. He has accumulated 35 years of combined international industry, academic, and government experience and speaks English, Spanish, and German. Dr. Zurcher serves as Deputy Center Director for the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, which has offices in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
Professional Experience
2022-Present, Deputy Center Director, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ
2011-2022, Research Geologist, United States Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ
2002-2011, Program Manager, Lowell Program in Economic Geology, University of Arizona, and Consulting Geologist, Exploration Services for the Minerals Industry, Tucson, AZ
2002-2005, Postdoctoral Fellow, Lunar and Planetary Sciences Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
1991-2002, Research Associate, Dept. of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
1988-1991, Project Geologist and Field Operations Manager, Dundarave Resources Inc., Vancouver, B.C.
1985-March 1988, Geologist, Compañía Minera de Cananea S.A. de CV., Sonora, Mexico
1981 summer, Intern, Compañía Minera de Cananea S.A. de C.V., Sonora, Mexico
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Geosciences, University of Arizona, 2002
M.S., Geosciences, December, University of Arizona, 1994
B.S., Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1985
Affiliations and Memberships*
2009- Present, American Institute of Professional Geologists – CPG, Tucson, AZ
1988 – Present, Society of Economic Geologists – Fellow, Tucson, AZ
1991 –Present, Arizona Geological Society – member, officer 2008-2009
Science and Products
Puerto Rico new radiometric age analyses Puerto Rico new radiometric age analyses
This dataset contains U-Pb isotopic data and associated ages of zircons from selected igneous rocks collected from the region surrounding and including the uplands of the United States Territory of Puerto Rico. The samples were collected as part of geological mapping and research conducted during 2018 and funded by the Mineral Resources Program of the U.S. Geological Survey. Zircon...
GIS and Data Tables for Focus Areas for Potential Domestic Nonfuel Sources of Rare Earth Elements GIS and Data Tables for Focus Areas for Potential Domestic Nonfuel Sources of Rare Earth Elements
In response to Executive Order 13817 of December 20, 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) coordinated with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to identify 35 nonfuel minerals or mineral materials considered critical to the economic and national security of the United States (U.S.). Acquiring information on possible domestic sources of these critical minerals is the basis of the USGS...
Locatable Mineral Assessment Tracts for the U.S. Geological Survey Sagebrush Mineral Resource Assessment Project Locatable Mineral Assessment Tracts for the U.S. Geological Survey Sagebrush Mineral Resource Assessment Project
The polygon (vector) feature class represents locatable mineral resource assessment tracts (tracts of land) associated with the Department of the Interior (DOI) Sagebrush Focal Areas in Montana, Wyoming and Utah, central Idaho, and the Oregon-Nevada-Idaho border area. The mineral resources tracts are geographic areas that were assessed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and were...
Filter Total Items: 14
Mapa metalogenético de América Central y El Caribe Mapa metalogenético de América Central y El Caribe
La Asociación de Servicios Geológicos y Mineros de Iberoamérica (ASGMI), bajo los auspicios de la Comisión de la Carta Geológica del Mundo (CCGM) preparó la primera versión del Mapa Metalogénico de América Central y el Caribe. La coordinación general estuvo a cargo del Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino (SEGEMAR), con tres coordinaciones regionales: América Central a cargo del Servicio...
Authors
Eduardo O Zappettini, Gloria Prieto-Rincon, Natalia Amezcua, Santiago Munoz-Tapia, Janeth Sepulveda-Ospina, Carlos M. Celada-Arango, David Jara, X Cazanas-Diaz, Jorge L. Torres-Zafra, Jorge L. Cobiella-Reguera, Lukas Zurcher, Greta J. Orris, Floyd Gray, Carolina Maldonado-Diaz, Noe Rodriguez, Ramon Merida-Montiel, Carlos A. Zarruk
Porphyry copper potential of the U.S. Southern Basin and Range using ASTER data integrated with geochemical and geologic datasets to assess potential near-surface deposits in well-explored permissive tracts Porphyry copper potential of the U.S. Southern Basin and Range using ASTER data integrated with geochemical and geologic datasets to assess potential near-surface deposits in well-explored permissive tracts
ArcGIS was used to spatially assess and rank potential porphyry copper deposits using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data together with geochemical and geologic datasets in order to estimate undiscovered deposits in the southern Basin and Range Province in the southwestern United States. The assessment was done using a traditional expert opinion...
Authors
John C. Mars, Robinson, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Lukas Zurcher, Helen A. Whitney, Federico Solano, Mark E. Gettings, Stephen Ludington
Tectono-magmatic evolution of porphyry belts in the central Tethys region of Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran, western Pakistan, and southern Afghanistan Tectono-magmatic evolution of porphyry belts in the central Tethys region of Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran, western Pakistan, and southern Afghanistan
Exploration in the central Tethys region of Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and western Pakistan has led to the identification of the giant Reko Diq (24 Mt Cu and 1300 t Au), Sar Cheshmeh (8.9 Mt Cu and 0.46 Mt Mo), Sungun (5.1 Mt Cu and 0.20 Mt Mo), and Kadjaran (4.6 Mt Cu, 0.94 Mt Mo, and 1100 t Au), and 10 other large (1–2 Mt Cu) porphyry deposits including Saindak...
Authors
Lukas Zurcher, Arthur A. Bookstrom, Jane M. Hammarstrom, John C. Mars, Stephen Ludington, Michael L. Zientek, Pamela Dunlap, John Wallis
Probabilistic mineral resource assessment of U.S. Territories of the Caribbean Basin and adjacent areas: Progress report Probabilistic mineral resource assessment of U.S. Territories of the Caribbean Basin and adjacent areas: Progress report
The U.S. Geological Survey is partnering with the IberoAmerican Association of Geological and Mining Surveys (ASGMI) to conduct an assessment of undiscovered metallic and non-metallic resources in the Greater Antilles region. The assessment plans to provide science-based information on the geologic availability of these resources for development, land-use planning, and decision making...
Authors
Lukas Zurcher, Floyd Gray, Stephen Ludington, Frederic H. Wilson, Greta J. Orris, Mark D. Cocker, Mark E. Gettings, Timothy Hayes
Preliminary assessment of porphyry copper deposits in the Sierra Maestra, Cuba Preliminary assessment of porphyry copper deposits in the Sierra Maestra, Cuba
The U.S. Geological Survey’s “three-step” form of mineral-resource assessment was used to obtain a preliminary estimate of copper resources in undiscovered porphyry deposits of the Paleogene Sierra Maestra Arc. Results of this preliminary assessment suggest that a mean of 3.2 undiscovered deposits are likely present. This estimate is comparable to results from an independently-derived...
Authors
Lukas Zurcher, Floyd Gray, Timothy Hayes, Greta J. Orris, Mark E. Gettings, Mark D. Cocker, Leila Gass
New method to integrate remotely sensed hydrothermal alteration mapping into quantitative mineral resource assessments New method to integrate remotely sensed hydrothermal alteration mapping into quantitative mineral resource assessments
Hydrothermal alteration data mapped using the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) were compiled into hydrothermal alteration polygons for use in an assessment of porphyry copper mineral resource potential in the southwestern United States. Hydrothermal alteration polygons along with geochemistry, gravity and magnetic, lithologic, and deposit and...
Authors
John C. Mars, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Gilpin R. Robinson, Stephen Ludington, Lukas Zurcher, Helen W. Folger, Mark E. Gettings, Federico Solano, Thomas Kress
Science and Products
Puerto Rico new radiometric age analyses Puerto Rico new radiometric age analyses
This dataset contains U-Pb isotopic data and associated ages of zircons from selected igneous rocks collected from the region surrounding and including the uplands of the United States Territory of Puerto Rico. The samples were collected as part of geological mapping and research conducted during 2018 and funded by the Mineral Resources Program of the U.S. Geological Survey. Zircon...
GIS and Data Tables for Focus Areas for Potential Domestic Nonfuel Sources of Rare Earth Elements GIS and Data Tables for Focus Areas for Potential Domestic Nonfuel Sources of Rare Earth Elements
In response to Executive Order 13817 of December 20, 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) coordinated with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to identify 35 nonfuel minerals or mineral materials considered critical to the economic and national security of the United States (U.S.). Acquiring information on possible domestic sources of these critical minerals is the basis of the USGS...
Locatable Mineral Assessment Tracts for the U.S. Geological Survey Sagebrush Mineral Resource Assessment Project Locatable Mineral Assessment Tracts for the U.S. Geological Survey Sagebrush Mineral Resource Assessment Project
The polygon (vector) feature class represents locatable mineral resource assessment tracts (tracts of land) associated with the Department of the Interior (DOI) Sagebrush Focal Areas in Montana, Wyoming and Utah, central Idaho, and the Oregon-Nevada-Idaho border area. The mineral resources tracts are geographic areas that were assessed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and were...
Filter Total Items: 14
Mapa metalogenético de América Central y El Caribe Mapa metalogenético de América Central y El Caribe
La Asociación de Servicios Geológicos y Mineros de Iberoamérica (ASGMI), bajo los auspicios de la Comisión de la Carta Geológica del Mundo (CCGM) preparó la primera versión del Mapa Metalogénico de América Central y el Caribe. La coordinación general estuvo a cargo del Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino (SEGEMAR), con tres coordinaciones regionales: América Central a cargo del Servicio...
Authors
Eduardo O Zappettini, Gloria Prieto-Rincon, Natalia Amezcua, Santiago Munoz-Tapia, Janeth Sepulveda-Ospina, Carlos M. Celada-Arango, David Jara, X Cazanas-Diaz, Jorge L. Torres-Zafra, Jorge L. Cobiella-Reguera, Lukas Zurcher, Greta J. Orris, Floyd Gray, Carolina Maldonado-Diaz, Noe Rodriguez, Ramon Merida-Montiel, Carlos A. Zarruk
Porphyry copper potential of the U.S. Southern Basin and Range using ASTER data integrated with geochemical and geologic datasets to assess potential near-surface deposits in well-explored permissive tracts Porphyry copper potential of the U.S. Southern Basin and Range using ASTER data integrated with geochemical and geologic datasets to assess potential near-surface deposits in well-explored permissive tracts
ArcGIS was used to spatially assess and rank potential porphyry copper deposits using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data together with geochemical and geologic datasets in order to estimate undiscovered deposits in the southern Basin and Range Province in the southwestern United States. The assessment was done using a traditional expert opinion...
Authors
John C. Mars, Robinson, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Lukas Zurcher, Helen A. Whitney, Federico Solano, Mark E. Gettings, Stephen Ludington
Tectono-magmatic evolution of porphyry belts in the central Tethys region of Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran, western Pakistan, and southern Afghanistan Tectono-magmatic evolution of porphyry belts in the central Tethys region of Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran, western Pakistan, and southern Afghanistan
Exploration in the central Tethys region of Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and western Pakistan has led to the identification of the giant Reko Diq (24 Mt Cu and 1300 t Au), Sar Cheshmeh (8.9 Mt Cu and 0.46 Mt Mo), Sungun (5.1 Mt Cu and 0.20 Mt Mo), and Kadjaran (4.6 Mt Cu, 0.94 Mt Mo, and 1100 t Au), and 10 other large (1–2 Mt Cu) porphyry deposits including Saindak...
Authors
Lukas Zurcher, Arthur A. Bookstrom, Jane M. Hammarstrom, John C. Mars, Stephen Ludington, Michael L. Zientek, Pamela Dunlap, John Wallis
Probabilistic mineral resource assessment of U.S. Territories of the Caribbean Basin and adjacent areas: Progress report Probabilistic mineral resource assessment of U.S. Territories of the Caribbean Basin and adjacent areas: Progress report
The U.S. Geological Survey is partnering with the IberoAmerican Association of Geological and Mining Surveys (ASGMI) to conduct an assessment of undiscovered metallic and non-metallic resources in the Greater Antilles region. The assessment plans to provide science-based information on the geologic availability of these resources for development, land-use planning, and decision making...
Authors
Lukas Zurcher, Floyd Gray, Stephen Ludington, Frederic H. Wilson, Greta J. Orris, Mark D. Cocker, Mark E. Gettings, Timothy Hayes
Preliminary assessment of porphyry copper deposits in the Sierra Maestra, Cuba Preliminary assessment of porphyry copper deposits in the Sierra Maestra, Cuba
The U.S. Geological Survey’s “three-step” form of mineral-resource assessment was used to obtain a preliminary estimate of copper resources in undiscovered porphyry deposits of the Paleogene Sierra Maestra Arc. Results of this preliminary assessment suggest that a mean of 3.2 undiscovered deposits are likely present. This estimate is comparable to results from an independently-derived...
Authors
Lukas Zurcher, Floyd Gray, Timothy Hayes, Greta J. Orris, Mark E. Gettings, Mark D. Cocker, Leila Gass
New method to integrate remotely sensed hydrothermal alteration mapping into quantitative mineral resource assessments New method to integrate remotely sensed hydrothermal alteration mapping into quantitative mineral resource assessments
Hydrothermal alteration data mapped using the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) were compiled into hydrothermal alteration polygons for use in an assessment of porphyry copper mineral resource potential in the southwestern United States. Hydrothermal alteration polygons along with geochemistry, gravity and magnetic, lithologic, and deposit and...
Authors
John C. Mars, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Gilpin R. Robinson, Stephen Ludington, Lukas Zurcher, Helen W. Folger, Mark E. Gettings, Federico Solano, Thomas Kress
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government