Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

M. Christopher Jenkins, PhD

Chris Jenkins is located at GMEG Science Center in Spokane, WA. Chris received a MSc in Earth Science from the University of Toronto in 2017 and a PhD in Earth Science from Carleton University in 2021. Since joining the USGS in 2016, Chris specializes in studying magmatic ore deposits using igneous petrology, numerical modeling, and geostatistics.

Professional Experience

  • 2022 - Present, Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow, Geology Minerals Energy and Geophysics Science Center, Spokane, WA.

  • 2016 - 2022, Physical science technician, Geology Minerals Energy and Geophysics Science Center, Spokane, WA.

Education and Certifications

  • PhD Earth Sciences, Carleton University, 2021

  • MSc Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, 2017

  • BSc Geology, Eastern Washington University, 2015

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • 2014 - Present: Society of Economic Geologists

  • 2014 - Present: American Mineralogical Society

  • 2013 - Present: Geological Society of America

Science and Products

Image Collage of Landsat, pollinator, and volcanologist

National assessment of Ni, Co, V, Cr, and PGE associated with mafic/ultramafic magmatic mineral systems

Many minerals critical for modern society are found only in a few places in the world. U.S. reliance on minerals imported from other countries can cause supply chain vulnerabilities. This project aims to evaluate critical commodities associated with mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks and highlight areas with mineral potential.
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
National assessment of Ni, Co, V, Cr, and PGE associated with mafic/ultramafic magmatic mineral systems

National assessment of Ni, Co, V, Cr, and PGE associated with mafic/ultramafic magmatic mineral systems

Many minerals critical for modern society are found only in a few places in the world. U.S. reliance on minerals imported from other countries can cause supply chain vulnerabilities. This project aims to evaluate critical commodities associated with mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks and highlight areas with mineral potential.
Learn More

Geochemistry, olivine chemistry, microXRF chemical maps, and isotope geochemistry of komatiitic volcanic rocks and U-Pb geochronology of metasedimentary rocks from the Bradley Peak and South Pass greenstone terranes, Wyoming Province Geochemistry, olivine chemistry, microXRF chemical maps, and isotope geochemistry of komatiitic volcanic rocks and U-Pb geochronology of metasedimentary rocks from the Bradley Peak and South Pass greenstone terranes, Wyoming Province

Bradley Peak and South Pass are two ca. 2.7 Ga greenstone terranes in the Archean Wyoming Province, USA that contain mafic-ultramafic metavolcanic rocks. This dataset contains five Comma Separated Value (CSV) files of tabular data, a data dictionary for tabular data (Data_Dictionary.csv), a shapefile with sample locations, and microXRF images. Wholerock_geochemistry.csv includes whole...
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Geochemistry of rocks and rock fabric data near the hanging wall contact to the Reef Package, Stillwater Complex, Montana, USA Geochemistry of rocks and rock fabric data near the hanging wall contact to the Reef Package, Stillwater Complex, Montana, USA

The Reef Package is a sequence of coarse-grained cumulates that host the J-M Reef Pd-Pt deposit in the Stillwater Complex of Montana. The top of the Reef Package marks the top of economic-grade platinum-group element mineralization and is identified by a distinct change in rock fabric, from the coarse-grained rocks of the Reef Package to finer-grained cumulates in the hanging wall. This...
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Titanium-vanadium deposits hosted in mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions and massif anorthosite intrusions from around the world Titanium-vanadium deposits hosted in mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions and massif anorthosite intrusions from around the world

This data release includes four .csv files and one Esri shapefile which contain data on titanium-vanadium deposits hosted in mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions and massif anorthosite intrusions from around the world. Some of the data was used to create a grade and tonnage model for titanium-vanadium deposits hosted in mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions. Only deposits with reported...
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Missouri Breaks Project, Montana - Digitized aeromagnetic data Missouri Breaks Project, Montana - Digitized aeromagnetic data

From February 12 to March 8, 1981, EG and G Geometrics conducted an aeromagnetic survey in Montana for Anaconda Copper Company. A Piper Navajo aircraft was used to conducted the survey. The survey was flown along north-south flightlines spaced 660 feet at a nominal height of 450 feet above the terrain. Five uniformly spaced east-west tie-lines were also flown. During processing, the...
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Filter Total Items: 14

Noble and base metal distribution and processes affecting ore tenors in the disrupted lower stratigraphy of the Stillwater Complex, USA Noble and base metal distribution and processes affecting ore tenors in the disrupted lower stratigraphy of the Stillwater Complex, USA

Exploration continues for contact-style Ni-Cu sulfide and chromitite-associated PGE mineralization in ultramafic rocks of the Stillwater Complex. At the Iron and Chrome Mountain areas, massive sulfides occur along the complex’s footwall contact and anomalous concentrations of PGE+Au are associated with the three lowermost chromitite seams. Southeast of Chrome Mountain, magmatic layering...
Authors
Allen K. Andersen, Michael Jenkins
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Petrogenesis and mineralization potential of spinifex komatiitic basalts in the Bradley Peak greenstone terrane, Wyoming Province Petrogenesis and mineralization potential of spinifex komatiitic basalts in the Bradley Peak greenstone terrane, Wyoming Province

Komatiitic volcanic rocks are important hosts of Ni sulfide mineralization and record early Earth evolution; however, those in the well-studied Archean Wyoming Province have received little attention. Here, we elucidate the timing and petrogenesis of the Bradley Peak komatiitic volcanic rocks using field and textural observations, geochronology, and geochemistry. Detrital and igneous...
Authors
Lisa Joanne Zieman, Michael Jenkins, Jacob Evan Poletti
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Origin of the high Pd/Pt ratio of the J-M Reef, Stillwater Complex Montana USA Origin of the high Pd/Pt ratio of the J-M Reef, Stillwater Complex Montana USA

The J-M Reef of the Stillwater Complex exhibits a high and consistent Pd/Pt ratio (~3.8). This ratio results from the equilibration of an immiscible sulfide liquid with a relatively high Pd/Pt silicate melt rather than an unusually Pd- and Pt-enriched parental melt. Numerical modeling suggests that the original silicate melt contained typical mantle-derived concentrations of Pd and Pt (...
Authors
Michael Jenkins, William D. Smith
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Petrogenesis and mineralization potential of the Bradley Peak komatiitic basalts, Wyoming Province Petrogenesis and mineralization potential of the Bradley Peak komatiitic basalts, Wyoming Province

The ca. 2.72 Ga Bradley Peak greenstone terrane in the Wyoming Province contains spinifex- and cumulate-textured komatiitic volcanic rocks that may host Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide mineralization. New whole rock geochemistry classifies these rocks as Al-undepleted komatiitic basalts derived from a parental melt with ~17 wt. % MgO. Isotopic data (Sm-Nd, Re-Os) and REE profiles suggest a plume...
Authors
Lisa Joanne Zieman, Michael Jenkins, Michael L. Zientek, Jacob Evan Poletti, Alan D. Rooney
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Assimilation of reduced carbon triggers platinum alloy saturation in mafic and ultramafic magmas Assimilation of reduced carbon triggers platinum alloy saturation in mafic and ultramafic magmas

It is generally observed that magmatic sulfide ores have higher ratios of Pd/Pt than the mantle-like values of their parental magmas. This discrepancy has defied simple explanation because the partitioning behavior of both elements between sulfide and silicate liquids is very similar. Assimilation of sulfur- and carbon-rich country rocks by mafic and ultramafic magmas is considered a...
Authors
Ying Zhou Li, William D. Smith, Michael Jenkins, Zhuosen Yao, James E. Mungall
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Layered intrusions in the Precambrian: Observations and perspectives Layered intrusions in the Precambrian: Observations and perspectives

Layered intrusions are plutonic bodies of cumulates that form by the crystallization of mantle-derived melts. These intrusions are characterized by igneous layering distinguishable by shifts in mineralogy, texture, or composition. Layered intrusions have been fundamental to our understanding of igneous petrology; however, it is their status as important repositories of critical metals –...
Authors
William D. Smith, Michael Jenkins, Claudia T. Augustin, Ville J. Virtanen, Zoja Vukmanovic, Brian O’Driscoll
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Science and Products

Image Collage of Landsat, pollinator, and volcanologist

National assessment of Ni, Co, V, Cr, and PGE associated with mafic/ultramafic magmatic mineral systems

Many minerals critical for modern society are found only in a few places in the world. U.S. reliance on minerals imported from other countries can cause supply chain vulnerabilities. This project aims to evaluate critical commodities associated with mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks and highlight areas with mineral potential.
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
National assessment of Ni, Co, V, Cr, and PGE associated with mafic/ultramafic magmatic mineral systems

National assessment of Ni, Co, V, Cr, and PGE associated with mafic/ultramafic magmatic mineral systems

Many minerals critical for modern society are found only in a few places in the world. U.S. reliance on minerals imported from other countries can cause supply chain vulnerabilities. This project aims to evaluate critical commodities associated with mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks and highlight areas with mineral potential.
Learn More

Geochemistry, olivine chemistry, microXRF chemical maps, and isotope geochemistry of komatiitic volcanic rocks and U-Pb geochronology of metasedimentary rocks from the Bradley Peak and South Pass greenstone terranes, Wyoming Province Geochemistry, olivine chemistry, microXRF chemical maps, and isotope geochemistry of komatiitic volcanic rocks and U-Pb geochronology of metasedimentary rocks from the Bradley Peak and South Pass greenstone terranes, Wyoming Province

Bradley Peak and South Pass are two ca. 2.7 Ga greenstone terranes in the Archean Wyoming Province, USA that contain mafic-ultramafic metavolcanic rocks. This dataset contains five Comma Separated Value (CSV) files of tabular data, a data dictionary for tabular data (Data_Dictionary.csv), a shapefile with sample locations, and microXRF images. Wholerock_geochemistry.csv includes whole...
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Geochemistry of rocks and rock fabric data near the hanging wall contact to the Reef Package, Stillwater Complex, Montana, USA Geochemistry of rocks and rock fabric data near the hanging wall contact to the Reef Package, Stillwater Complex, Montana, USA

The Reef Package is a sequence of coarse-grained cumulates that host the J-M Reef Pd-Pt deposit in the Stillwater Complex of Montana. The top of the Reef Package marks the top of economic-grade platinum-group element mineralization and is identified by a distinct change in rock fabric, from the coarse-grained rocks of the Reef Package to finer-grained cumulates in the hanging wall. This...
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Titanium-vanadium deposits hosted in mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions and massif anorthosite intrusions from around the world Titanium-vanadium deposits hosted in mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions and massif anorthosite intrusions from around the world

This data release includes four .csv files and one Esri shapefile which contain data on titanium-vanadium deposits hosted in mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions and massif anorthosite intrusions from around the world. Some of the data was used to create a grade and tonnage model for titanium-vanadium deposits hosted in mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions. Only deposits with reported...
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Missouri Breaks Project, Montana - Digitized aeromagnetic data Missouri Breaks Project, Montana - Digitized aeromagnetic data

From February 12 to March 8, 1981, EG and G Geometrics conducted an aeromagnetic survey in Montana for Anaconda Copper Company. A Piper Navajo aircraft was used to conducted the survey. The survey was flown along north-south flightlines spaced 660 feet at a nominal height of 450 feet above the terrain. Five uniformly spaced east-west tie-lines were also flown. During processing, the...
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Filter Total Items: 14

Noble and base metal distribution and processes affecting ore tenors in the disrupted lower stratigraphy of the Stillwater Complex, USA Noble and base metal distribution and processes affecting ore tenors in the disrupted lower stratigraphy of the Stillwater Complex, USA

Exploration continues for contact-style Ni-Cu sulfide and chromitite-associated PGE mineralization in ultramafic rocks of the Stillwater Complex. At the Iron and Chrome Mountain areas, massive sulfides occur along the complex’s footwall contact and anomalous concentrations of PGE+Au are associated with the three lowermost chromitite seams. Southeast of Chrome Mountain, magmatic layering...
Authors
Allen K. Andersen, Michael Jenkins
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Petrogenesis and mineralization potential of spinifex komatiitic basalts in the Bradley Peak greenstone terrane, Wyoming Province Petrogenesis and mineralization potential of spinifex komatiitic basalts in the Bradley Peak greenstone terrane, Wyoming Province

Komatiitic volcanic rocks are important hosts of Ni sulfide mineralization and record early Earth evolution; however, those in the well-studied Archean Wyoming Province have received little attention. Here, we elucidate the timing and petrogenesis of the Bradley Peak komatiitic volcanic rocks using field and textural observations, geochronology, and geochemistry. Detrital and igneous...
Authors
Lisa Joanne Zieman, Michael Jenkins, Jacob Evan Poletti
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Origin of the high Pd/Pt ratio of the J-M Reef, Stillwater Complex Montana USA Origin of the high Pd/Pt ratio of the J-M Reef, Stillwater Complex Montana USA

The J-M Reef of the Stillwater Complex exhibits a high and consistent Pd/Pt ratio (~3.8). This ratio results from the equilibration of an immiscible sulfide liquid with a relatively high Pd/Pt silicate melt rather than an unusually Pd- and Pt-enriched parental melt. Numerical modeling suggests that the original silicate melt contained typical mantle-derived concentrations of Pd and Pt (...
Authors
Michael Jenkins, William D. Smith
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Petrogenesis and mineralization potential of the Bradley Peak komatiitic basalts, Wyoming Province Petrogenesis and mineralization potential of the Bradley Peak komatiitic basalts, Wyoming Province

The ca. 2.72 Ga Bradley Peak greenstone terrane in the Wyoming Province contains spinifex- and cumulate-textured komatiitic volcanic rocks that may host Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide mineralization. New whole rock geochemistry classifies these rocks as Al-undepleted komatiitic basalts derived from a parental melt with ~17 wt. % MgO. Isotopic data (Sm-Nd, Re-Os) and REE profiles suggest a plume...
Authors
Lisa Joanne Zieman, Michael Jenkins, Michael L. Zientek, Jacob Evan Poletti, Alan D. Rooney
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Assimilation of reduced carbon triggers platinum alloy saturation in mafic and ultramafic magmas Assimilation of reduced carbon triggers platinum alloy saturation in mafic and ultramafic magmas

It is generally observed that magmatic sulfide ores have higher ratios of Pd/Pt than the mantle-like values of their parental magmas. This discrepancy has defied simple explanation because the partitioning behavior of both elements between sulfide and silicate liquids is very similar. Assimilation of sulfur- and carbon-rich country rocks by mafic and ultramafic magmas is considered a...
Authors
Ying Zhou Li, William D. Smith, Michael Jenkins, Zhuosen Yao, James E. Mungall
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Layered intrusions in the Precambrian: Observations and perspectives Layered intrusions in the Precambrian: Observations and perspectives

Layered intrusions are plutonic bodies of cumulates that form by the crystallization of mantle-derived melts. These intrusions are characterized by igneous layering distinguishable by shifts in mineralogy, texture, or composition. Layered intrusions have been fundamental to our understanding of igneous petrology; however, it is their status as important repositories of critical metals –...
Authors
William D. Smith, Michael Jenkins, Claudia T. Augustin, Ville J. Virtanen, Zoja Vukmanovic, Brian O’Driscoll
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

*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

Was this page helpful?