Dr. Wyatt Bain

Dr. Wyatt Bain

Robert W. Hodder Chair in Economic Geology

Wyatt Bain

Assistant Professor
B.S. Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin, 2011
M.S. Geology, University of Nevada: Las Vegas2015
Ph.D. Geology, University of Alberta, 2020
Office: BGS 1070
Lab: BGS 0162
Fax: 519 661-3198
Email: wbain2@uwo.ca

Research Interests

My research focuses on mineral deposits and the factors that drive the compositional evolution of magmatic, metamorphic, and metasomatic systems in the Earth’s crust. My work employs a field-based approach and integrates conventional petrology, fluid/melt inclusion analysis, field mapping, mineral analysis, and whole-rock geochemistry. My ongoing research initiatives include projects on PGE and Co resources in western Ontario and British Columbia, and fundamental research examining the genesis of ferrocarbonatites, IOCG/IOA/iron skarn deposits, and MIAC systems. Future research initiatives will seek to better understand the genesis and evolution of critical mineral resources and train highly qualified personnel for the geoscience and mineral industries.

I am currently recruiting MS and honors students for mineral resource-focused projects in Ontario, British Columbia, and the southwest US.

Selected Publications

  • Bain, W.M., Steele-MacInnis, M., Li, K., Li, L., Mazdad, F.K., and Marsh, E.E. (2020) Carbonate-sulfate melts in iron oxide-apatite deposits. Nature Geoscience.
  • Bain, W.M., Steele-MacInnis, M., Tornos, F., Hanchar, J.M., and Creaser, E., (2021) Iron oxide-apatite ore formed by Fe-rich sulphate melt at El Laco, Chile. Geology. doi:10.1130/G48861.1
  • Bain, W.M., Lecumberri-Sanchez, P., Marsh, E.E., and Steele-MacInnis, M., (2022) Fluids and melts at the magmatic-hydrothermal transition, recorded by unidirectional solidification textures at Saginaw Hill, Arizona, USA. Economic Geology, doi:10.5382/econgeo.4952
  • Bain, W.M., Hollings, P.N., and Djon, M.L. (2023) Geochemical Evolution and Parental Magma of the Lake Legris mafic-ultramafic Complex, Ontario. Mineralium Deposita doi:10.1007/s00126-023-01183-x
  • Bain, W.M. (2023), Magnetite Deposits of the Central Buena Vista District: Comparison of Tabular and Replacement Ore Bodies. In: Capistrant, P., and Fix, P., (Eds.), Unique Base Metal Mineralization in Northern Nevada: Buena Vista Hills Fe Deposits and Majuba Hill Cu Porphyry, Geologic Society of Nevada Special Publication No. 73, pp 71-82
  • Bain, W.M., and Waugh, S.A.F., (2024). Ore and alteration textures of limestone-hosted magnetite-sulphide mineralization at the Merry Widow deposit, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation, British Columbia Geological Survey GeoFile 2024-15, 14p.
  • Bain, W. M., Hollings, P., Djon, L., and Brzozowski, M., (2025), Parental magmas, tectonic setting, and magmatic evolution of the Lac Des Iles Intrusive Suite. in prep
  • Bain, W.M., Steele-MacInnis, M., Severs, M., Bussweiler, Y., and Xu, X., (2025), REE, Th, and HFSE mobilization via circulation of secondary carbonate-sulfate-chloride aqueous solutions: A key process for upgrading of critical metal mineralization in iron oxide-apatite systems. in prep
  • Bain, W.M., de Waal, F., and Goudie, D.J., 2025. Co-Te mineralization in iron skarns on Vancouver Island and Texada Island. In: Geological Fieldwork (2024), British Columbia Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals, British Columbia Geological Survey Paper 2025-01, pp. 153-175.
  • Hamilton, M., Montreuil, J.-F., Adlakha, E., Corriveau, L. and Bain, W.M. (2023)  Base, Critical, and Precious Metals Mineralization in the Metasomatic Iron and Alkali-Calcic Systems of the Southern Province in the Sudbury Area: A Geological guidebook: Geological Association of Canada-Mineralogical Association of Canada-Society of Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits, Joint Annual Meeting, Sudbury, Ontario, May 25-27, 2023, Field Trip FT01 Guidebook, Ontario Geological Survey, Open-file Report 6391, 66p.
  • Hickin, A.S., Ootes, L., Orovan, E.A., Brzozowski, M.J., Northcote, B.K., Rukhlov, A.S., and Bain, W.M., (2024). Critical minerals and mineral systems in British Columbia. In: Geological Fieldwork 2023, British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, British Columbia Geological Survey Paper 2024-01, pp. 13-51.
  • Pietruszka, D.K., Hanchar, J.M., Tornos, F., Wirth, R., Graham, N.A., Severin, K.P., Velasco, F., Steele-MacInnis, M., and Bain, W.M., (2023) Magmatic immiscibility and the origin of magnetite-(apatite) iron deposits – a high-resolution melt inclusions study. Nature Communications. doi:10.1038/s41467-023-43655-8
  • Pietruszka, D.K., Hanchar, J.M., Tornos, F., Wirth, R., Graham, N.A., Severin, K.P., Velasco, F., Steele-MacInnis, M., and Bain, W.M., (2022) Magmatic immiscibility and the origin of magnetite-(apatite) iron deposits. Research Square. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-2156064/v1
  • Szmihelsky, M., Steele-MacInnis, M., Bain, W.M., Falck, H., Adair, R., Campbell, B., Dufrane, S., Went, A., and Corlett, H., (2020) Mixing brine with oil triggered sphalerite deposition at Pine Point, Northwest Territories, Canada. Geology. doi:10.1130/G48259.1
  • Wang, M., Chen, Y., Bain, W.M., Meng, F., Zhou, Zhenzhu., Zhang, H., Zhang, S., and Steele-MacInnis, M. (2021) Fluid evolution of a hematite-dominated IOCG (iron oxide–copper–gold) deposit at Qibaoshan, Shandong Province, China. Ore Geology Reviews. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2021.104052
  • Wang, M., Chen, Y., Bain, W.M., Song, G., Liu, K., Zhou, Z., and Steele-MacInnis, M. (2020) Direct evidence for fluid overpressure during hydrocarbon generation and expulsion from organic-rich shales. Geology. v.48, 4, p. 374-378. doi:10.1130/G46650.1
  • Xu, X., Bain, W.M., Tornos, T., Hanchar, J.M., Lamadrid, H.M., Lehman, B., Xu, X., Steadman, J.A., Bottrill, R.S., Soleymani, M., Rajabi, A., Li, P., Tan, T., Shihong Xu, S., Locock, A.J., Steele-MacInnis, M. (2024) Magnetite-apatite ores record widespread involvement of molten salts. Geology. v.52, 6, p. 417-422. doi:10.1130/G51887.1.
  • Zoheir, B., Lehmann, B., Emam, A., Radwan, A., Rongqing, Z., Bain, W.M., Steele-MacInnis, M., and Nolte, N. (2019) Extreme fractionation and magmatic–hydrothermal transition in the formation of the Abu Dabbab rare-metal granite, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Lithos. v. 352-353, p. 1-18. doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2019.105329
  • Zoheir, B., McAleer, R., Steele-MacInnis, M., Zeh, A., Bain, W.M., and Poulette, S. (2022) Vein‑type gold formation during late extensional collapse of the Eastern Desert, Egypt: the Gidami deposit. Mineralium Deposita, doi:10.1007/s00126-022-01152-w