SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Extensive experience in the industry and academic research into the causes and exploration of hydrothermal systems

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Developed and managed exploration programs in the Western USA, Central America, South America, the Philippines, and Mongolia
• Recognized expert in the genesis and formation of young gold systems related to geothermal systems (invited lecturer to GSA 2007)
• Developed successful exploration techniques for the discovery of geothermal systems and gold deposits
• Developed spatial probability techniques for mapping favorable exploration regions
• Developed new spatial probability mapping methods to quantify the effect of undiscovered mineralizing systems (invited author Natural Resources Research 2007; lecturer Beijing 2007)
• Developed new lithogeochemical exploration tools
• Developed new mapping techniques with multispectral visible, short wave infrared, and thermal infrared remote sensing for the epithermal and geothermal environments
• Field and lab based skills in spectral geology for alteration and lithologic mapping
• Extensive mineralogical skills using SEM, X-ray and spectral laboratory instrumentation to look at ore mineralizing environments.

Currently:
Chief Geoscientist AuEx Ventures, Inc.Adjunct Faculty, Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy and Arthur Brant Laboratory for Exploration Geophysics, Mackay School of Mines.

Research Assistant Professor/Assistant Research Scientist, March 2002 to June 2007
Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR): Principal investigator/co-investigator on 9 grant-funded geothermal research projects investigating how and where geothermal systems form, and developing new exploration tools to search for them.  Research topics include spatial analysis with GIS, hyperspectral and thermal infrared remote sensing, structural controls on geothermal fluid flow, fluid and gas geochemistry, and digital field geologic mapping using pocket PCs.  Six newly recognized geothermal systems have been identified as a part of this research in Nevada.  Total grant funding in the last four years was ~ US$1,500,000.  Thirteen “Best Paper” awards have been received from talks given as first or second author of conference presentations. 

Arthur Brant Laboratory for Exploration Geophysics, Dept. of Geological Sciences, UNR: Dissertation research developed geothermal and mineral exploration models using a GIS, spatial statistics (weights-of-evidence and logistic regression), and remote sensing imagery (including ASTER, TIMS, and AVIRIS). 

            Exploration Manager – Mongolia, September 1996 - February 1998
Cascadia Chemicals & Minerals Corp., Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: Developed and implemented all corporate mineral exploration programs in Mongolia.  Organized and supervised a staff of 4 ex-patriot and 40 Mongolian geologists that conducted first-stage reconnaissance exploration throughout Mongolia, including in the northern forests, central steppe, and Gobi desert. This exploration directly led to the discovery of the Gatsuurt gold deposit, a 1-2 Moz mesothermal vein stockwork currently being put into production.  Work included geologic mapping, rock and soil sampling, trenching, channel sampling, and geophysical work. Prepared budgets, evaluated properties for acquisition, and prepared final reports and presentations for management and investors.

            Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant, July 1995 - August 1996
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada:  In a scholarship-supported Ph.D. program, identified new lithogeochemical exploration tools in the search for mineral deposits. An emphasis was placed on Carlin-type, sediment-hosted gold deposits using Pearce element ratio analysis.  Field sites included Jerritt Canyon, NV., Butte, MT., and Goldstream, B.C.

Carson Gold Corp., Vancouver, B. C., Canada:  Designed, implemented, and managed corporate overseas exploration programs, with projects in South and Central America, the Philippines, and Mongolia.  This exploration led to the identification of a volcanic-hosted low-sulfidation gold system associated with a diatreme in Honduras.  Other projects included a gold-copper alkalic porphyry system in the Philippines and mesothermal gold mineralization in the KM88 district of Venezuela.  Evaluated and recommended properties for acquisition.  Prepared property assessments, statistics, and written descriptions for annual report and press releases.

                Senior Exploration Geologist/Geological Engineer, November 1991 - January 1994
Coeur Rochester, Inc., Lovelock, Nevada, USA: Developed a district-wide exploration program and geologic exploration model. Additional responsibilities included open-pit ore control, blast-hole kriging, short-term planning, surveying, and rock quality control.

                Consultant, February 1991 - October 1991
Mine and Exploration Services, Monte Vista, Colorado, USA: Provided technical assistance to operating mines and exploration groups. Reviewed ore control procedures and reserves, and assisted with mine permitting and compliance issues. Designed and implemented exploration programs.

                Chief Geologist/Manager/Senior Geologist, June 1984 - January 1991
Summitville Consolidated Mining Co., Inc., Del Norte, Colorado, USA: Supervised the mine geology and exploration departments, consisting of five to ten geologists and technicians. Responsibilities included ore control, development drilling, computer ore reserve modeling, regional exploration, geologic mapping, and land acquisition.  Identified previously unrecognized high-level, low-sulfidation exploration targets in the La Garita caldera.  Constructed ore reserve models using indicator kriging geostatistics and polygonal cross-sections.  Managed all mine activities for one month in January, 1991.

                Geologist, June 1983 - June 1984
Pegasus Gold Corporation, Reno, Nevada, USA:  Reconnaissance geologic mapping and management of district exploration program.

            Associate Geologist, June 1980 - Dec. 1982, summers of 1977 - 1979
                        Climax Molybdenum Co., div. of AMAX, Golden, Colorado, USA
Geologic mapping and field work for molybdenum exploration and mining.

            Underground Motorman’s Assistant, June 1976 - September 1976
                        ASARCO, Inc., Leadville, Colorado, USA
Track haulage of ore, equipment, and supplies in an underground lead-zinc-silver mine.

Selected Publications

Coolbaugh, M.F., Raines, G.L., and Zehner, R.E., 2007, Assessment of exploration bias in data-driven predictive models and the estimation of undiscovered resources: special issue, Natural Resources Research, in press.
Coolbaugh, M.F., Kratt, C., Fallacaro, A., Calvin, W.M., and Taranik, J.V., 2007, Detection of geothermal anomalies using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) thermal infrared images at Brady’s Hot Springs, Nevada, USA: Remote Sensing of Environment, v. 106, n. 3, p. 350-359.
Coolbaugh, M.F. and Bedell, R.,2006, A simplification of weights of evidence using a density function and fuzzy distributions; geothermal systems, in Harris, J.R., ed., GIS for the Earth Sciences: Geological Association of Canada Special Paper 44, p. 115-130.
Coolbaugh, M.F., Arehart, G.B., Faulds, J.E., and Garside, L.J., 2005, Geothermal systems in the Great Basin, western United States: Modern analogues to the roles of magmatism, structure, and regional tectonics in the formation of gold deposits, in Rhoden, H.N., Steininger, R.C., and Vikre, P.G., eds., Geological Society of Nevada Symposium 2005: Window to the World, Reno, Nevada, May 2005, p. 1063-1082.
Coolbaugh, M., Zehner, R., Kreemer, C., Blackwell, D., Oppliger, G., Sawatzky, D., Blewitt, G., Pancha, A., Richards, M., Helm-Clark, C., Shevenell, L., Raines, G., Johnson, G., Minor, T., and Boyd, T., 2005, Geothermal potential map of the Great Basin, western United States: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Map 151.
Coolbaugh, M.F., Sladek, C., and Kratt, C., 2004, Digital mapping of structurally controlled geothermal features with GPS units and pocket computers: Proceedings, Annual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA, Aug. 29-Sep. 1, 2004, Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, v. 28, p. 321-325.
Coolbaugh, M. F. and Stanley, C. R., 1996, A lithogeochemical evaluation of feldspar hydrolysis, decarbonatization and jasperoid alteration from the Jerritt Canyon district, Nevada, using Pearce element ratio analysis; Technical Document #11, MDRU Lithogeochemical Exploration Research Project, Annual Technical Report, year 1,Dept. of Geol. Sciences, University of British Columbia.
Gray, J. E., and Coolbaugh, M. F., 1994, Geology and geochemistry of Summitville, Colorado: An epithermal acid sulfate deposit in a volcanic dome: Economic Geology, Special Issue on Volcanic Centers as Targets for Mineral Exploration, v. 89, no. 8, p. 1906-1923.
Gray, J. E., Coolbaugh, M.F., Plumlee, G. S., and Atkinson, W. W., 1994, Environmental geology of the Summitville Mine, Colorado: Economic Geology, Special Issue on Volcanic Centers as Targets for Mineral Exploration, v. 89, no. 8, p. 2006-2014.
Kratt, C., Calvin, W., and Coolbaugh, M., 2006, Geothermal exploration with HyMap hyperspectral data at Brady-Desert Peak, Nevada: Remote Sensing of Environment, v. 104, p. 313-325.