SPECIAL SESSIONS: Descriptions ~ This page is suitable for printing ~
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-01
TITLE :	Seismicity, state of stress, and mantle dynamics in cratonic North America
CONVENORS :	Alessandro Forte (GEOTOP-UQAM), Jean-Claude Mareschal (GEOTOP-UQAM)
CONTACT:	forte.alessandro@uqam.ca
DESCRIPTION:	The objective of this session is to relate and compare models that predict the intraplate stress regime with data on the present state of stress in the stable part of the North American continent. A fundamental question which should be addressed is whether the present stress regime is dominated by plate boundary forces or it is affected by other factors, in particular flow in the mantle. Relevant data include the seismicity and focal mechanisms, in situ stress measurements, neo-tectonics, remote sensing, space geodesy, SAR interferometry, seismic and electrical anisotropy in the mantle. A particular focus is on modeling the consequences of mantle flow on the stress regime but it does not exclude all other sources of intraplate stress.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-02
TITLE :	Neotectonics and paleoseismicity in central and eastern North America
CONVENORS :	John Adams (GSC-Ottawa), Bill Shilts (ISGS)
CONTACT:	adams@seismo.nrcan.gc.ca
DESCRIPTION:	The next jump forward in understanding earthquake hazards in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern and Central US will require broad involvement across the Earth sciences. We invite bedrock geologists and geochemists to contribute information on the nature and age of the youngest faults, Quaternary geologists to report on geomorphic disturbances and proxy data (terrestrial and subaqueous landslides, turbidites, sand blows, tsunamis, lake-sediment records) that can establish paleo-earthquake occurrence and/or recurrence rates, geophysicists to address regional deformation rates and model isostatic rebound, and seismologists to address contemporary seismicity and implications for seismic-hazard assessment. While all North American mid-plate contributions are welcome, the organizers would particularly encourage presentations related to seismic activity within the continent-scale Iapetan rift system that underlies Montreal.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-03
TITLE :	Structural evolution of the oceanic crust: insights from the ophiolitic record and modern analogues
CONVENORS :	Alain Tremblay (UQAM), Jean Bédard (GSC-Québec)
CONTACT:	tremblay.a@uqam.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATION:	Volcanology and Igneous Petrology Division
DESCRIPTION:	The formation of the oceanic crust, at the ridge axis of a major ocean or a marginal basin, is a dynamic geological process that involves lithospheric extension marked by ductile detachment faults and high-angle normal faults. The geometry of such structures is related to the oceanic expansion rate, and results from more or less pronounced uplift of the oceanic mantle and upper-crustal block faulting and tilting that influence the stratigraphic and lithological characteristics of the oceanic crust and the overlying sedimentary cover. Ophiolites can be used to investigate "on land" various mechanisms of formation of the oceanic lithosphere, as they generate observations useful the interpretation of scientific data gathered from modern oceans. This special session will focus on the characterization, interpretation and comparison of structures observed in modern oceanic crust and in ophiolites, in order to test various hypotheses regarding the genesis of the oceanic crust.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-04
TITLE :	Earth's mantle: new insights from diamonds and xenoliths
CONVENORS :	Maya Kopylova (U. of British Columbia), Don Francis (McGill U.)
CONTACT:	mkopylov@nexus.eos.ubc.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATION:	Mineralogical Association of Canada
DESCRIPTION:	In recent years the scientific community has accumulated a wealth of new data on the petrology, age, composition, physical properties, the thermal and redox state of the mantle as deduced from mantle xenoliths, diamonds and diamond inclusions. We will examine the role that xenolith and diamond studies play in constraining the petrologic evolution and processes in the lithosphere and in the deeper mantle. The temporal evolution of the mantle will be traced from Archean crystallization of diamonds to later metasomatic, igneous and metamorphic processes that shaped xenoliths and xenocrysts in volcanic rocks.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-05
TITLE :	Kimberlites and other diamondiferous rocks
CONVENORS :	Don Francis (McGill U.), Felix Kaminsky (KM Diamond Exploration)
CONTACT:	donf@eps.mcgill.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS:	Mineralogical Association of Canada and Volcanology and Igneous Petrology Division
DESCRIPTION:	The diversity of alkaline ultramafic dykes known to host diamonds share the unusual characteristic of being highly enriched in incompatible trace elements, but highly refractory in terms of major and compatible trace elements, the latter requiring an origin in the lithospheric mantle or below. There is little consensus on the genetic relationships between the distinctive end members in this group of alkaline ultramafic dyke rocks, which includes kimberlite, olivine lamproite, and ultramafic lamprophyre (aillikite). Despite their mineralogical differences, these alkaline ultramafic dykes together constitute a compositional extreme in the array of primitive terrestrial magmas and represent an important enriched component(s) present in the mantle sources of many basalts. The goal of the session on 'Kimberlites and other diamondiferous rocks' is to bring together enthusiasts from both academia and industry to share their latest thinking on the origin and diamond potential of kimberlites and other ultramafic alkaline dykes.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-06
TITLE :	TTG, adakites and high-Mg andesites: modern and ancient analogues
CONVENORS :	Ross Stevenson (GEOTOP-UQAM), Ali Polat (Windsor U.)
CONTACT:	stevenson.ross@uqam.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS:	Volcanology and Igneous Petrology Division
DESCRIPTION:	TTG (tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite) suites, adakites and high-Mg andesites are important indicators of subduction-zone mechanics and lie at the heart of crustal-growth evolution debates (lateral vs. vertical crustal growth). This session invites authors to submit papers that characterize the similarities and differences between these magmatic suites and their implications for magma genesis and tectonics in past and present-day environments.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-07
TITLE :	Physical volcanology, textures and geochemistry of komatiite and basalt flow fields
CONVENORS :	Wulf Mueller (UQAC), Jarda Dostal (St-Mary's U.)
CONTACT:	wmueller@uqac.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS:	Volcanology and Igneous Petrology Division
DESCRIPTION:	Subaqueous komatiite and basalt flows of Early Earth to Precambrian have been locally well-documented, yet the flow-field concept has been generally restricted to modern subaerial flow successions on Hawaii. By applying the flow-field concept to ancient ultramafic-mafic sequences it becomes evident that certain perceptions of subaqueous volcanism concerning flow volume, viscosity and rate may require reevaluation. If komatiite lavas were low-viscosity then how did komatiitic pyroclastic ejecta form under water? Are subaqueous lava fountaining eruptions or violent explosive eruptions viable processes? In addition there is the problem of mapping Al-depleted and Al-undepleted komatiites, and their subsets in the field. Are these two principal types of komatiites restricted to discrete flow fields? Spinifex and cumulate textures are inherent to komatiites and komatiitic basalts. Can such internal textures be used to explain the development of specific flow forms? Similarly, can the geochemical composition influence flow morphology? Extensive basalt flow fields in thick sequences are inherent to greenstone belts. What is their origin? The geochemistry of komatiite and basalt sequences still requires sound documentation at flow field scale and needs to be considered in any geodynamic model. This session uses a multidisciplinary approach to better understand ancient ultramafic-mafic sequences and especially processes. Contributions elucidating large- and small-scale processes are solicited.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-08
TITLE :	Grenville province: a window to the roots of an ancient orogenic plateau?
CONVENOR :	Aphrodite Indares (Memorial U.)
CONTACT:	aindares@mun.ca
DESCRIPTION:	The Grenville province is a Mesoproterozoic continental collision orogen of the same scale as the modern Tibet-Himalayan system. However, in contrast to the latter, it is characterized by widespread exposure of formerly intermediate to deep crustal levels and thus provides an unprecedented opportunity to investigate the evolution of the roots of an orogen. In addition to results of recent studies of the Grenville in general, this session particularly focuses on the hinterland (allochthonous belt) of the orogen, which may represent the remnants of an ancient plateau. Specific issues to be addressed include: - architecture and thermotectonic evolution of the hinterland; - Grenvillian high grade metamorphic terranes: where does the heat comes from? - the significance of Grenvillian age mafic & felsic magmatism in the hinterland; - comparison between the Grenville province and the Tibet-Himalayan system.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-09
TITLE :	Metamorphism, Crustal Fluids and Experimental Petrology: A tribute to George Skippen
CONVENORS :	Dan Marshall (SFU), Fred Ford (Inco), Jo-Anne Goodwin Bell (Carleton)
CONTACT:	marshall@sfu.ca
DESCRIPTION:	This wide-ranging special session on metamorphism, crustal fluids and experimental petrology provides a venue to bring researchers in these fields together to present their new ideas and/or highlight contributions made by George Skippen to these fields. Communications can be theoretical, field or lab based.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-10
TITLE :	The next geology map of Canada
CONVENORS :	Chris Harrison (GSC), Marc St-Onge (GSC), Edward Little (GSC), Stephen Colman-Sadd (Newfoundland Geol. Surv.)
CONTACT:	charriso@nrcan.gc.ca
DESCRIPTION:	This GAC-MAC special session will bring together regional- and provincial-scale geology map compilers from across Canada to compare current methods of map construction and related map database development. What can we learn about previous editions of the Geology Map of Canada, or other national and international geology maps? What can we learn from each other about how geology map compilations are prepared today? What are the major map compilations being prepared at the moment across Canada? What are the big gaps in digital scale compilation? In addition to information and knowledge of a geological nature, what are the other databases or types of maps that are most useful/key in small-scale map compilations? What are the challenges? How do we resolve map boundary faults? Which maps do we include in our compilation efforts and why? What lines and polygons make it from detailed to regional and national scale products? How do we lump local units into regional units and why? Should there be a new nomenclature for national scale map units? How do we cope with conflicting interpretations between old and new maps, ambiguous map legends, a time scale that is constantly evolving, inadequate or antiquated map indices, and the continuous stream of new geology maps? Finally, what are some of the salient regional geological or tectonic questions that have been, or will be addressed with the new generation of major map compilations across Canada? The next geology map of Canada will be a flexible, multidimensional, digitally developed and fully web-delivered product. To reach this goal will require the enthusiastic support and partnership of the relevant federal, provincial and territorial research staff, and will welcome the help of university departments and industry. How do we get from here to there?
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-11
TITLE :	Orogenic fronts : definition and characterisation
CONVENORS :	Sandrine Caderon (MRNFQ), Phil Thurston (Laurentian U.), Toby Rivers (Memorial U.)
CONTACT:	sandrine.caderon@mrnfp.gouv.qc.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS:	Structural Geology and Tectonics Division
DESCRIPTION:	This session aims to define orogenic fronts in terms of their geophysical, lithologic, structural, metamorphic, geochemical and geochronological characteristics. Orogenic fronts constitute major boundaries which separate distinct geological domains, but sometimes the boundaries are obscure and it becomes difficult to distinguish the limits of geological provinces, sub-provinces or terranes. The notion of what an orogenic front actually is has evolved, and will continue to do so; from initial geophysical definitions we are moving towards more specific criteria, allowed by technological evolution. This session solicits reports on the characterization of major orogenic fronts; it will be complemented by a four day-long pre-meeting field trip along the Grenville Front.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-12
TITLE :	Secular change in tectonic processes
CONVENORS :	Andrew Hynes (McGill U.), Tom Skulski (GSC-Ottawa)
CONTACT:	andrew@eps.mcgill.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS:	Structural Geology and Tectonics Division
DESCRIPTION:	The degree to which Earth's tectonic processes have changed through geological time remains controversial. In particular, although it is now widely believed that Archean tectonic processes involved something akin to plate tectonics, this view is not universally held and, even if it is correct, there are features of the Archean record that appear to differ from those of younger terranes. We invite presentations that provide data or theoretical arguments in favour of similarities and/or differences in tectonic processes over the course of Earth's history.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-13
TITLE :	Isotope geochemistry and ore mineralization
CONVENORS :	Kurt Kyser (Queen's U.), Norbert Clauer (U. of Strasbourg)
CONTACT:	kyser@geol.queensu.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATION:	Isotope Sciences Division
DESCRIPTION:	This session is centered on the use of isotope geochemistry as an aid in deciphering ore genesis, the evolution of ore deposits and exploration for ore deposits. The focus will be on the origin and timing of fluids associated with the genesis of mineralization and therefore will include both stable and radiogenic isotope geochemistry in the contributions. Isotope geochemistry is among the most useful techniques for deciphering the origin and age of various fluid events, but it is not a panacea and therefore will be used in context with other information. Holistic approaches to ore deposits that involve isotope geochemistry will be the theme.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-14
TITLE :	Recent developments and applications of ICP-MS with emphasis on methods of sample introduction
CONVENORS :	Paul Bédard (UQAC), Richard Cox (UQAC), Nuno Machado (GEOTOP-UQAM), William G. Minarik (McGill U.)
CONTACT:	pbedard@uqac.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATION:	Mineralogical Association of Canada
DESCRIPTION:	ICP-MS machines have become common in recent years. We seek contributions describing new and exciting applications of this technique to Earth science. Of particular interest are strategies that overcome analytical difficulties (isotope fractionation, matrix concentration effects, isobaric interference) or that describe innovative sample introduction and matter beam conditioning methods (e.g., combined laser ablation and solution aspiration, collision and reaction cells, and gas chromatography-ICP-MS).
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-15
TITLE :	Advances in micro- and nano-scale characterization and analysis of Earth materials
CONVENORS :	Alan Anderson (St. Francis Xavier U.), Penny King (U. of Western Ontario)
CONTACT:	aanderso@stfx.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS:	Mineralogical Association of Canada
DESCRIPTION:	This session aims to highlight recent advances in micro- and nano-scale techniques and their application to the study of selected regions in amorphous and crystalline materials. We particularly encourage presentations focused on the analysis and/or imaging of inclusions in minerals (glass, devitrified glass and fluid), experimental run products, and zones and intergrowths in accessory minerals.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-16
TITLE :	Stratigraphy and resource potential of the St. Lawrence Platform
CONVENORS :	Bruce Hart (McGill U.), Denis Lavoie (GSC-Québec)
CONTACT:	hart@eps.mcgill.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATION:	Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Canadian Sedimentology Research Group
DESCRIPTION:	Recent hydrocarbon, diamond and other exploration efforts in the St. Lawrence Lowlands, combined with ongoing hydrocarbon exploration and development efforts in the Great Lakes Lowlands, have highlighted a need for updating our knowledge of the stratigraphic and structural history of this area. We are soliciting applied and fundamental papers that address these questions.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-17
TITLE :	The use of micropaleontological tracers in paleoclimatology, paleoceanography, paleolimnology and paleoecology.
CONVENORS :	Anne de Vernal (GEOTOP-UQAM), Marianne Douglas (U. of Toronto)
CONTACT:	devernal.anne@uqam.ca
DESCRIPTION:	The evaluation of climate and environmental changes though time is important to determine the natural variability of the Earth system and to identify the anthropogenic impacts. Micropaleontological remains preserved in marine or lake sediments may allow the estimation of such changes on a qualitative and quantitative basis. In particular, during the past decades the development of modern microfossil databases and various data-treatment approaches (regression, neural networks, and the best analogue technique) led to the production of time series of parameters critical in the climate, ocean, and environmental system. The objective of the session is to give an overview of recently developed reconstruction techniques, to present paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental reconstructions based on micropaleontological approaches, and to illustrate, notably from model-data comparison examples, how micropaleontology can be relevant for the understanding of the Earth system dynamics.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-18
TITLE :	Early diagenesis in marine and lake sediments
CONVENORS :	Bjorn Sundby (McGill U.), Alfonso Mucci (McGill U.)
CONTACT:	bjorn@eps.mcgill.ca
DESCRIPTION:	The surface layer of marine sediments is an environment in transition: sediment added to the top of the layer is progressively buried. During burial, the sediment is subjected to diagenesis, defined as the sum of the processes that bring about changes in a sediment subsequent to deposition in water. The chemical reactions that occur during early diagenesis play an important role in the cycling of matter in the ocean. By changing the composition of sediment pore water, these reactions create concentration gradients and drive fluxes of solutes and gases within the sediment pile and across the sediment-water interface. By changing the composition and the properties of the solid phase, they also modify the information about the state of the ocean that is recorded in the particulate matter (i.e., proxies) that settles to the sea floor. Contributions are sought that address early diagenesis in the broadest sense, including reactions and fluxes, transport processes, mineral dissolution and precipitation, and the effects of diagenesis on the sedimentary record.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-19
TITLE :	The storage and transport of trace elements in the Earth system: from the core to the environment
CONVENORS :	Don Baker (McGill U.), Sarah-Jane Barnes (UQAC), Alfonso Mucci (McGill U.)
CONTACT:	donb@eps.mcgill.ca
DESCRIPTION:	Understanding the geochemical cycle of trace elements has long given Earth scientists insight into geological processes. Recently, the integrated approach to studying trace elements has experienced a renewal due in part to the introduction of new analytical techniques and in part due to adoption of the Earth System Science viewpoint. This special session will welcome submissions investigating all processes in the Earth system (including formation the Earth; the formation of crust, formation of ore deposits, evolution of the atmosphere) based upon the theme of trace element behaviour.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-20
TITLE :	Solid-solution interactions in natural waters
CONVENORS :	Alfonso Mucci (McGill U.)
CONTACT:	alm@eps.mcgill.ca
DESCRIPTION:	Solid-solution interactions control the geochemical behaviour, mobility and cycling of most elements in natural waters. These processes affect the way we live and the world around us. They play critical roles in, for example, the quality of drinking water, the development of soils and their fertility, the genesis of certain ore deposits, sediment diagenesis, and the fate of contaminants released to the environment. Contributions are sought that address, in the broadest sense, the mechanisms and kinetics of solid-solution interactions in aqueous solutions under Earth surface conditions including: solubility; speciation; dissolution, precipitation and co-precipitation mechanisms and kinetics; adsorption processes and the elaboration of surface complexation models; equilibrium and disequilibrium isotopic fractionation resulting from the precipitation of authigenic phases.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-21
TITLE :	Isotopic and chemical approaches for understanding the sources, transport, and biogeochemical cycling of solutes in aquatic systems
CONVENORS :	Moritz Lehmann (GEOTOP-UQAM), Ian Clark (U. of Ottawa)
CONTACT:	lehmann.moritz@uqam.ca
DESCRIPTION:	Combined measurements of solute concentrations and multiple isotope tracers have found widespread uses in aquatic studies to identify contamination sources and biogeochemical processes, and to assess mixing and water mass transport, with the observational scale ranging from small aquifers to the global ocean. We invite presentations on all aspects of the measurement of geochemical tracers, particularly isotope tracers, and their potential to provide insight into hydrological processes, as well as the biogeochemical cycling of various elements in freshwater and marine ecosystems. We particularly encourage contributions that will focus on N-cycling transformations (e.g., nitrification, denitrification, N-assimilation), and the extent to which isotope geochemical signatures can be used to better reveal and quantify N-biogeochemical processes and reaction pathways in complex natural systems. Additional specific topics may include, but are not limited to, papers that address novel isotope analytical techniques, the use of (isotope-) geochemical tracers to assess pollution of coastal waters and groundwater, field and laboratory experiments that address the isotope effects associated with specific biogeochemical reactions, the assessment of atmospheric contaminants, dissolved gases in the subsurface, the tracing of water flow paths and weathering processes. Investigated isotopes systems can include both stable isotopes and radiogenic (lithogenic and cosmogenic) isotopes. This session will address recent advances in the application of isotope ratios as biogeochemical and/or hydrological tracers in both freshwater and marine environments.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-22
TITLE :	Reconstructing ancient climates, environments and biology using stable isotopes
CONVENORS :	Darren Grocke (McMaster U.), Ulrich Wortmann (U. of Toronto)
CONTACT:	grocke@mcmaster.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS:	Geological Association of Canada and Isotope Sciences Division
DESCRIPTION:	Stable-isotope ratios are now widely used for reconstructing ancient climates, environments and biology; however our ability to bring together cross-disciplinary researchers is lacking. This session is open to ALL disciplines, ranging from archaeology, biology, ecology, geology and zoology. Papers presenting either modern and/or deep time isotopic records are encouraged, on either inorganic or organic materials. Recent advances using new preparation and analytical approaches for isotope analysis are welcomed.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-23
TITLE :	Polar climate stability
CONVENORS :	Richard Peltier (U. of Toronto), Claude Hillaire-Marcel (GEOTOP-UQAM), Anne de Vernal (GEOTOP-UQAM)
CONTACT:	peltier@atmosp.physics.utoronto.ca
DESCRIPTION:	This special session of the Canadian Polar Climate Stability Network (PCSN) will focus on the problem of climate change at high northern latitudes, the region of Earth that will be most strongly affected by greenhouse gas-induced global warming. The scientific efforts involve investigations connected with the issues of (1) rapid climate change in both the terrestrial and oceanographic realms; (2) the stability of the polar cryosphere (land and sea ice); (3) the North Atlantic/Arctic Oscillation in coupled climate models as viewed from the perspective of paleoclimatology and Earth System history; and finally (4) the influence of the tropical oceans, through a variety of "teleconnection" mechanisms, on high latitude climate change. Reports on both observational and theoretical modelling components will be presented. The observational aspects of the program involve the use of deep sea sedimentary cores, ice cores from the ice caps in the eastern Canadian Arctic archipelago and in the high mountains of the Yukon (e.g., Mt. Logan), as well as palynological records from high latitude lakes and marginal marine basins and records of temperature change in the upper crust. The modelling component of the program includes the use of both modern coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation models as well as models designed to describe more localized processes. The PCSN is a new Canadian national programme sponsored by the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS).
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-24
TITLE :	Global change
CONVENORS :	Judith Patterson (Concordia U.)
CONTACT:	patj@alcor.concordia.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATION:	Environmental Earth Science Division
DESCRIPTION:	The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme was established in 1986, and a special session on Global Change was held at GAC-MAC the last time the meeting was held in Montreal, in 1989. Now, nearly 20 years later, GAC-MAC is back in Montreal, and it is appropriate to take this opportunity to look a the state of Global Change research in the geosciences in Canada. Papers are requested to look at the role the geosciences have played in the evolution and understanding of environmental change, what are the significant accomplishments, and where global change research in geoscience is headed in the future.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-25
TITLE :	Tsunamis: their generation and deposits through geological time
CONVENORS :	Mike Brookfield (U. of Guelph)
CONTACT:	MBROOKFI@lrs.uoguelph.ca
DESCRIPTION:	The recent Asian tsunami has emphasized the importance of tsunami as catastrophic and unpredictable events in both human and Earth history, yet there are very few criteria by which we can separate tsunami deposits from other event deposits such as those from major storms. Furthermore, the generation (impact, fault, landslide, volcanic) nature (wavelength, height, speed), frequency (several major ones occur in most oceans each century) and severity (some are many tens or even hundreds of metres high) of tsunamis are not often considered when interpreting ancient deposits. For example, there are many oceanic Ordovician meteorite impacts preserved in the Baltic and Canadian shields which must have generated incredibly large tsunamis, but there is little published on any resulting deposits which must be relatively common. There are very few ancient tsunami deposits described from the geological record (huge landslide-generated tsunamis should be especially common), yet to determine their regularity, ancient tsunami deposits have to be recognized within both a historical and geological time frame. The purpose of this session is to bring together oceanographers, geomorphologists and geologists, to address the above points. Papers from the session will be published as a book which will hopefully generate more interest in tsunami as both historical and geological agents.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-26
TITLE :	Geological heritage in Canada: where and why ?
CONVENORS :	Serge Perreault (MRNFQ), Pierre Verpaelst (MRNFQ)
CONTACT:	Serge.Perreault@mrnf.gouv.qc.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATION:	AQUEST
DESCRIPTION:	Geological heritage is the memory of the Earth. This memory of past events, recorded at depth and on the Earth's surface, in the rocks and in the landscapes, in the minerals and fossils, can be read and translated... (International declaration of the Rights of the Memory of the Earth, Digne, France, 1993). Our geological heritage, which is an archive of the Earth, occurs in countless forms. Considering the multiple pressures our geological environment is subjected to, it might be time to prepare and implement a strategy to ensure the protection and conservation of our diverse geological heritage. This "geodiversity" includes the different types of geological environments and elements occurring in Canada. The special session is an opportunity to share information on existing initiatives throughout Canada, and to suggest other actions to help preserve our geological heritage.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-27
TITLE :	The dynamics of the St-Lawrence River and its tributaries
CONVENORS :	André Roy (U. de Montréal), Pascale Biron (Concordia U.)
CONTACT:	andre.roy@umontreal.ca
DESCRIPTION:	The Saint-Lawrence River is a large fluvial system with a unique evolution that has produced a most original landscape. It is characterized by many distinctive features (e.g., high terraces, in-channel lakes, variable sediment sources) that control its dynamics and response to environmental changes. The Saint-Lawrence system is also subject to severe anthropogenic pressures. At present, there is a growing concern over its response to future climatic changes. It is forecast that the mean water levels of the Saint-Lawrence may drop by as much as 0.5 to 1 meter. As the Saint-Lawrence River represents the base level for its tributaries, such a decrease in its level could also affect a large area in the Lowlands surrounding the river. Given that the vast majority of Quebec population lives near the River and that any change in its water level could have serious environmental and socio-economic consequences, it is urgent that this issue is addressed. In order to better understand and model the response of the river to environmental changes, it is necessary to examine not only the more recent dynamics of the Saint-Lawrence River and of its tributaries, but also to put these changes in a long-term perspective by examining its evolution during the Holocene and by establishing the long-term sedimentary budgets. This special session therefore welcomes all contributions on the Saint-Lawrence River and its tributaries dealing with current and past flow conditions and sediment transport dynamics and with any changes sustained by the River in the Holocene.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-28
TITLE :	Hydrogeological studies: from field characterisation to mathematical modelling
CONVENORS :	Marie Larocque (UQAM), Miroslav Nastev (GSC-Québec)
CONTACT:	larocque.marie@uqam.ca
DESCRIPTION:	Groundwater use continues to increase in Canada and elsewhere in the world. The need for knowledge and understanding of aquifers and their dynamics are proportional to the stresses exerted on groundwater resources. Field studies remain the basis of all hydrogeological assessments, on local or regional scales. From conventional methods to sophisticated innovations, the range of field techniques is inexhaustible and applications vary considerably from one site to another. Numerical modeling of hydrogeological phenomena evolves in the same direction. Modeling tools provide the means to compile the ever-increasing number of available field data and observations, to test different hypotheses on aquifer dynamics, and to study long term scenarios. Conception and building of mathematical models benefits not only from field studies but also from more sophisticated and diversified software. The objective of this Special Session is to examine current hydrogeological studies, including field studies and numerical modeling. Topics addressed will include groundwater flow, contaminant transport and management of groundwater resources impacted by increased stress and climate change effects. The authors are invited to present their work either orally or as posters.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-29
TITLE :	Geoarchaeology of North-East America
CONVENORS :	Adrian Burke (U. de Montréal), Claude Chapdelaine (U. de Montréal)
CONTACT:	adrian.burke@umontreal.ca
DESCRIPTION:	This session will focus on recent interdisciplinary collaborations between geologists and archaeologists working in north-eastern North America. The session encompasses a large geographic area from Ontario to Cape Breton and from Nunavik to New England, and a considerable time span from the late Pleistocene through the entire Holocene until the present. We aim to keep the topics as varied as possible to reflect the dynamic nature of current interdisciplinary research. Four major subject areas to be included are: geomorphology and soil micromorphology, sea level change and paleoenvironmental reconstructions, geophysical techniques and geological dating, and bedrock/surficial geology and the sourcing of archaeological materials.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-30
TITLE :	Astrobiology: lessons from Planet Earth
CONVENORS :	Richard Léveillé (Canadian Space Agency) Darlene Lim (NASA) Kurt Konhauser (U. of Alberta)
CONTACT:	Richard.Leveille@space.gc.ca
DESCRIPTION:	Astrobiology seeks to understand the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the Universe. At present, our only known example of life is found here on Earth. In recent years, it has become apparent that life on Earth has adapted to virtually all environments where liquid water is present. In particular, microorganisms have adapted to a wide range of extreme environments, where physico-chemical conditions are intolerable to most other organisms. Understanding the geological conditions under which life originated and continues to evolve here on Earth is a key endeavour of astrobiology. This session welcomes geobiological contributions from the broad field of astrobiology and we particularly encourage contributions that deal with life in extreme environments and interactions between microorganisms and their environment, both past and present.
SPECIAL SESSION	SS-31
TITLE :	Learning styles and teaching strategies: getting Earth science to stick
CONVENORS :	Eileen Van der Flier-Keller (Victoria U.), Jennifer Bates (GSC), Jane Wynne (GSC)
CONTACT:	fkeller@uvic.ca
SPONSORING ORGANIZATION:	EdGEO
DESCRIPTION:	In the International Year of Planet Earth - Earth Science for Society, it is our responsibility to work towards better public understanding of earth science. Ever wondered if there was a more effective way to teach earth science? Whether your audience is comprised of university students, school children or the general public, an awareness of innovative teaching strategies and the broad range of learning styles will help get your earth science message to stick. This session will highlight innovative earth science teaching and learning through discussions and demonstrations of effective teaching methods, diverse learning styles, and interdisciplinarity of earth system science in our curricula.