Lee A. Groat

Lee A. Groat is a Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC), affiliated with the Faculty of Science. His research focuses on mineralogy, crystal chemistry, and economic geology, with expertise in gem deposits, pegmatites, and carbonatites. He holds editorial roles in The Canadian Mineralogist and has been recognized with awards like the Leonard G. Berry Medal and Killam Prize for Teaching.

• Education: B.Sc. (Honours, Geology) from Queen's University (1982), Ph.D. from University of Manitoba (1988), NATO Postdoctoral Fellow at Cambridge University (1988-89).
• Research Interests: Borosilicate minerals, gem corundum, emerald deposits, rare-element pegmatites, carbonatite petrogenesis, and CO₂ sequestration.
• Awards: Young Scientist Medal (1999), Killam Prize (2002), Mineralogical Society of America Fellowship (2003), Leonard G. Berry Medal (2019).

His work integrates field studies, geochemical analysis, and experimental mineral synthesis. Notable projects include elucidating gem formation mechanisms in Canada, studying the Little Nahanni Pegmatite Group, and advancing carbonatite research. He leads the Integrated Sciences program at UBC and advises on mineral exploration through consulting roles with companies like Strategic Metals Ltd. and Terra CO₂ Technologies.

Labs/Teams: Active in UBC's mineralogy facilities, including X-ray diffraction labs, scanning electron microscopy, and collaborative projects with institutions like Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research (PCIGR).