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Marcus Silva, M.S.

Research Scientist
Mine Waste Mapping and Characterization, Abandoned Mines, Mineral Deposits and Exploration
Marcus
msilva01@arizona.edu

Education

  • M.S., 2019 Mineral Exploration, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM, USA
  • B.S., 2015, Environmental Geology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Current and Recent Projects

  • Mine waste mapping and characterization
  • Abandoned Mine Land project (NMBGMR)
  • Exploration for low sulfidation epithermal, polymetallic vein, and porphyry systems

Research Interests

  • Mapping, reclamation, and remediation of historic mine sites and waste material
  • Abandoned mine land surveys and inventory
  • Field mapping and mineral exploration
  • Ore petrography

Selected Publications

  • Silva, M., 2019, An inventory and mineralogical characterization of mines and prospects in the North Magdalena mining district, Socorro County, New Mexico: Unpublished M.S. thesis, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Socorro, 219 p.
  • Silva, M., O’Bannon, E., Williams, Q., 2018, A vibrational spectroscopic study of kernite to 25 GPa: implications for the high-pressure stability of borate polyhedral: American Mineralogist, v. 103, p. 1306-1318

Biography

I joined the Arizona Geological Survey in September 2024. I will be working primarily on mine waste mapping and characterization projects across Arizona with implications for reprocessing and extraction of critical minerals and other commodities. In graduate school, I worked on an Abandoned Mine Lands project through the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. During my time there, I inventoried hundreds of historic mine features across several districts, while characterizing waste and prioritizing them for reclamation based on physical and environmental hazards. In the 5 years after earning my master’s, I provided mapping, sampling, core logging, and petrographic services to several junior exploration companies on a variety of precious and base metal projects in Idaho and Arizona. As I leave the exploration industry behind, I’m interested in getting back to work focusing on reclamation and remediation of legacy mine features and waste across the southwest.