Dr. Helmstaedt's main research interests are: structural field studies, in particular the Archean Slave and Superior provinces of the Canadian Shield; structural and tectonic controls of mineral deposits; all things related to structural and tectonic settings of kimberlites and their upper mantle sample, including diamonds. He participated in the Canadian LITHOPROBE Program as leader of the Western Superior Transect. After serving as head of department from 1994 to 2003, he became professor emeritus in 2004 and was appointed acting head of department for 2008/2009.

Recent Publications:

Usui, T., Kobayashi, K., Nakamura, E., Helmstaedt, H., 2007. Trace element fractionation in deep subduction zones inferred from a lawsonite-eclogite xenolith from the Colorado Plateau. Chemical Geology, 239, 336-351.

Bethune, K.M., Helmstaedt, H.H. and McNicoll, V.J., 2006. Structural analysis of the Miniss River and related faults, western Superior Province: post-collisional displacement initiated at terrane boundaries. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 43, 1031-1054.

Young,, M.D., McNicoll, V., Helmstaedt, H.H., Skulski, T. and Percival, J.A., 2006. Pickle Lake revisited: New structural, geochronological and geochemical constraints on greenstone belt assembly, western Superior Province, Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 43, 821-847.

Percival, J.A. and Helmstaedt, H., 2006. The Western Superior Province Lithoprobe and NATMAP transects: introduction and summary. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 43, 743-747.

J.A. Percival, J.A., Sanborn-Barrie, M., Skulski, T., Stott, G.M., Helmstaedt, H. and White, D.J., 2006. Tectonic evolution of the western Superior Province from NATMAP and Lithoprobe studies. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 43, 1085-1117.

Johns, S.M., Helmstaedt, H.H. and Kyser, T.K., 2006. Paleoproterozoic submarine intrabasinal rifting, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada: volcanic structure and geochemistry of the Bravo Lake Formation. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 43, 593-616.

Johns, S.M., Kyser, T.K., Helmstaedt, H.H., 2006. Character of fluids associated with hydrothermal alteration and metamorphism of Paleozoic submarine volcanic rocks, Baffin Island. Precambrian Research, 145, 93-110.

Usui, T., Nakamura, E. and Helmstaedt, H., 2006. Petrology and geochemistry of eclogite xenoliths from the Colorado Plateau: Implications for the evolution of subducted lithosphere. Journal of Petrology, 47, 926-964.

Helmstaedt, H.H. 2006. Evolution of geological understanding of the Yellowknife Domain. Chapter 3 in Gold in the Yellowknife Greenstone Belt, Northwest Territories: Results of the EXTECH III Multidisciplinary Research Project, (ed.) Anglin, C.D., Falck, H., Wright, D.F., and Ambrose, E.J.; Geological Association of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication No. 3, p. 29-37.

Gurney, J.J., Helmstaedt, H.H., Le Roex, A.P., Nowicki, T.E., Richardson, S.H., and Westerlund, K.J., 2005. Diamonds: Crustal distribution and formation processes in time and space and an integrated deposit model. Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, 143-177.

Percival, J.A. and Helmstaedt, H., 2004. Insights on Archean continent-ocean assembly, western Superior Province, from new structural, geochemical and geochronological observations: introduction and summary. Precambrian Research, 132, 209-212.

Nowicki, T., Crawford, B., Dyck, D., Carlson, J., McElroy, R., Oshust, P., Helmstaedt, H., 2004. The geology of kimberlite pipes of the Ekati property, Northwest Territories, Canada. Lithos, 76, 1-27.