• Ph.D. Geosciences, The University of Arizona, Mineral Economics Minor (2002)
• M.S. Geosciences, The University of Arizona (1994)
• B.S. Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Environmental Sciences Minor (1985)

Ph.D. research:
Regional Controls and Magmatic Evolution of Laramide Porphyry Copper Systems In Western Mexico
The objective of this project was to identify and assess the relative influence of regional and local geologic variables on the development of Laramide porphyry copper systems in Sinaloa and southern Sonora. New regional lithologic, geophysical, and radiogenic isotope results provided an improved picture of the distribution of tectonic boundaries, the composition of contrasting basements, and the evolution of magmatism in this part of northwestern Mexico. A complex but systematic relationship between provincial and local controls was further indicated by deposit-scale geologic, geochemical, structural, and alteration studies conducted at representative porphyry systems from the different tectonic settings.

Master's research:
Paragenesis, Elemental Distribution, and Stable Isotopes at the Peña Colorada Iron Skarn, Colima, Mexico
The objective of this project was to describe the geology of the deposit, and to deduce the sources of the hydrothermal fluids.

Other projects:
1) Participation in the generation of a GIS-based database of mineral occurrences, igneous geochemistry, chronologic age dates, and tectonic summaries of Mexico. This project was part of a collaborative effort between industry, the USGS, and the Center for Mineral Resources.

2) Participation in the USGS-sponsored mineral resource assessment of Central America and the porphyry copper deposit life cycles project.

3) Organization of seminars followed by extended field visits to operating mines and other important prospects in Mexico (29 deposits), Australia (13 deposits), and the US (31 deposits).

Selected publications:

Barton, M. D., Staude, J. M. G.,Zürcher, L., and Megaw, P. K. M., 1995, Porphyry Copper and Other Intrusion-Related Mineralization in Mexico, in Pierce, F. W., and Bolm, J. G., eds., Porphyry Copper Deposits of the American Cordillera: Arizona Geological Society, v. 20, p. 487-524.

Zürcher, L., Ruiz, J., and Barton, M. D., 2001, Paragenesis, Elemental Distribution, and Stable Isotopes at the Peña Colorada Iron Skarn, Colima, Mexico: Economic Geology, v. 96, p. 535-557.

Harris, D., Zürcher, L., Stanley, M. C., and Marlow, J. E., [to be submitted], A Comparative Analysis of Favorability Mappings by Weights of Evidence, Probabilistic Neural Networks, Discriminant Analysis, and Logistic Regression: Natural Resources Research