Chris Yakymchuk

Chris Yakymchuk studies how mountain chains form through the process of plate tectonics.

His research features thermodynamic modelling that highlight processes operating at the micro scale, such as melting. These processes can have a major impact on large scale tectonics in the continental crust.

• Metamorphic petrology, structural geology and plate tectonics to understand the evolution of the Earth's continental crust

• Geochronology - the use of stable and radioactive isotopes to date rock formations

• Orogenesis - the process of mountain formation

• Climate Change and Geosciences

• Renewable Energy

• Energy Materials

• Next Generation Batteries

• Threats to Aquatic Ecosystems and their Interaction

• Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage

Professor Yakymchuk's research interests lie broadly in understanding the tectonic histories of mountain belts.

He is particularly interested in the differences in orogenic processes from the Archean to present and how these differences are manifested in the rock record. He uses a multidisciplinary approach that applies fieldwork, metamorphic and igneous petrology, structural geology, geochemistry, and geochronology to understand orogenesis and the evolution of the continental crust.

He is also interested in fluid–rock interactions in the deep crust and applying the principles of igneous and metamorphic petrology to understand the petrogenesis of mineral deposits.

• 2014 PhD Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States

• 2010 MSc Geological Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada

• 2008 BSc Earth Sciences, Honours, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

• 2020 Mineralogical Association of Canada Young Scientist Award

• 2020 Jane Lang Excellence in Earth and Environmental Sciences Teaching Award

• 2019 Ontario Early Researcher Award

• 2014 Young Author of the Year Award, Journal of the Geological Society, London.

• 2012 Best PhD Graduate Talk Award, University of Maryland, Department of Geology.

• 2011 Jack Henderson Prize for best M.Sc. Thesis. Canadian Tectonics Group. Geological Association of Canada.

• 2010 W.A. Gorman Teaching Assistant Award. Queen’s University.

• 2008 Best Undergraduate Thesis Award. Department of Earth Sciences, Dalhousie University.

• 2008 Rupert McNeil Award for Best Undergraduate Presentation. Atlantic Geoscience Society 34th Colloquium.

• EARTH 332 - Metamorphic Petrology
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025
• EARTH 471 - Mineral Deposits
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025
• EARTH 490 - Field Course
  • Taught in 2020
• EARTH 491 - Special Topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • Taught in 2025
• EARTH 625 - Advanced Petrology
  • Taught in 2021
• EARTH 649 - Precambrian Geology
  • Taught in 2020, 2025

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• Yakymchuk, C., Brown, M., Brown, C., Siddoway, C.S., Fanning, C.M., Korhonen, F.J. In Press. Paleozoic evolution of western Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica. Geological Society of America Bulletin. doi: 10.1130/B31136.1

• Yakymchuk, C., Brown, M., Clark, C., Korhonen, F.J., Piccoli, P. M., Siddoway, C. S., Taylor, R.J.M. and Vervoort, J. D. 2015. Decoding polyphase migmatites using geochronology and phase equilibria modelling. Journal of Metamorphic Geology. 33: 203–230. doi: 10.1111/jmg.12117​

• Please see Chris Yakymchuk's Google Scholar profile for a current list of his peer-reviewed articles.