Derek Leung

Derek Leung is a Masters by Research (MScR) candidate at the University of Edinburgh (UK) under the supervision of Drs. Florian Fusseis and Ian Butler. His research project, titled “Microscale Characterisation of Damage Evolution in Curling Stones used in International Competition” aims to understand the mineralogical and textural controls on damage to curling stones by using synchrotron microtomography, image analysis, and petrophysical testing of pristine and damaged curling stone samples.

Curling stones only come from two locations in the world: the island of Ailsa Craig (Scotland) and Trefor Quarry (North Wales). Popular media suggest that the rocks from Ailsa Craig and Trefor are one-of-akind. But what makes these rocks so special? Laying the groundwork for his MScR project, Derek developed an integrated mineralogical and textural baseline of curling stones used in international-level competition for his undergraduate thesis at Laurentian University (Canada) supervised by Prof. Andrew McDonald and Rémy Poulin.

As an aspiring mineralogist and international-level curler, combining his passions of mineralogy, geology, and curling is an immense privilege.

Derek has also worked on a new mineral species of the palygorskite supergroup (supervised by Prof. Andrew McDonald) and is broadly interested in the modulated structures of the palysepiole polysomatic series.

Outside of academia and sport, Derek divides his time on creative projects such as 3-D printing of crystallographic models, pop-up book design, and creative necktie knotting.

Previous Recipients:

    • In 2023, The Hawley Medal was awarded to Andrew McDonald of Laurentian University, Chris Beckett-Brown of the OGS, and Beth McClenaghan of the GSC for their paper entitled:
      “Trace Elements Characteristics of Tourmaline in Porphyry Cu Systems Development and Application to Discrimination.”
    • In 2022, The Hawley Medal was awarded to Drs. Paula C. Piilonen and Glenn Poirier (Canadian Museum of Nature), William Lechner, Ralph Rowe (Canadian Museum of Nature), and R. Peter Richards (Oberlin College) for their paper entitled:
      “ZEOLITE MINERALS FROM WAT OCHENG, TA ANG, RATANAKIRI PROVINCE, CAMBODIA – OCCURRENCE, COMPOSITION, AND PARAGENESIS.”
    • In 2021, The Hawley Medal is awarded to Drs. Andrew J. Kaczowka (Cameco Exploration), T. Kurt Kyser (deceased, formerly from Queen’s University), Tom G. Kotzer (University of Saskatchewan), Matthew I. Leybourne, and Daniel Layton-Matthews (Queen’s University). The paper is entitled:
      “Geometallurgical ore characterization of the high-grade polymetallic unconformity-related uranium deposit” The Canadian Mineralogist, September 2021; Vol. 59, part 5, 813-845 https:// pubs.geoscienceworld.org/canmin/article-
      abstract/59/5/813/608140/ Geometallurgical-ore-characterization-of-the-high.
    • In 2020, The award for the best paper published went to Drs. Zeinab Azadbakht (Ontario Geological Survey) and David R. Lentz (Department of Earth Sciences, University of New Brunswick) for their paper:
      “High-Resolution LA-ICP-MS Trace-Element Mapping of Magmatic Biotite: A New Approach for Studying Syn- to Post-Magmatic Evolution”, which appeared in The Canadian Mineralogist v58n3, pp 293–311
      (https://doi.org/10.3749/canmin.1900101). Zeinab Azadbakht has been the R
    • In 2019, this award went to Drs. Elliot A. Wehrle and Andrew M. McDonald (Harquail School of Earth Sciences, Laurentian University) for the following paper:
      “Cathodoluminescence and Trace-Element Chemistry of Quartz from Sudbury Offset Dikes: Observations, Interpretations and Genetic Implications” The Canadian Mineralogist, 2019, v57(6), pp947–963 (https://doi.org/10.3749/canmin.1900049). This contribution combines cathodoluminescence (CL) data and trace
    • In 2018, the Hawley Medal awarded to the best paper published in The Canadian Mineralogist went to Rémy S. Poulin, Daniel J. Kontak, and Andrew M. McDonald of Laurentian University (Canada) and Beth McClenaghan of the Geological Survey of
      Canada for the following paper:
      “Assessing Scheelite as an Ore-Deposit Discriminator Using its TraceElement and REE Chemistry” in The Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 56, pp. 265-302, May 2018.
    • In 2017, the medal was awarded to Gil F. Tansman, Paul S. Kindstedt, and John M. Hughes for their paper:
      “Minerals in Food: Crystal Structures of Ikaite and Struvite from Bacterial Smears on Washed-Rind Cheese” (The Canadian Mineralogist v55, pp. 89-100, January 2017).
    • In 2016, the award went to Albert Chan, David M. Jenkins, and M. Darby Dyar for their paper:
      “Partitioning of Chlorine between NaCl Brines and Ferro-Pargasite: Implications for the Formation of Chlorine-rich Amphiboles in Mafic Rocks”, which appeared in the January 2016 issue of Canadian Mineralogist (v54, pp 337–351).
    • In 2015, the award went to Sarah C. Gordon and Andrew M. McDonald for the following paper:
      “A STUDY OF THE COMPOSITION, DISTRIBUTION, AND GENESIS OF PYRRHOTITE IN THE COPPER CLIFF OFFSET, SUDBURY, ONTARIO,” Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 53, part 5, September 2015.
    • In 2014, it is awarded to Fernando G. Sardi and Adriana Heimann for their paper,
      “Pegmatitic beryl as indicator of melt evolution: example from the Velasco District, Pampeana Pegmatite Province, Argentina, and review of worldwide occurrences” (Canadian Mineralogist 52: 809-836).
    • In 2013, the Hawley Medal Awarded went to Felix V. Kaminsky, Richard Wirth, and Anja Schreiber:
      “CARBONATITIC INCLUSIONS IN DEEP MANTLE DIAMOND FROM JUINA, BRAZIL: NEW MINERALS IN THE CARBONATE-HALIDE ASSOCIATION,” Canadian Mineralogist 51: 669-688.
    • In 2012, this year’s award was presented to B. Lalinská-Voleková, J. Majzlan, T. Klimko, M. Chovan, G. Kucˇerová, J. Michnˇová, R. Hovoricˇ, J. Göttlicher and R. Steininger for their paper:
      “Mineralogy of weathering products of Fe-As-Sb mine wastes and soils at several Sb deposits in Slovakia” (Canadian Mineralogist 50: 481-500).
    • In 2011, the Hawley Medal went to Susanne Göb, Thomas Wenzel, Michael Bau, Dorritt Jacob, Anselm Loges, and Gregor Markl. The award winning paper was:
      "The redistribution of rare-earth elements in secondary minerals of hydrothermal veins, Schwarzwald, Southwestern Germany." Canadian Mineralogist 49: 1305-1333 The paper describes the association and chemical compositions
    • In 2010, the Hawley Medal went to Joel D. Grice for the best paper published in The Canadian Mineralogist Grice JD (2010). The role of beryllium in beryllosilicate mineral structures and zeolite formation. Canadian Mineralogist 48: 1493-1518
      In 2009, the Hawley Medal went to David London for the best paper published in The Canadian Mineralogist London D (2009). The origin of primary textures in granitic pegmatites. Canadian Mineralogist 47: 697-723
    • In 2008, the Hawley Medal went to Anderson, Wirth, and Thomas for the best paper published in The Canadian Mineralogist in 2008 Anderson AJ, Wirth R, Thomas R (2008). The alteration of metamict zircon and its role in the remobilization of high-field-strength elements in the Georgeville granite, Nova Scotia. Canadian Mineralogist 46: 1-18
    • In 2007, the Hawley Medal was awarded to Dr. D. Barrie Clarke of Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Entitled “Assimilation of Xenocrysts in Granitic Magmas: Principles, Processes, Proxies and Problems” (volume 45, pages 5–30)
    • In 2006, the Hawley Medal was awarded to François Farges, Ralf Siewert, Carl Ponader, Gordon Brown Jr., Michel Pichavant, and Harald Behrens for their paper
      “Structural environments around molybdenum in silicate glasses and melts. II. Effect of temperature, pressure, H2O, halogens and sulfur.” Canadian Mineralogist 44: 755-773.