William Harvey Gross Medal

The William Harvey Gross Award is bestowed annually by the Mineral Deposits Division (MDD) to an early career geoscientist who last graduated from a post-secondary school not more than 15 years before the award and has made a significant contribution to the field of economic geology in a Canadian context. The recipient may be either a Canadian or non-Canadian who has made a contribution in Canada, or one within a Canadian context. The contribution on which the award is based may relate to studies that include all aspects of what is generally referred to as economic geology, and which represents the broad spectrum of fields to which Bill Gross contributed. These include mineral exploration and development, scientific research either applied or fundamental, and field based studies.

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The award consists of a medal and a cash supplement supported through endowment funds provided by Corona Corp. and donations by the friends and family of Bill Gross to provide a contribution toward the travel expenses for the recipient and guest to attend the annual luncheon of MDD to receive the award.

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Looking to nominate someone for this award? Click here.

The 2025 William Harvey Gross Medal is awarded to Dr. Merilie Reynolds (Northwest Territories Geological Survey) 

Dr. Merilie Reynolds has made substantial achievements in the three main realms of economic geology: industry, government, and academia. She has consistently striven and succeeded in enhancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the geological sciences, especially in field geology.

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Dr. Reynolds obtained her bachelors degree in Geology in 2008 at Smith College. After which she embarked on a career in mineral exploration and worked with Barrick and Teck Resources. She worked at several significant districts including the Carlin trend in Nevada, Copperbelt in Zambia, and the Red Dog district in Alaska. She developed outstanding leadership and management skills in her roles at these companies, which included planning and running drill programs, training junior geologists, data governance, and implementation of TruScan data collection. After which she returned to pursue PhD research at the University of Alberta, investigating the formation of the Anarraaq clastic-dominated Zn-Pb-Ag deposit, Red Dog District, Alaska. The significance and excellence of her research was recognized by the prestigious NSERC Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and the University of Alberta President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction. This work has been published in high ranking journals including Geology and Economic Geology.

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Dr. Reynolds has taught at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire and MacEwan University, Edmonton. Through a grant from the University of Wisconsin, she made important contributions to teaching by developing course materials to utilize 3D printed and virtual models. Her tools allowed for better visualization of subsurface geology and supported students in achieving learning outcomes during the covid-19 closures and restrictions.

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In her current position as a Mineral Deposits Geologist at the Northwest Territories Geological Survey, she continues to be active in research. Her projects cover a range of economic geology initiatives related to gold deposits, rare earth element deposits, and sediment hosted deposits in the NWT. Another important and significant contribution that Dr. Reynolds has made to the field of Economic Geology is her impact on improving equity, diversity and inclusion in geoscience. She introduced new practices to boost female representation at speaking events and raised awareness on gender-based challenges in field geology. These include she co-writing an article for GSA Today aimed at creating a positive bathroom field culture in the geosciences, anecdotally this is being implemented by both government organizations and companies.

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Past Winners

  • 2024: C. LaFlamme
  • 2023: C. Lawley
  • 2022: S. Perrouty
  • 2021: P. Lecumberri-Sanchez
  • 2020: J.-L. Pilote
  • 2019: M. DeWolfe
  • 2018: No award
  • 2017: J. Hinchey
  • 2016: S. Dare
  • 2015: L. Ootes
  • 2014: S. McClenaghan
  • 2013: M. Houlé
  • 2012: D. Layton-Matthews
  • 2011: J. Hanley
  • 2010: S. Gleeson
  • 2009: P. Mercier-Langevin
  • 2008: P. Hollings
  • 2007: E. Thomas
  • 2006: S. Piercey
  • 2005: Y. Pan
  • 2004: S. Lin
  • 2003: R. Sherlock
  • 2002: J. Peter
  • 2001: J. P. Richards
  • 2000: C.E.G. Farrow
  • 1999: D. Lentz
  • 1998: P.C. Lightfoot
  • 1997: D. Wyman
  • 1996: M.C. Hannington
  • 1995: W. Bleeker
  • 1994: S.J. Barnes
  • 1993: J.F.H. Thompson
  • 1992: H.L. Gibson
  • 1991: D. Wilton
  • 1990: F. Robert
  • 1989: R.M. Britten
  • 1988: R. Kerrich

About William Harvey Gross (1917-1987)

A pioneering force in Canadian economic geology, William Harvey Gross made lasting contributions to mineral exploration, mining development, and geological education, both in Canada and abroad. Known for his strategic vision and technical innovation, he left a legacy that continues to shape the industry today.

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He played a formative role in the post-war rise of Canadian mining, founding and leading several successful exploration companies, and was an early adopter of new technologies—including airborne scintillation surveys for uranium exploration.

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After completing his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto in 1950, Gross taught economic geology and mineral economics for two decades. His lectures blended academic rigor with practical insight drawn from years of fieldwork and consulting, influencing a generation of students.

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Throughout his career, Gross maintained an active consulting practice, working alongside influential figures such as Thayer Lindsley and Norman Keevil. His work spanned five continents and involved major projects in Brazil, Guyana, Greenland, and Canada.

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Gross played a leading role in the discovery and development of the Rix Athabasca Uranium Mine, and later guided the first airborne scintillation survey over South Australia, which led to the discovery of Crocker Wells—an early example of radioactive carbonatite.

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In the 1960s, he foresaw rising silver prices and launched Pure Silver Mines Limited, which helped revitalize the historic Guanajuato silver district in Mexico. His theory on the deep-faulted offset of the Veta Madre vein was confirmed by drilling, leading to the discovery of a major orebody and the formation of Compañía Minera Las Torres.

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Gross later helped form Tormex Mining Developers and Lacanex Mining Company. These efforts culminated in the founding of Lacana Mining Corporation in 1975, where he served as chairman, president, and CEO. Under his leadership, Lacana became a respected international mining company.

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He authored numerous scientific publications, many of them pioneering studies on sulfur isotopes, remanent magnetism, and radioactivity in rocks. His work was translated into several languages and influenced exploration techniques around the world.

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Gross was a Fellow of the Geological Association of Canada, the Society of Economic Geologists, and the Geological Society of America, and an active member of numerous other professional organizations in Canada and abroad.

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In recognition of his outstanding contributions to mineral exploration and economic geology, the Mineral Deposits Division of the Geological Association of Canada established the William Harvey Gross Medal. This award is presented annually to a young geologist for excellence in the field, supported by endowments from Lacana Mining Corporation and the Gross family.

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Source: Memorial to William Harvey Gross by Patrick H. O’Neil – https://www.geosociety.org.