A boutique consulting group integrating geochemistry, geochronology, and geological systems modeling to deliver ranked targets and technical evaluations for major mining companies.
Most exploration projects fail at the integration step. Geochemistry, geochronology, and structural data interpreted in silos rarely produce the converged signal a drill program needs. Trident exists to close that gap.
Mineral composition for porphyry fertility, alteration mapping, program design, and QA/QC at the standard expected by a major mining client.
Sampling methodology, lab data interpretation, and integration of age data into geologic context for timing of mineralization and intrusive systems.
Systems-scale synthesis that turns multi-disciplinary data into ranked targets and defensible technical decisions.
Typical engagements run $60k to $120k with milestone-based payment. We limit active projects to maintain bandwidth on each. Scope, deliverables, and any potential conflicts of interest are addressed transparently at the outset.
Our services are designed to be combined or taken individually. The Target Generation Sprint is our most distinctive offering, a focused multi-disciplinary engagement producing ranked drill targets in four to six weeks.
A focused four to six week engagement that synthesizes available geochemistry, geochronology, and geological data into a ranked set of drill targets with explicit confidence levels and supporting rationale. Designed for explorers who have data but need integrated interpretation and a defensible path to drilling.
Independent technical evaluation of exploration projects, properties, or acquisition opportunities. We assess data quality, interpretation defensibility, geological model integrity, and remaining exploration upside. Delivered as a structured technical opinion with clearly stated assumptions.
Sampling methodology advisory, analytical program design, interpretation of laboratory data, and integration of age and trace-element data into geologic context. Mineral composition for porphyry potential and fertility, alteration footprint mapping, and timing constraints on mineralization and intrusive systems.
Field program design, sampling protocols, and QA/QC review. Delivered with our preferred field execution partner for crews, drill supervision, and on-the-ground program management.
For field program delivery, including reconnaissance mapping and sampling, multi-rig drill campaign support, oriented core, sonic and RC drilling oversight, and geotechnical field work, Trident partners with Sage Geological Services Inc. as our preferred execution partner.
The partnership combines Trident's targeting and interpretation with Sage's operational field expertise, giving clients a single integrated delivery path from data to drill bit.
Visit sage-geo.com →Trident takes on one to two engagements at a time. This is deliberate. Integrated work demands focused attention, and our model is built around quality of synthesis rather than throughput. Scope and any potential conflicts of interest are addressed transparently at the outset of every engagement.
Trident's principals share a long working history at BHP, Freeport-McMoRan, and the University of British Columbia's Mineral Deposit Research Unit. They bring complementary technical strengths and a shared standard for what decision-grade work looks like.
Michele is an exploration geoscientist and manager with more than twenty years of experience across the full value chain of mineral exploration, from early concept generation through discovery to feasibility. Her career spans copper, gold, and base metals programs on five continents, with deep experience in porphyry, IOCG, and orogenic systems.
She has held senior technical and leadership roles at BHP and Freeport-McMoRan, including country manager responsibility for a significant copper exploration portfolio. Her experience includes directing global exploration strategy, running regional prospectivity assessments, designing reconnaissance programs, leading post-merger integration of exploration teams, and advising on technology and data implementation at portfolio scale.
Michele has a particular passion for integrating exploration data to accelerate discovery. The integration capability, taking geochemistry, geochronology, structural context, and drilling results and rapidly synthesizing them into ranked targets, is the technical core of Trident's Target Generation Sprint. She is currently active in technical programs in the energy transition sector.
At Trident, she leads client relationships, scoping, and technical integration across engagements.
Robert is a respected geochronologist and economic geologist with twenty years of experience across academia and the mining industry. His published research focuses on mineral and zircon composition as indicators of porphyry copper potential, alteration footprints around porphyry systems, and the geochronological framework of mineral districts.
He completed his PhD at Oregon State University on the genesis of the El Salvador porphyry copper deposit in Chile, followed by six years at Freeport-McMoRan as an exploration geologist working on copper, molybdenum, and IOCG targets across the southwestern United States and internationally. He subsequently spent eight years as a Research Associate at the University of British Columbia's Mineral Deposit Research Unit, where he led the BC Porphyry Project, served as embedded project manager and lead researcher on the NSERC-CMIC Footprints copper sub-project at Highland Valley Copper, and served as head geochronologist and mineral geochemist for the Western Tethyan II project across Turkey, Greece, the Balkans, and Georgia. Most recently he was Principal Geoscientist on BHP's Porphyry Cu Generative team, with oversight on copper exploration projects in North America and globally.
Robert is a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists and serves as President of the Geological Association of Canada Cordilleran Section. He is an external peer reviewer for Economic Geology, Ore Geology Reviews, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, and other leading journals. His work spans more than twenty peer-reviewed publications and numerous invited keynote and short course presentations across Canada, the United States, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Turkey. View selected publications →
At Trident, Robert leads geochemistry and geochronology interpretation, sampling methodology advisory, and field program design.
Specialist network. Beyond our principals, Trident draws on a network of trusted specialists in adjacent disciplines and analytical laboratory operations. Subcontractor relationships are scoped engagement by engagement with full transparency to clients.
Tell us a little about what you're working on and we'll come back to you within two business days. For urgent enquiries, reach out by phone or email directly.
Your enquiry has been received. Michele will respond personally within two business days. For urgent matters, you are welcome to follow up by email.