Up & Coming Geoscientists - a sample of our AIG Honours Bursary Recipients

Industry – Academic Research Projects
then spends the next 6 months writing it
up. This is fine until you go around the next
corner, or drill the next hole and the model
doesn’t fit and the project has now finished
(or the academic is unwilling to change their
mind!). This point also highlights the value
of long-standing working relationships;
companies are not so fond of fair-weather
friends who arrive when times are good and
are not to be seen when the research money
starts to dry up (or the individual academics
personal interest has been quenched). In
some cases this may be unavoidable as
academics can only take on limited projects,
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The Good collaborative project represents
the majority, by far; most projects achieve
their target and build geological knowledge.
Outcomes from short- to mid-term (Hons,
PhD and Post-Doctoral) projects can provide
geological constraints for specific targets,
prospects and systems and can assist
companies to make business decisions
based on sound geological understanding.
Good projects lead directly to more projects,
which can build knowledge quickly. This is
especially true if they are coordinated by a
‘research champion’ within the company;
not necessarily a senior figure, but someone
to get a job or go onto further study (PhD).
As well as research outcomes, the Honours
process also allows companies’ access
to these potentially high-calibre future
employees.
The Bad isn’t that bad. Some projects do
not achieve what was originally intended.
Students can go off the rails and research can
go off at a tangent. Often this comes down to
how much mentoring the student had from
supervisors and whether key deliverables have
been requested. This kind of project should
have a learning outcome for both industry and
but it does support a ‘baby-steps’ approach. I
with a keen drive to progress geological
academic supervisors. In most cases though,
like to think of projects as Lego bricks; maybe
understanding. The students involved in
the cost of the project was minimal and the
individually each study is not breathtaking, but
these projects are normally self-starters and
data generated will be of use to aid geological
once several are joined together you can start
interested in geology. Many gain enough
understanding.
to build something substantial.
industry experience through their project
Terra Search Pty. Ltd.
Mineral Exploration and Data Management Specialists
www.terrasearch.com.au
Current Major Collaborative Projects
in 2014
In addition to our standard array of exploration services, Terra Search has a strong history of collaboration with Government
agencies to provide pre-competitive exploration data sets.
PNG MINERAL RESOURCES AUTHORITY (MRA) PROJECT
As part of the World Bank sponsored 2nd Mining Sector Institutional
Strengthening Technical Assistance Project (MSISTAP) in PNG, Terra Search has
commenced a 12 month contract designed to add sigificant further historical
Geological and Geochemical Data to the over 450,000 data points already
captured by Terra Search during the 1st MSISTAP in 2002-2005.
With over 15 years of experience providing database services to government and
industry, Terra Search is well placed to deliver the best possible outcome for the
MRA.
All data compiled and validated during this project will be made available
globally to exploration companies through the MRA.
INTRUSION-RELATED MINERALIZATION SYSTEMS IN NE QLD
Terra Search and Klondike Exploration Services are undertaking a comprehensive
study of the geology and metallogeny of gold-bearing magmatic hydrothermal
systems incorporating:
• A new metallogenic database of the Charters Towers Region, GIS data package
and map
• Metallogenic model documenting genetic types & spatial controls in Charters
Towers region
• Revision and update of the geology of the Charters Towers District
• Templates of geophysical & geochemical signatures of deposit styles
This study is a part of a North QLD research initiative in collaboration with local
Industry, EGRU (James Cook University) and the Geological Survey of QLD, funded
through the Queensland Government Future Resources Program.
Terra Search Pty. Ltd.
Specialists in Mineral Exploration,
Geology, and Computing
for over 25 years
TOWNSVILLE
Simon Beams, Travers Davies
T: (07) 4728 6851
E: admin@terrasearch.com.au
PERTH
Dave Jenkins
T: (08) 9472 8546
E: tswa@iinet.net.au
BATHURST
Richard Lesh
T: (02) 6337 3133
E: richard.lesh@bigpond.com
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AIG NEWS Issue 123 · February 2016