Classroom Resources from Geoscience Australia

Classroom Resources from Geoscience Australia

Geoscience Australia has unveiled a beta version of its Classroom Resources web portal, designed to provide access to educational resources produced by the agency.

Geoscience Australia produces teaching resources for primary and secondary levels. Resources include background information, student activities, full-colour cut-out 3D models and posters. For more information contact education@ga.gov.au or visit the classroom resources web page.

GA Classrom Resources


Recognition of REFLEX expertise and quality with industry endorsement

Reflex

 

 

REFLEX announced this week the endorsement of REFLEX’s ioGAS and Applied Geochemistry training courses by the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG).  The endorsement is the first under a new AIG initiative of recognising providers of continued professional development opportunities for geoscientists, willing to submit their courses for review by the Institute.

The endorsement by AIG is an important acknowledgment of the high level of expertise and knowledge of the REFLEX Geochemistry team. Participation in the AIG endorsed training courses may contribute to meeting the Continued Professional Development (CPD) requirements of professional institutes.

REFLEX supports the ongoing education of geoscientists and professionals within the minerals industry. The REFLEX Geochemistry team is strategically located in the Company’s global network of offices, providing access to training for industry personnel by experienced professionals, worldwide.

About REFLEX

REFLEX is the leader in innovative instrumentation and technology solutions for data acquisition, management and analysis within the global minerals industry.  REFLEX’s technologies are acknowledged for their reliability, ease of use and accuracy. Complementing these advanced technologies is REFLEX’s unrivalled expertise in the analysis and interpretation of geoscientific data.  For more information, please go to: www.reflexnow.com


VALMIN Code Review

The VALMIN Code, which sets out requirements for the technical assessment and valuation of mineral and petroleum assets and securities for independent expert reports, has been under review with the aim or updating the code.

The VALMIN Code 2015 – Exposure Draft, has been prepared in response to changes in market conditions and practices over the last decade since the publication of the VALMIN Code 2005.

The following changes since 2005 have led to the preparation of the VALMIN Code 2015 – Exposure Draft:

  • Later codes in other jurisdictions have introduced new ideas and concepts to the processes used in mineral/petroleum valuation;
  • An updated JORC Code in 2012;
  • Progress by the International Valuation Standards Committee; and
  • Regulatory changes in Australia by ASX and ASIC that have brought facets of technical assessment and valuation into the spotlight.

This draft leverages off the feedback from the VALMIN Seminar Series in 2011 and 2012, feedback during 2014 from AusIMM, AIG, MCA, ASX and ASIC on drafts circulated to them in 2013.

The look and feel of the VALMIN Code 2015 – Exposure Draft is different to the VALMIN Code 2005, some of the terminology is different, whilst the methods and key principles are essentially the same.

An exposure draft of the revised VALMIN Code has been released for stakeholder review.  Details of the process and timetable for stakeholder comment on the revised code will be released in the near future.  Further information is available from the VALMIN web site.


CoalLog v2.0

A seminar to launch CoalLog v2.0 was held in Brisbane 11th March 2015.  If you were unable to attend the seminar, a video of the presentations is now available on the AIG YouTube channel 

CoalLog

Presentations outline the features in CoalLog v2.0, discuss its application and provide information on the changes between v2.0 and previous releases of the standard.

Further information regarding CoalLog, including the CoalLog training manual, is available from the AusIMM web site.  The development of CoalLog v2.0 was supported by ACARP Project C22017.


Brisbane History in Stone and Brick

GSAQld

global_gbm_logo

The Geological Society of Australia Queensland Division, in conjunction with Global GBM has built a mobile app for a self-guided walking tour of the Brisbane CBD, highlighting a selection of significant buildings.

It presents a GPS linked map with hot-links to a brief history of the each building, its architecture and details of the building stones used, along with both recent and historical photographs.

Brisbane Stones App

In addition to the sand and gravel that makes up the ubiquitous concrete structures, our cities are built from an exciting variety of geological material. In Brisbane these range from the warm brown sandstone of iconic structures such as the City Hall and Parliament House to granites and exotic marbles from around the world.

The Queensland Division of the Geological Society of Australia chronicled these fascinating materials as a self-guided walking tour for the International Geological Congress in 2012.  The tour has recently been extended and built into a mobile App that will be available to the public in time for G20. The app presents a GPS linked map with hot-links to the history of each building and details of the building stones used along with both recent and historical photographs.

The mobile app, configured through Global GBM Enterprise Mobility Solutions using data compiled by Friedrich von Gnielinski and John Siemon, will open Brisbane up to the growing market for geotourism and is also an important resource for teachers, tour operators and anyone interested in the built environment of Queensland’s capital. The Division sees it as important outreach tool in promoting an understanding and importance of Earth science in the public. It was released in mid-November.

The app has a database-like structure with all information pertaining to a particular site related to a grid reference. Each site gives a brief historical and cultural reference to the object described and discusses the relevant geology that can be observed.

Attached photos show the character of the project or site; historical photos show developmental or other changes and detail photos mostly refer to geological observations.

This app may be the forerunner of others that could take information from the  GSA’s Rocks and Landscapes series.

The Brisbane History in Stone and Brick App can be downloaded from the Google and Apple App Stores. If you have trouble finding it, search for “Geotourism Brisbane”.

For additional information visit the GSA website.

A Facebook page has been developed to help promote the app to a wider audience. Hit Like to follow the app and be notified of any updates. It is planned to periodically publish information on this page for sites not currently in the app.


Geology of the New England Orogen – Seminar and Field Trip

32 CPD Hours

Presented by GSA Queensland Division and AIG
June 5th – 8th Long Weekend

CALL FOR PAPERS
A one day seminar (Friday 5th June) and 3 day field excursion (Saturday 6th to Monday 8th June) to the New England Orogen is planned. The GSA/AIG are asking for presenters for the one day seminar preceding the three day field trip. The details of the field trip are being developed and will be established and presented as soon as possible.

To date visits to Mt Sylvia, Warwick, Yangan, Pikedale, Warroo Gold Mine, Texas area, Tenterfield area are mooted.

An event link will be established on the AIG website in the coming days for pre-booking a place (there will be limited numbers). Watch this space.


Intrusion-Related Hydrothermal Systems Seminar and North Queensland Exploration Round-Up

May 27 – 29, Townsville and Charters Towers, North Queensland

Presented by GSQ, EGRU, Terra Search and Klondike Exploration Services

8 CPD hours
A one day seminar on May 27th will highlight the first-year results of the current 3-year collaborative research project on intrusion-related hydrothermal mineral systems of northeast Queensland.

16 CPD HoursFollowing the seminar, on 28th and 29th May, there will be an informal get-together of active explorers and investors to review current exploration and mining projects in the Charters Towers region, convened by SimonBeams (Terrasearch) and Greg Morrison (Klondike Exploration). It will consist of short presentations, posters, rock sample and core displays on selected projects and discussions of regional metallogenic controls and exploration strategies.

If there is sufficient interest, there will be an additional half-day workshop on Saturday, 30 May, on geophysical interpretation of intrusion-centred hydrothermal systems by Terry Hoschke (Alterex) and Tim Beams (Terra Search) and another opportunity to review core from selected projects.

The seminar on 27th May will be held at James Cook University, Townsville.  The Exploration round-up will be held in Charters Towers (venue to be advised).

To register your interest to attend the seminar and receive updated information please email EGRU.  A full program will be emailed to you and made available on the EGRU website during April 2015.

To register your interest in the Round-Up and/or make a presentation please email Terrasearch.  Additional information will be provided to presenters and a full program and venue details will be sent via email during April.

Click here for the event flyer.