Experience

iCRAG - SFI Research Centre in Applied Geosciences

• Ireland
• Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Research Fellow

  • Mar 2023 - Present

  Research fellow for innovative geological research to improve mineral resource discovery and sustainable development Research fellow for innovative geological research to improve mineral resource discovery and sustainable development



Self-employed

• Ireland

• Geologist

  • Nov 2022 - Mar 2023



First Quantum Minerals

• Canada
• Mining
• 700 & Above Employee

• Principal Geologist - Basin-Hosted Mineral Systems

  • Apr 2022 - Oct 2022

• Principal Geologist

  • Feb 2020 - Apr 2022

  Researcher and explorer interested in the link between structure, sedimentology, basin development and ore formation. Specialises in sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits.



University of St Andrews

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Ph.D researcher

  • Jun 2016 - Jan 2020

  The great platitudes of sediment-hosted copper systems are that they form in rift basins via the circulation of evaporite-related salty fluids which scavenge metals from redbeds and basement rocks, and deposit them at redox interfaces. These key assumptions form the basis of deposit models which dictate the path of both research and mineral exploration programs. But are they accurate? Contrary to previous work, which concluded the Midcontinent Rift System is a rift basin filled with lacustrine sediments, our research demonstrated that the basin lacks many features that are diagnostic of rifts such as syn-depositional faults. Sedimentary and volcanic units display sag-like geometries and accommodation space was generated primarily by loading, not lithospheric stretching. Sediments of the Keweenawan Supergroup were deposited in a marine embayment and contained abundant evaporites. The basin was subsequently inverted by both the Ottawan and Rigolet phases of Grenville orogensis. These findings have important implications for the composition of fluids in the basin, the drivers of fluid flow, the migration pathways of these fluids, and the times at which they moved. Over-reliance on ore deposit models at the expense of unravelling the ‘story’ that is archived in the rocks exposes research and exploration alike to fallible assumptions. Show less



First Quantum Minerals

• Canada
• Mining
• 700 & Above Employee

• District Geologist - Botswana

  • Jan 2013 - Apr 2016

  FQM conducted a major greenfields exploration program in northern Botswana: looking for extensions of the Central African Copperbelt beneath Kalahari sand. As the project manager I was the first FQM employee into the country. I registered a subsidiary company, opened an exploration office, acquired various operating licences, recruited staff, arranged expatriate work permits, negotiated supplier and labour contracts and arranged provisions for audit, tax and banking. As the project advanced I was able to shift my focus towards the technical aspects of the project. A key part of my role was to challenge and mentor the geologists to firstly advance the team’s understanding of the Katangan rocks, and secondly to develop new exploration techniques for exploring through the ubiquitous 65 meters of transported cover. We partnered with CSIRO to help us develop these new geochemistry techniques which included paleo-water table sampling, interface (detrital mineral) sampling and hydrogeochemistry. Show less

• Technical Assistant to the Exploration Director

  • Jan 2012 - Dec 2012

  I worked closely with the Director - Exploration, Mike Christie, and was afforded the autonomy to become involved with projects requiring specific oversight. I prepared slides used in corporate presentations, conducted copper market research, reviewed potential acquisition targets, participated in geology ‘campaigns’ at our different projects, represented FQM at industry research projects (e.g. AMIRA and MDRU) and provided technical input into joint-venture projects.I worked with some very knowledgeable geologists on a wide variety of ore deposit types including porphyry copper in the Andes and Tethyan belts.One of my biggest achievements was improving the internal technical reporting by providing continuous feedback, and I used the monthly report as a means of introducing a more structured decision-making process into FQM’s exploration portfolio. Show less

• Exploration Geologist

  • Jan 2010 - Dec 2011

  I was part of an effort to understand the unusual iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) type mineralisation of the Guelb Moghrein mine, prior to an exploration program targeting similar ore deposits nearby. I worked extensively with Murray Hitzman and others. I was heavily involved in district-scale exploration: designing a targeting criteria and using field mapping, magnetic surveys, airborne gravity and multi-element soil geochemistry to prioritise and rank targets. Working with metallurgists and mining engineers I completed a Discounted Cash Flow and Real Option Analysis (Black-Scholes model) of a metallurgically-complex portion of the deposit to demonstrate its potential and justify an initial round of investigatory drilling. In my spare time I began writing a quarterly geoscience magazine for FQM called 'Discover', which is currently in its sixth year. Show less

• Exploration Geologist

  • Jan 2009 - Dec 2009

  I participated in the drill-out of the Kevitsa Ni-Cu-PGE deposit in the Finnish Arctic and the preparation of an NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate. I used detailed logging and geochemistry to enhance our understanding of the magmatic history of the deposit and the host intrusion. I produced a geological map of the greenstone belt around the mine for the purpose of near-mine exploration, which incorporated outcrop mapping and geophysics. The mine began production in 2012.

• Exploration Geologist

  • May 2007 - Dec 2008

  Managing small, remote fly-camps, I was involved in greenfield exploration for sediment-hosted-stratiform copper mineralisation in the Zambian Copperbelt. I gained an appreciation for the broad range of mineralisation styles across the Copperbelt: working on Congolese style deposits; in the high temperature Domes Region; and in the classical Copperbelt of the Kafue Anticline. I played a significant role in the discovery of the eastern orebody of the Fishtie Cu-Co deposit.



Mawarid Mining Company LLC

• Oman
• Mining
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Intern - Exploration Geologist

  • Jul 2006 - Sep 2006

  I arranged a final-year mapping and dissertation project on the Semail Ophiolite Complex in Oman, through a mining company. The project involved six weeks of mapping a corridor through the ophiolite - a slab of oceanic crust - which has a cluster of Cyprus-type Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposits at its top. The project was a fantastic introduction to mineral exploration and fieldwork, and the point at which I knew I wanted to be an exploration geologist! I arranged a final-year mapping and dissertation project on the Semail Ophiolite Complex in Oman, through a mining company. The project involved six weeks of mapping a corridor through the ophiolite - a slab of oceanic crust - which has a cluster of Cyprus-type Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposits at its top. The project was a fantastic introduction to mineral exploration and fieldwork, and the point at which I knew I wanted to be an exploration geologist!



bp

• United Kingdom
• Oil and Gas
• 700 & Above Employee

• Intern - Reservoir Engineer

  • Jun 2005 - Sep 2005

  During my undergraduate degree I spent two consecutive summers at the Wytch Farm oilfield on the south coast of the UK. I sorted and verified data from water injection wells which assisted the Reservoir Development team in modelling and understanding fluid flow in the oil reservoir rocks. The internships gave me a good grounding in the fundamentals of oil and gas development and production, including directional drilling, workovers and the different methods of 'lifting' oil to the surface. During my undergraduate degree I spent two consecutive summers at the Wytch Farm oilfield on the south coast of the UK. I sorted and verified data from water injection wells which assisted the Reservoir Development team in modelling and understanding fluid flow in the oil reservoir rocks. The internships gave me a good grounding in the fundamentals of oil and gas development and production, including directional drilling, workovers and the different methods of 'lifting' oil to the surface.



bp

• United Kingdom
• Oil and Gas
• 700 & Above Employee

• Intern - Reservoir Engineer

  • Mar 2004 - Aug 2004

  As above. As above.



Shell

• United Kingdom
• Oil and Gas
• 700 & Above Employee

• Intern - Global Geologist

  • Sep 2003 - Mar 2004

  Prior to beginning University I arranged a Gap Year with Shell Exploration & Production at the company's Head Office in The Hague, Holland. This experience proved an excellent introduction to the workings of the global oil and gas industry. Prior to beginning University I arranged a Gap Year with Shell Exploration & Production at the company's Head Office in The Hague, Holland. This experience proved an excellent introduction to the workings of the global oil and gas industry.