We are Mitre Geophysics. Founded in 1980 by Doctor John Bishop, we provide high level geophysical consultancy services to the global mining, engineering and energy sectors.
Clients range from the major mining houses to small unlisted explorers and our efforts have often resulted in new discoveries or increased near-mine resources and reserves.
Base Metals
Mitre has a long and extensive experience in base metal exploration and it still forms the core of our business. We have worked in many of the major cratonic shields worldwide on projects ranging from in-mine ore lens definition to basin-scale airborne EM projects.
Our detailed knowledge of base-metals helps with the front-end and back-end of an exploration program. We recommend the latest and most effective technique(s), which companies are best set up to acquire the data, we QC the data as it is being acquired, process and interpret it and then produce a meaningful, integrated report. Call us for an unbiased and informed opinion about who and what will be best suited for your project
Gold
Gold has some of the strongest physical properties (eg, density, conductivity), but of course is usually too disseminated to be directly detected. However, Mitre has some specialist expertise, especially in the application of geophysics to epithermal and shear hosted gold.. With clever application of ‘non-standard’ geophysical methods such as MMR and cross-borehole radar we can often find and map these elusive and structurally complex ore deposits. Call us if you would like some worked examples and an explanation of different options.
Projects
Coal and Unconventional Gas
Mitre has worked extensively throughout the Galillee, Bowen and Surat Basin applying innovative geophysical methods to near-mine and exploration projects. We have designed, implemented and interpreted the results from a wide range of projects. Call us if you would like to talk through your project. We will give you an unbiased opinion about whether geophysics would be a help or hindrance.
Projects
Groundwater
Groundwater is an important topic in Australia and increasingly globally. Recently there have been some exciting new developments in geophysics to help directly detect and characterise groundwater. For example, there is a new geophysical technique that can directly detect groundwater and also determine the porosity and permeability of the ground containing the water. Whether your need to finding it, get rid of it, working out where it is coming from and/or going to, geophysics can help.
High resolution helicopter-borne EM surveys are increasingly being used to map aquifers, pollution plumes, groundwater levels, etc. For example, the SkyTem system has recently been used to fly large tracts of the Ord River Basin in WA and the Murray Darling Basin in NSW and Victoria as well as overseas in Canada and Denmark.
There has been recent discussion on the possible monitoring of groundwater levels within coal seam gas (aka coal bed methane or CBM) projects; ‘4D’ AEM surveys are expected to prove a very cost-effective way to achieve this, if the expected regulations comes into being.
Exploration Geophysics is a complex and rapidly changing field. Let us help you.
Mitre regularly conducts workshops and short courses in topics ranging from basic introductory theory to advanced interpretation. Participants come away with solid, practical knowledge that can be immediate applied to real world exploration and often discover novel geophysical solutions to their company's problems.
Past workshops have covered AEM systems, electrical and electromagnetic techniques for mineral exploration and commodity and terrane specific courses, as well as several post-graduate short-courses.
Upon request Mitre also runs fully tailored in-house courses focusing on the clients objectives and datatsets. This option can be a very cost-effective when a large number of staff are to attend.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are the backbone of Geomatics. These systems provide the vehicle through which spatial data (data related to a spatial reference) can be viewed, manipulated, queried, and analysed in great detail. This capability to analyse data supports advanced cartographic production and alignment sheet generation, but it can also be elevated to answer complex engineering questions, perform robust multivariate calculations and address sensitive social and environmental issues. Information and knowledge gained from GIS analysis is then communicated through a range of media including maps, alignment sheets, 3D models and web portals.
Cartography and Mapping
Maps are one of humankind’s most effective communication tools. Our team has extensive experience in the design, development and preparation of high quality map products that efficiently and effectively communicate data as information to users. To broaden the dissemination and communication of project and enterprise data, we can apply the most advanced and expedient web mapping technology. Web mapping portals can be rapidly deployed and provide users with the power to produce their own basic map outputs without the need of a GIS operator. Web mapping tools can be expanded as a project increases in scale and phase to link documents, photos and other media by geographic location.
3D Visualisation
Three dimensional (3D) visualisation is a developing field within Geomatics as the ability and interest in viewing and displaying three dimensional geospatial data increases. 3D visualisation dramatically increases the level of immersion and intuitive understanding possible from geospatial data, allowing greater impact and ease of translation. Geomatics provides this capability through direct graphical output, 3D fly-throughs of areas of interest, and 3D simulations of phenomena or change. Our team can provide this technology to clients for use in public consultation, permit applications and engineering and planning.
Three dimensional (3D) visualisation is a developing field within Geomatics as the ability and interest in viewing and displaying three dimensional geospatial data increases. 3D visualisation dramatically increases the level of immersion and intuitive understanding possible from geospatial data, allowing greater impact and ease of translation.
Geomatics provides this capability through direct graphical output, 3D fly-throughs of areas of interest, and 3D simulations of phenomena or change. Our team can provide this technology to clients for use in public consultation, permit applications and engineering and planning.
Other Expertise
John started his career with the NSW Geological Survey and then worked for small Australian consulting firms before joining the Geophysics Department at Macquarie University. In 1980, he formed Mitre Geophysics Pty. Ltd. (History).
John has experience in most geophysical methods, applied to most types of metalliferous deposits, plus coal and geothermal resources (Projects). He has helped develop a number of geophysical techniques including downhole magnetometric resistivity, spectral induced polarisation and simultaneous self potential, and is a co-recipient of the ASEG’s Laric Hawkins prize for innovation in geophysics.
Work with Mitre has taken John throughout Australia, South America, Africa, Europe and South-East Asia. He has presented at several international conferences and held workshops and short courses in a number of countries. John has co/authored more than twenty-five papers and co-edited a special volume of Exploration Geophysics focusing on downhole electromagnetics.
BSc. (Hons) Geology and Geophysics (University of
Tasmania)
Winner of two ‘best paper’ awards at ASEG conferences, Kate is a versatile, experienced and successful geophysicist who has worked on a wide variety of commodities in a range of different geological settings, with some of the most interesting companies and exciting deposits worldwide. She has made several major discoveries through a combination of technical expertise and, more importantly, integration with the full exploration team. She firmly believes that if you want to be successful, you need to draw integrate expertise from across all disciplines.
In Kate’s portfolio of discoveries, several are more than 400m below surface with no surface indications. Kate has an excellent, broad skills based in exploration geophysics. Her expertise in exploration geophysics is such that she is frequently called upon to design geophysical strategies for large scale exploration projects. She has no particular bias towards any particular geophysical approach. Kate is especially well regarded for her skills in 3D integration of geophysical data with geology and geochemistry.
Past projects include large scale fixed-wing and helicopter EM surveys for metallic minerals, groundwater and coal; plus surface, downhole and underground exploration programs for many different styles of mineralisation, including Broken Hill Type, Cobar-style, iron-oxide-copper-gold and shear-hosted gold (Projects).
Along with colleague Guy Le-blanc Smith, Kate has pioneered and developed the use of SkyTEM airborne EM for line of oxidation (LOX) mapping in Central Queensland coal fields. For this work Kate was awarded the ‘Best Paper - Coal’ at the 2012 ASEG Conference in Brisbane, Australia.
Kate is a member of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Society of Exploration Geophysicists and Australian Institute of Geoscientists.
BSc. (Hons) Geological Sciences (Birmingham University); MSc Mineral Exploration & Mining Geology (Leicester University);
Grad. Dip. GIS and Remote Sensing (Charles Stuart University)
Dawn started her career in the UK seismic exploration industry before emigrating to Australia in 1985. In 1991 she started her own mapping consultancy based in Brisbane and moved to Tasmania in 2010. Dawn’s clients have included local and state government departments and private and listed companies, mostly in the resource, environmental and engineering sectors.
Dawn was awarded GISP-AP Certification in 2007 and again in 2013. She has also completed 30 years as a Topographic Engineer in the Army Reserve. She has presented papers at several conferences and regularly conducts training courses in geospatial software (MapInfo and QGIS). Dawn has previously held roles in the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) as a Queensland Regional Committee member & CPD Committee Chair; representative for the Spatial Information and Cartography Commission (SICC) and Women in Spatial and completed a four year stint as a member of the GISP-AP Certification Panel. Dawn is currently a member of the Geological Society of Australia; Australia and New Zealand Maps Society and the Mapping Sciences Institute of Australia.
In November 2017 Dawn joined the staff of the National Environment Centre in Thurgoona, NSW (part of TafeNSW) as a teacher of the Certificate IV courses in Spatial Information Services and Land Surveying. Her role includes course material development and face-to-face participation in residential workshops for online (distance education) students.
PhD, BSc. (Hons) Geology & Geophysics (University of Tasmania)
Nick is a multi-award winning geoscientist, recognised for his contributions in both geophysics and geology by both ASEG and the GSA (Stillwell & Howchin Medals). He is also one of Australia’s most versatile geoscientists, having worked across his career in government (Geoscience Australia 1999-2002), academia (U.Adelaide 2002-2007), minerals & energy consulting (Frogtech Pty Ltd 2007-2013) and in the global energy industry (ExxonMobil 2013-2021). He joined Mitre in 2021 after returning from the USA to Australia.
Nick has expertise in the theory and application of potential fields (gravity & magnetics) methods to structural and tectonic problems, and for subsurface prospecting for many mineral commodity types and hydrocarbons. He was a pioneer of the use of multi-scale edge analysis of gravity and magnetic data (“worms”); of the integration of gravity, magnetics and petrophysics with seismic reflection profiling; and of the application of the magnetotelluric method to minerals systems. He was a co-author of the well-known “finger of GOD” paper on Olympic Dam in 2006, among many other contributions to exploration geoscience (see publications).
Prior to joining Mitre, Nick completed projects on the structure and fluid pathways around the Lachlan foldbelt porphyry Cu-Au deposits; the Olympic Dam IOCG system; and the Challenger Au mine. Nick has successfully worked in the field in the USA, UK, Canada, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Romania, India & Nepal. He has been a crucial member of teams that discovered the Muruk gas field in PNG, Bajo del Choique unconventional field in Argentina, the Barracuda & Dorado discoveries offshore Sri Lanka, and the Pirmam field in Kurdistan / Iraq.
At Mitre, Nick has worked for clients evaluating IOCG in the Tennant Creek mineral field, Besshi-style polymetallics in the New England Orogen, Cu-Au skarns in the Lachlan foldbelt, orogenic Au in the eastern Victorian goldfields and the Koonenberry Belt (WNSW), polymetallic Cobar style deposits and MVT Ag-base metal deposits in NSW, and Ni and W skarn deposits in Tasmania. Nick utilises a synoptic approach to his work for clients, integrating gravity, magnetics, seismic (where available), airborne EM, DHEM and ground EM, together with structural and assay information for optimal target analysis.
Nick also holds a Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance from the Securities Institute of Australia, and worked for 3 years at ExxonMobil as a business development portfolio analyst; as such, he intimately understands the fundamental economic drivers for resource development projects.
Nick is a member of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the Geological Society of Australia; and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and the Society of Economic Geologists.
