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Peter Gregory


Peter graduated from the University of Qld in 1970 with a B.Sc. Honours degree majoring in geology and chemistry. He worked in the mineral exploration industry in north and northwest Qld and Tasmania for several years before succumbing to the urge for more research. This led to a doctorate in Economic Geology from James Cook University in 1977 which looked at the genesis of several massive sulphide deposits in the Hodgkinson region west of Cairns in the context of other deposits of this type world-wide.

Peter then joined the French-Spanish company, Penarroya, and worked on exploration for base metals in the Charters Towers region with particular emphasis on the Thalanga deposit, a volcanic-hosted copper-lead-zinc silver deposit. This work led to an expertise in this deposit style world wide at the same time that exploration of the seafloor was astounding people with the discoveries of ‘black smokers’ (fumarolic deposition of sulphides on the seafloor).

In 1978 the wanderlust saw Peter on a backpacking trip to the UK, Europe, Canada and the US where apart from the tourist aspects, mine visits in Europe, Canada and the US led to a better appreciation of various deposits and geological terrains.

In 1983 Peter joined the BHP Minerals exploration team and for 15 years was involved in leading various exploration teams and generating projects in Australia and New Zealand with emphasis on base metals and gold. This included living in Melbourne for 6 years. During that time he undertook study tours to visit various deposits in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, China and Ireland. The main foci for his Australian work have been Precambrian and Palaeozoic base metal and gold mineralisation with emphasis on the eastern states. Peter has developed particular expertise on Broken Hill-type lead-zinc-silver deposits and Proterozoic copper-gold deposits.

Peter has been a consultant to the mineral exploration industry since 1998 and presently works through the GeoDiscovery Group in Brisbane. Most of this work has been on projects in Queensland and NSW and has recently involved a stint in coal exploration. Peter has published and presented a variety of papers through his research and work on industry-related projects. He still finds geology and the origin of mineral deposits a fascinating and challenging domain, where new understanding and technologies drive the exploration dollar further.

Peter is married to Marie (nee Dodds) whom he met on a trekking expedition to Nepal. They have three teenagers, Catherine, Matthew and Melissa. Catherine is completing a music degree at Griffith Conservatorium majoring in flute. Matthew is in grade 11 and Melissa in grade 9. They also have strong interests in music. Marie undertakes relief teaching and has her hands full with three demanding teenagers in Peter’s frequent absences in the field.

Peter and Marie share a love of the outdoors and have made trips to Alaska, Canada and the US with emphasis on the national park scene. They have also enjoyed the natural history aspects of Italy, Greece and Egypt and would like to expand that. Australian and New Zealand landscapes have been more the family domain.

Peter still manages to play a reasonable game of tennis (mainly with family), tries to keep fit with jogging and swimming and gardening when time permits. He hopes to eventually get back to landscape painting, pottery, piano playing and more overseas travel.

Peter’s parents still live in Bundaberg. Family visits and get-togethers maintain a strong link with the coastal areas, the scene of many fun-filled childhood adventures and memories that their children now share.


Created: 18 April 2006 - Last Amended: 18 April 2006 by Roger Clarke - Site Last Verified: 15 February 2009
This document is at www.anu.edu.au/BHS66/PeterGregory.html
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