News Release____________/Ã¢ÂÂ PO Box 5  Canberra 2 6 0 0 '  APPOINTMENT OF CHIEHF SCIENTISTS TO BMR RESEARCH DIVISIONSChief Scientists hawe been appointed to two newly-created .research divisions' oaf the Bureau of Mineral Resources,Department of Natiomal Development and Energy. .  .They are Dr John Ferguson, who has been appointed toi  the Division of Petrology and Geochemistry, and Dr David Falvey, who has been appoimtted to the Division of Marine Geosciences and Petroleum Geology. 'Chief Scientists hawe now been appointed to all four research divisions recently created at BMR as part of the Government's policy of upgrading; the Bureau's role in supporting the development of Australian resources, particularly those related to energy. The appointment of Dr M.W. McElhinny to the Division of Geophysics, and Dr P.J. Cook to the Division of Continental Geolkogy was announced on 21 July 1982.Dr Ferguson, 49,. hats had wide experience in the geological field in both the government and private sector. In addition to a Ph.D. degree, iBr Ferguson holds the degree of Doctor of Science, awarded im 1975 by the University of Witwatersrand for distinguished research. He has undertaken extensive studies of diamond-bearing!,' Ikimberlite rocks and uranium mineralisation, and is the author of over 70 scientific papers.  Dr Ferguson is a member of the.' -editorial boards of two international geological journals and is chairman of an International Atomic Energy Agency WorkdLng Group on Uranium.As head of the DivdLsion of Petrology and Geochemistry,Dr Ferguson will have primary responsibility for multiÂ­disciplinary stud ties of metallogenic provinces. The Division. .  will conduct basic; geochemical, petrological, and mineralogical ^  Departm ent of

National  Development

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studies of' major sedimentary and igneous rock suites, of the

environment of metalliferous deposits, and of the deposits

themselves, and will undertake structural analyses.

Dr Falvey, 36, will take up his appointment shortly. He is

presently senior lecturer in marine geophysics at the  University of Sydney, and has worked previously as a geophysicist  and consultant in the petroleum exploration industry in  Australia and the United States. He is author of more than

50 scientific papers and is widely known for his research on  the geology and tectonic history of the Southwest Pacific

Region. .

As head of the Division of Marine Geosciences and Petroleum  Geology, Dr Falvey will have primary responsibility for regional

offshore geological and geophysical investigations. These  studies of Australia's confinental-margin sedimentary basins

will provide a framework for detailed petroleum exploration  programs by industry. Similar research will be carried out in

the Antarctic offshore area.

Canberra  21 October 1982

Inquiries: Dr A.R.Jensen  (062) 499572

