BScHons (NewcU), PhD (UTas)

Senior Lecturer

Career Summary

Michael Roach is a Lecturer in geophysics and geology in the School of Earth Sciences at UTAS. Prior to joining the University of Tasmania in 1989 as a PhD student, he worked for nine years with BHP in exploration and mining geology, principally in the coal industry. During this period he routinely applied down-hole geophysical measurements for both grade control and rock mechanics purposes. This work, although applied in the context of coal exploration and mining, provides a solid background for the proposed petrophysical study of metalliferous orebodies. In 1987 he graduated from the University of Newcastle (NSW) with a BSc Hons Class 1 (Geology), and was awarded a PhD from UTAS in 1995.

Research Interests

Since 1997 Michael's research has focussed primarily on in-situ and laboratory measurements of the petrophysical properties of Australian sulfide orebodies. This major research project has been supported by seven Australian mining companies and has involved measurements in a wide variety of geological environments.

Full Publication List

Current and Supervised Project/s:

• L3.6 Geophysical interpretation of the Batten Fault Zone, McArthur Basin.
• F4.2 Geophysical properties as proxies for rock mass characterisation.
• Time-lapse geophysical monitoring of acid mine drainage at Savage River Mine, northwestern Tasmania