A Surfeit of Sulphides I was fondling my rocks the other night -something I do often- gently touching them, stroking each one, talking to them like the fine old friends they are. My colle… Read More

i·so·la·tion /ˌīsəˈlāSHən/ noun: 1. “the isolation of geologists” We’re Lonely Bastards Every geologist has e… Read More

How to screw up a presentation. Stuck to a stained, gray padded seat in the speaking hall at yet another retail investment conference, the guy in front of you is falling asleep as the pre… Read More

A scattering of ashes. Ilkley Moor is a small, windy, heather-covered hill in Yorkshire in northern England. It’s due north of the old textile city of Bradford, in the heartland of… Read More

*the new official spelling of the country’s name. High up in the mountains of northeast Türkiye -up where the borders of Georgia, Türkiye and Armenia meet- the terrane is… Read More

Pt 2 was originally written for my friends at the Northern Miner hence it’s not as sweary as my usual pieces. Which is a pity. Strolling around PDAC in March, I ended up in the core… Read More

Apologies for the picture quality in this piece. I can’t get the old school photos out of the old photo album -they’re stuck down firm after 40 years under a sticky plastic film… Read More

Turkey (*now known officially as Türkiye) -a country I know fairly well and have always loved visiting- has been on my mind recently for both good and sad reasons. I’d just finish… Read More

I was never really one for keeping a diary; I’m fundamentally too lazy, and not nearly introspective enough to sit down every day after my sausage-and-mash supper to scribble down the… Read More

Of Limestone, Quarrymen and Apple Laxative Today’s news is all thoroughly depressing. The BBC is spouting on about the war in the Ukraine. There’s ongoing chaos on Britain&rsq… Read More

Most earth scientists are deeply passionate about their science, treating it as a vocation -a true calling- and not just any old degree. And they tend to feel the same way about beer, applyi… Read More

My last shift working as an underground geologist wasn’t planned. It just sort of happened. In October 1987, I had 1 month left on a 3-year contract in South Africa. I was looking forw… Read More

A Brief Science Diversion Hands up if you’ve heard of pseudotachylite? No? Neither had I until 1984 when – as a fresh faced geology graduate- I landed my first job underground… Read More

Four sweaty men and a few pints of cider. Two years ago, in a moment of remarkable prescience for yours truly, I had an idea. Good ideas don’t come often to me so I had to act fast… Read More

Line Ups, Cut Outs & Simulcasts In this brave new COVID world, the threat of infectious diseases is everywhere. So, when Father’s Day weekend came around just post-PDAC I was fe… Read More

Along the edge of the tideline. Shuffling along the winter tideline, layered in strata of sweaters and a damp anorak, I finally spotted what I was looking for; a small, rounded translucen… Read More

It’s Bloody Grim By the start of 1995, I’d been working as a geologist for Rio Tinto *boo hiss* in Turkey for about 18 months. I was unhappy with the terms of my employment -w… Read More

I bloody love Iceland It’s full of rocks and puffins and volcanoes and ponies and geysers and more volcanoes and stuff. And it’s a geologist’s wet dream, although I don… Read More

Social media is full of idiots. Doesn’t matter what topic you’re following -astronomy, koala bears, aliens or cross-dressing nuns – someone has a stupid fringe opinion that… Read More

Thanks go to my colleague Polar Bear Dave for filling in the blanks and sending me his pictures from the trip. “A hungry dog believes in nothing but meat.”Anton Chekhov, … Read More

The junior exploration world revolves around new discoveries. It’s what we live for. Everyone gets excited when someone finds something significant; shareholders, management and the ba… Read More

I’ll Take Disclosure for $500 Please. Urbancrows’ adult education series continues today with a post focused on junior mining company news releases. All the news that&rsqu… Read More

Rock Licking What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever licked- something that you’re happy to talk about in polite company which isn’t a body part? When I was ve… Read More

I’m currently enjoying some southern hospitality in the Big Easy. Last night’s adventures involved a rather nice plate of smoked beef short rib. Normal service will be resumed wh… Read More