The 2016 Haddon Forrester King Medal was presented to Professor Murray Hitzman in March for the application of science to understanding the origin and discovery of mineral deposits.
The Haddon Forrester King Medal is awarded to scientists for original and sustained contributions to earth and related sciences. The award is for work of particular relevance to the discovery, evaluation and exploitation of mineral deposits, including the hydrocarbons. The medal is sponsored by Rio Tinto.
Professor C. Jagadish AC FAA FTSE, Vice President of the Academy, awarded the medal to Professor Hitzman at the Academy's Shine Dome. After receiving his medal Professor Hitzman spoke on ‘The Central African copperbelt: evolution of genetic models for the world’s largest sedimentary rock-hosted stratiform copper district’. Mr Gerard Rheinberger, Exploration Director, Rio Tinto, concluded the dinner with an appreciation of Professor Hitzman’s work from an industry perspective.
Professor Murray Hitzman is the Charles Fogarty Professor of Economic Geology at the Colorado School of Mines. He is recognised internationally as an authority on base-metal deposits—in particular, iron-oxide-copper-gold type deposits. He has distinguished himself as a first class researcher, educator and mine discoverer and developer, and is a scientific advisor to government. His achievements are based on field studies of many different types of mineral deposits and interpretations based on a deep understanding of the physics and chemistry of mineral formation. He discovered and developed the Lisheen lead-zinc mine in the Republic of Ireland, led the recognition and characterisation of a new type of mineral deposit—the iron-oxide copper gold or IOCG type—and studied the origin of the sediment hosted copper deposits of Central Africa. His work is having a growing impact globally on mineral exploration.
While in Australia, Professor Hitzman delivered lectures at Geoscience Australia, Monash University, James Cook University, the University of Western Australia, the University of Adelaide and the University of Tasmania. The lecture tour was made possible through additional funding from Rio Tinto.
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