Full Name:
Languages:
Nationality:
Current Function:
Mobile Number:
Christopher Benjamin Hobbs
Address: 36 Ennerdale Crescent
English and basic French
Burnham
British
Slough
Associate Consultant Resource Geologist
Berkshire
(Behre Dolbear International/Engineering Services) UK
+44 (0)7557 948048
E-Mail: CHobbs2000@hotmail.com
Executive Summary:
Internationally experienced exploration and resource geologist professional, with 9 years of
experience, mostly with an industry leading mining company with a zero harm culture. Skilled in
resource estimation using Vulcan and Isatis modelling and geostatistical software packages. Fellow
of the Geological Society (FGS) looking to become a Chartered Geologist (CGeol).
Commodity portfolio includes numerous iron ore deposit styles of the Pilbara region of Western
Australia – operations that boast the lowest end of the cost curve; the world class high grade iron
ore deposits of Simandou in Guinea, West Africa; an iron ore deposit in Portugal; a lead-zinc
deposit in Macedonia; numerous copper-gold deposits in the Bor region of Serbia and gold deposits
in Uzbekistan and Ethiopia.
Tertiary Education:
Qualification (grade)
Subject
Institute
Date
MSc / MCSM
(Distinction)
Mining Geology
Camborne School of Mines /
University of Exeter
Sep 2005
Cardiff University
Jun 2004
BSc Hons. (1st)
Exploration &
Resource Geology
Career History:
Associate Consultant Resource Geologist with Behre Dolbear
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Specialist Resource Estimation Geologist with Rio Tinto Iron Ore
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Jan 2014 to Present
Reviewing numerous copper-gold deposits in the Bor region of Serbia, converting ‘Serbian reserves’
by visiting site and writing Resource reports according to JORC (2012)
Geological modelling and estimation input into Feasibility Study for an epithermal gold deposit in
Ethiopia, including reviewing sub-contractor work and reports
Geological modelling and estimation input into Scoping Study for an ancient detrital iron ore deposit
in Portugal, including reviewing sub-contractor work and reports
All reports completed and written in accordance with the JORC code (2012) / NI43-101
MS Access database management of drilling data for an iron ore exploration prospect in Congo
Cross-sections created using MicroMine (self taught), updated using macros
Sep 2011 to Dec 2013
International assignment in Perth, Western Australia (secondment) to Pilbara Operations
Resource estimation on green fields projects at varying study levels and operating mines
Range of iron ore mineralisation styles – bedded, detrital and channel iron
Responsible for reconciliation at the Brockman 2 and Nammuldi mine sites
Involved in end of year Mineral Resource Statements, competent person (CP) in training
Resource Geologist with RTIO
Aug 2010 to Sep 2011
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4 & 2 FIFO role on Simandou Project in Guinea, West Africa
Orebody knowledge go-to-geologist, geological support on-site and for study team in Paris
Focus on managing the gamma-density Resource model estimation upgrade project
Modelling Geologist with RTIO
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Supervising Geologist & part of Resource Modelling Team with RTIO
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Nov to Dec 2005
6 week temporary contract on a resource review including 10 days on-site in Macedonia
MSc Thesis with Oxus Gold PLC
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Jan 2006 to Jan 2008
6 & 2 FIFO role in remote camps on Simandou Project in Guinea, West Africa
Implementation and development of health, safety, environment and community (HSEC) focused
culture in a developing country
Part of team that proved an exploration theory that revealed a 2 Bt+ iron ore mineral occurrence. Tier
1 Simandou deposits declared an official discovery, with handover of project to RTIO Product Group
Cross sectional modelling and geological map creation at OoM level
Remote geological mapping with helicopter support in steep terrain
Experience in logging both RC and Diamond (geotechnical) drillholes and drill programme planning
Geologist with SRK (UK) Consulting Ltd.
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Feb to Apr 2007
Leading a 6 man team on a 3 week mapping and sampling project via fly camps in the Sagabari
region of Mali, West Africa.
Geologist with RT Exploration / RTIO Atlantic
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Jan 2008 to Jan 2009
4 & 2 FIFO role on Simandou Project in Guinea, West Africa plus 6 months in Cardiff, UK
Supervising geologist during Simandou PFS drilling programme, with 13 drill rigs (RC & DD)
across two deposits. Contractor and staff management, training and mentoring of local geologists
Considered lead geologist in data validation and QA/QC
Helped produce the externally reported PFS Resource models for Pic de Fon and Oueleba deposits
Geologist with Rio Tinto Exploration (Africa-Europe)
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Jan 2009 to Aug 2010
Full time role with Simandou Study Group based in Paddington office, London, UK
Produced advanced PFS Resource models for Pic de Fon and Oueleba hypogene-supergene hybrid
ultra high grade iron ore deposits (highly deformed structurally complex itabirite proto-ore)
Main duties: drillhole domaining; x-section interpretation; modelling; statistics; compositing;
variography; kriging neighbourhood analysis; resource estimation, classification and reporting
Official competent person (CP) in training
Jun to Sep 2005
10 week stay in Zarafshan, Uzbekistan at the Amantaytau Goldfields mine (near Muruntau)
Resource estimation of a mesothermal / shear-zone gold deposit using Datamine
Mineralogical analysis of grab samples with a focus on gold association using a Qemscan at CSM
MSc Mine Site Visits
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MSc Mapping
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Sep 2004 to Sep 2005
Trench maps across a shear-zone gold deposit in the Kyzylkum desert, Uzbekistan
Underground mapping of the faults, dykes and lode mineralization in Great Condurrow Mine,
Cornwall, UK
Geological Assistant with SRK (UK) Consulting Ltd.
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April 2005
2 week tour around Western Australia visiting various different mining operations, during which
reports were submitted on geological and mining specifics (Koolyanobbin iron ore mine,
Greenbushes tantalum mine, Alcoa bauxite operations, Iluka Resources heavy mineral sand
operations, Kalgoorlie KCGM super-pit gold mine)
Jul to Sep 2004
10 week temporary summer placement, involving data interpretation for various projects
BSc Mapping
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Sep 2001 to Sep 2004
5 weeks mapping of a 20km2 area in the Cantabrian Mountains of Northern Spain
Bench survey map of the settings and controls of VMS mineralization in Mathiatis Mine, Cyprus
1 week field-course mapping in Anglesey, Wales (Rhoscolyn)
2 day field-course mapping of the Cribarth, South Wales Coal Basin;
2 day field-course mapping of the escarpment around Lisvane-Rudry, South Wales Coal Basin
Continued Professional Development (CPD) & Achievements:
 Minex Eurasia & Mines and Money – 2 days of conference in London
Nov 2014
 Min Win Win – EFG/PERC conference for 1 day in Brussels, Belgium
Nov 2014
 Codes and Standards (CRIRSCO family) for the public reporting of Exploration
Oct 2014
Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves – AMEC 1 day course at Somerset
House (The Geological Society) in Piccadilly, London
 Geovia Surpac Training – Dassault Systèmes, 5 day course in Hammersmith, London
Jun 2014
 Iron Ore 2013 (AusIMM) – 1 day of access to conference in Perth
Aug 2013
 Non-linear (Advanced) Geostatistics – 5 day internal course with John Forkes (T&I), Perth Aug 2012
 An introduction to Cut-off Grade Estimation – AusIMM McGill Seminars, 3 days in Perth Jul 2012
 Operate and Maintain a 4WD Vehicle – Drive Safe Australia, 2 days in Perth
Jun 2012
 Senior First Aid – St. John’s Ambulance, 3 days in Perth
Apr 2012
 Geostatistics & KNA – 3 day internal course with John Forkes (T&I)
Oct 2011
 Orebody Knowledge and Long-term Mine Planning Diagnostic Tool – Scribe 3 days
Sep 2011
 Frontline Leadership Development Programme – Rio Tinto Shared Services-EMEA,
2010-2011
4 one week intensive training sessions with a yearlong project and presentation
 Climbed to summit of Mount Kilimanjaro – 4 days of hiking in Tanzania
Feb 2009
 Advanced First Aid & Remote Emergency Incident Management – Medical Expertise,
Oct 2008
5 days in Guinea
 Introduction to Geostatistics & Isatis – Geovariances, 3 days in Fontainbleau
Sep 2008
 Off-road Driving – Exploration Logisitcs, 2 days in Guinea
May 2007
 Introduction to Vulcan: Basics – Maptek Ltd., 3 days in Edinburgh
Mar 2007
 Defensive Driving – Exploration Logisitcs, 1 day in Bristol
Feb 2007
 First Aid and Incident Management – Medical Expertise, 5 days in Guinea
Feb 2007
 (FGS - 1012989) Fellowship Accepted – The Geological Society, London
Jan 2005
Referees:
Bruce Sommerville
Rio Tinto – Pilbara Operations
Central Park
152-158 St Georges Terrace
Perth 6000
Western Australia
bruce.sommerville2@riotinto.com
Tel: (+61)8 9425 8082
Tim James
Rio Tinto – Simandou
Immeuble Kankan
Cité Chemin de Fer
BP 848, Conakry
République de Guinée
tim.james@riotinto.com
Tel: (+33)1 4904 9204
Martin Pittuck
SRK (UK) Ltd.
5th Floor Churchill House
17 Churchill Way
Cardiff , UK
CF10 2HH
mpittuck@srk.co.uk
Tel: (+44)2920 348150
Dr Geoff Steed
Cardiff University
Earth & Ocean Sciences
Cardiff
Wales
CF10 3XQ
steed@cardiff.ac.uk
Tel: (+44)2920 874000
[see LinkedIn for current contact details]
Russell Turner
Snowden, Suite 600
1090 West Pender St.
Vancouver BC
V6E 2N7
Canada
rturner@snowdengroup.ca
Tel: (+1)604 683 7645
Emeritus Prof Peter Scott
Camborne School of Mines
Tremough Campus
Penryn, Cornwall, UK
TR10 9EZ
p.scott@csm.ex.ac.uk
Tel: (+44)1326 371837
http://www.peterwscott.co.uk