
Overview
Background
Tony is an expert mining structural geologist who applies his skills to problems of deep earth mass mining, giant open pits, near-mine exploration, and the local and regional lithostructural controls on complex metalliferous mineral deposits. As a Senior Research Fellow in mining and engineering geology at the University of Queensland, Tony’s pioneering research focussed on the geological modelling and data inputs required for planning deep cave mining operations, an area that had received little previous consideration from geologists. He led the Geology and Mass Mining Project (GMM), which examined the geoscientific inputs required for exploring, defining, establishing, and mining block and sub-level caving operations that were being developed on giant porphyry copper-gold systems and IOCG deposits. While much research was being done in Australia to explore the deep earth environment, very little was being done to model the geology of large and deep mineralized systems, and then to use the new data and models to plan and extract any large discoveries made. Tony’s pioneering work was some of the first and most comprehensive to be done in this field.
- Fellow and chartered professional (geology) of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
- Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists
- Fellow of the Geological Society
- Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists
- Member, Geological Society of Australia
- Member, Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
Tony is presently a Principal Structural Geologist with a Brisbane-based geophysical and geological consulting group.
Availability
- Dr Tony Webster is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), La Trobe University
- Masters (Coursework) of Science, James Cook University
- Bachelor of Arts, University of New England Australia
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Tasmania
- Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education, University of Tasmania
- Postgraduate Diploma, University of New South Wales
Research interests
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The deformation and metamorphism of base metal deposits
Particularly at high metamorphic grade. The variable behaviour of sulphide species at differing metamorphic grades (especially the comparison of granulite grade and greenschist grade metamorphism).
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Geoscientific input to deep earth mining.
With a particular interest in the uses of geoscientific information in the planning and operation of very large block and sublevel caves.
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Applications of 3D imagery to geoscientific data collection and analysis
Applications of photogrammetry and laser scanning technologies to the collection of geological and geotechnical data - with specific applications to open pit and underground mining.
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Urban geology and the development of settlements into cities
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Structural geology for geotechnical management of open pit mines.
Research impacts
First comprehensive description of the geology and structural evolution of the supergiant Broken Hill Ag-Pb-Zn orebodies since 1939.
Works
Search Professor Tony Webster’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2022
Book
The foundation of Australia’s capital cities: geology, landscape, and urban character
Webster, Anthony (2022). The foundation of Australia’s capital cities: geology, landscape, and urban character. Lanham, MD, United States: Lexington Books.
Featured
2006
Book
The geology of the Broken Hill Pb‐Zn‐Ag deposit, New South Wales
Webster, A. E. (2006). The geology of the Broken Hill Pb‐Zn‐Ag deposit, New South Wales. Hobart, TAS, Australia: ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits, University of Tasmania.
2017
Journal Article
Application of photogrammetry for mapping of solution collapse breccia pipes on the Colorado Plateau, USA
Klawitter, Matthias, Pistellato, Davide, Webster, Anthony and Esterle, Joan (2017). Application of photogrammetry for mapping of solution collapse breccia pipes on the Colorado Plateau, USA. Photogrammetric Record, 32 (160), 443-458. doi: 10.1111/phor.12219
2016
Conference Publication
A structured Approach to Geoscientific Data Collection, Interpretation and Modelling for Cave Mining. In: Workshop on Managing Geo-Hazards in Cave Mining.
Webster, Tony and Murphy, Travis (2016). A structured Approach to Geoscientific Data Collection, Interpretation and Modelling for Cave Mining. In: Workshop on Managing Geo-Hazards in Cave Mining.. MassMin 2016, Sydney , Australia, 8 May, 2016. Australia:
2016
Conference Publication
Beyond rock-mass characterisation: the impact of geology on block-caving
Murphy, Travis, Webster, Tony and Chitombo, Gideon (2016). Beyond rock-mass characterisation: the impact of geology on block-caving. Seventh International Conference & Exhibition on Mass Mining (MassMin 2016), Sydney, Australia, 7-11 May 2016. Carlton, VIC, Australia: AusIMM: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2015
Conference Publication
Challenges of Accurately Characterizing the Ore and Host Rocks of Deep Mineral Discoveries
Webster, Anthony and Murphy, Travis (2015). Challenges of Accurately Characterizing the Ore and Host Rocks of Deep Mineral Discoveries. SEG 2015: World Class Ore Deposits: Discovery to Recovery., Hobart, TAS, Australia, 27-30 September 2015. Society of Economic Geologists.
2015
Conference Publication
The economics of exploration – having a mining mindset.
Scott, Margaretha , Wood, Dan , Murphy, Travis and Webster, Tony (2015). The economics of exploration – having a mining mindset.. Queensland Exploration Council 'New Exploration Initiatives', Brisbane Australia, February 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Challenges of Accurately Characterizing the Ore and Host Rocks of Deep Mineral Discoveries
Webster, Tony and Murphy, Travis (2015). Challenges of Accurately Characterizing the Ore and Host Rocks of Deep Mineral Discoveries. SEG2015: World-Class Ore Deposits: Discovery to Recovery, Hobart TAS Australia, September 2015. Australia:
2015
Conference Publication
The Savage River Magnetite Orebodies: Structural and Textural Clues to the Origin of Tasmania's Largest Metal Deposit
Webster, Anthony and Braniff, Victoria (2015). The Savage River Magnetite Orebodies: Structural and Textural Clues to the Origin of Tasmania's Largest Metal Deposit. SEG 2015: World Class Ore Deposits: Discovery to Recovery., Hobart, TAS, Australia, 27-30 September 2015. Hobart, TAS, Australia: Society of Economic Geologists.
2015
Conference Publication
A GIS tool for land and water use planning in mining regions
Lechner, Alex Mark, McIntyre, Neil, Bulovic, Nena, Kujala, Heini, Whitehead, Amy, Webster, Anthony, Wintle, Brendan, Rifkin, Will and Scott, Margaretha (2015). A GIS tool for land and water use planning in mining regions. International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 29 November to 4 December 2015. Gold Coast, QLD, Australia: MSSANZ.
2014
Conference Publication
A character set in stone: landscape, geology and the 1788 Settlement at Sydney Cove
Webster, Anthony (2014). A character set in stone: landscape, geology and the 1788 Settlement at Sydney Cove. AESC 2014: 22nd Australian Geological Convention, Newcastle, NSW, Australia, 7-10 June, 2014. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Geological Society of Australia.
2013
Other Outputs
Part 1: Geoscientific Data Analysis. In: The Geology and Mass Mining (GMM) project, 1st Six-monthly Technical Report. Unpublished technical research report to sponsors - SMI-BRC
Chitombo, Gideon, Murphy, Travis, Pope, Peter and Webster, Tony (2013). Part 1: Geoscientific Data Analysis. In: The Geology and Mass Mining (GMM) project, 1st Six-monthly Technical Report. Unpublished technical research report to sponsors - SMI-BRC.
2009
Journal Article
The Hart's Shaft Cornish plunger pumps: historical archaeology in an operating underground gold mine
Webster, Anthony E. (2009). The Hart's Shaft Cornish plunger pumps: historical archaeology in an operating underground gold mine. Journal of Australasian Mining History, 7, 100-116.
2009
Conference Publication
Structural evolution of the mineralised system at Broken Hill
Webster, A. E. (2009). Structural evolution of the mineralised system at Broken Hill. The Broken Hill Exploration Initiative Conference 2009, Broken Hill, NSW, Australia, 29 September-1 October, 2009. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Geoscience Australia.
2006
Conference Publication
Broken Hill: the anatomy of a giant
Webster, A. E. (Tony) (2006). Broken Hill: the anatomy of a giant. BHEI2006: The Broken Hill Exploration Initiative Conference 2006, Broken Hill, NSW, Australia, 26-28 September, 2006. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Geoscience Australia.
2004
Conference Publication
Re-examination of the structure and stratigraphy of the Broken Hill Pb-Ag-Zn deposit
Webster, A. E. (2004). Re-examination of the structure and stratigraphy of the Broken Hill Pb-Ag-Zn deposit. 17AGC: 17th Australian Geological Convention, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 8-13 February, 2004. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Geological Society Australia.
2003
Journal Article
Geology of the Mt Lyell (Iron Blow) pyrite-chalcopyrite orebody: part 2
Webster, A. E. (2003). Geology of the Mt Lyell (Iron Blow) pyrite-chalcopyrite orebody: part 2. Mineralogica Tasmanica, 1 (45), xx-xx.
2003
Journal Article
Geology of the Mt Lyell (Iron Blow) pyrite-chalcopyrite orebody: part 1
Webster, A. E (2003). Geology of the Mt Lyell (Iron Blow) pyrite-chalcopyrite orebody: part 1. Mineralogica Tasmanica, 1 (44), xx-xx.
2000
Conference Publication
Structures in the Broken Hill orebodies
Webster, Anthony E. (2000). Structures in the Broken Hill orebodies. BHEI2000: Broken Hill Exploration Initiative Conference 2000, Broken Hill, NSW, Australia, 2000. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Geoscience Australia.
2000
Journal Article
Mine geology and mineral localities at Broken Hill, New South Wales
Webster, A. E. (2000). Mine geology and mineral localities at Broken Hill, New South Wales. Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 133 (395-396), 42-43.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Tony Webster is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Natural caving systems as potential analogues to mining induced caving
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Joan Esterle
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Tony Webster directly for media enquiries about:
- Deep mining
- Urban geology
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