Brian Varndell has over 45 years in managerial roles and as a Consultant in the capacity of Acting or Chief Geologist, has overseen mining operations, both open-pit and underground and also supervised exploration (essentially from grass roots through to drilling operations, program planning and feasibility studies) working for either major companies or as an independent operator. Major success include being the team leader for the identification of two major world class gold deposits both of which became successful producers (Renco Mine – Zimbabwe and Toka Tindung – Manado Province, Indonesia) and involvement with the identification of the +1Bt Senwa Coal deposit in Zimbabwe.

Commodities handled include gold – silver, PGE (Great Dyke and Bushveld), nickel-copper (both sulphide and lateritic), coal, graphite, asbestos, precious stones including diamonds and emeralds, base metal copper-lead-zinc, asbestos, uranium, iron ore, phosphate, gypsum and silica in over 35 countries mainly focussed in Africa, South East Asia and Australasia.

Independent expert property reports for IPO’s and independent expert valuations from a relatively experienced computer literacy base.

Detailed work has involved experience in open pit and underground mining operations that involved day to day grade control, mine planning and production scheduling, production reconciliation plus all reporting that included reconciliation and, composition of departmental and group budgets.

He has managed many exploration programs ranging from target selection, regional mapping and geochemical sampling through to ultimate resource delineation based on RC and diamond drilling for inclusion in JORC Code compliant resources and ore reserves fr numerous orebodies in a wide range of geological environments.

As a Chief Geologist has supervised many technical and financial feasibility studies on projects prior to development or as part of due diligence studies. The role of Chief Geologist includes vast experience in selecting and mentoring geological teams in exploration and mining departments. This work also involved liason with other disciplines by inter-reacting with many mining professionals including other geologists, mining engineers, metallurgists, accountants and surveyors.