Geoscience Ireland (GI) is pleased to announce that John A Clifford has joined the GI Panel of Independent Experts.

John has had a distinguished career in mineral exploration and development spanning 50 years in over 40 countries. He played leading roles in notable discoveries in Argentina (gold- Cerro Negro), Chile, (copper-Centinella), (gold–Cononish)  and Northern Ireland (gold–Curraghinalt).

John’s wide-ranging expertise includes management of exploration projects, multi-agency and multi-cultural leadership, country assessment and exploration strategy, technical review of exploration, development and mining projects, due diligence assignments, corporate and technical presentations.

A graduate of  University College Cork with a Diploma from Imperial College London, John first worked in Canada, returning to Ireland in the early 1970s to lecture in mineral science at Athlone RTC. He went on to become Exploration Manager for the Ennex Group and later provided board level advice to Equatorial Minerals, Andean Resources and more recently to Antofagasta Minerals SA.

He has been at the forefront in the development of mineral resources reporting standards, having served on several international committees i.e. PERC, CRIRSCO and the UNFC Panel.

John has been recognized by several international awards, including the Council of Mining and Metallurgical Institutions Medal (1991), European Federation of Geologists’ Medal of Merit (2008) and the Institute of Geologists of Ireland Medal of Honour (2009).

Koen Verbruggen, Director of Geological Survey Ireland commented;

“GI is delighted to have John Clifford, an eminent geologist with a very successful track record in international mineral exploration and development, join its Panel of Experts. John’s work in developing the highest standards in the reporting of mineral resources is of fundamental importance to the creation of trust and transparency in the minerals industry.”