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I am a minerals exploration geologist working in the mining and mineral exploration industry since 1992. I finished my studies at Technical University of Munich-Garching, Germany in late 1991 as
'Diplom-Geologe' (equivalent to a MSc). Already during my studies I had the chance to work on a wide range of mineral related topics including pure research work as well as projects financed by the mineral industry.
Soon after my studies I was hired as a junior consultant by a German company for a gold exploration project in Niger, West Africa. From 1992 to 1999 I stayed permanently in West Africa working as a
consultant for various junior and major mining houses. My work focussed on precious metals, base metals and speciality metals like Ta, Sc, REE, etc.
With the downturn of the exploration activities in Africa and elsewhere in the world, I decided to return to Europe and offer my services from Germany. Until mid-2002 I was a consultant to mining companies
and was evaluating investment opportunities (mainly gold mines) and was developing exploration programmes for commodities such Au, Pb/Zn/Cu, Ta/Nb, REE and coloured gemstones in Europe and Africa. Some achievements
of my exploration career include:
- 1989: discovery of a previously unknown Pt-Os-mineralisation in the Floiten Valley, Austria
- 1992-94: joint development of the Samira gold deposit, Niger, now standing at +1.8 mio ounces
- 1996/97: discovery of important gold anomalies in the Sirba Valley of Burkina Faso; these are now being successfully developed by Predictive Discovery Ltd of Australia
- 1998/99: joint discovery of a 14 km long extension of the Samira gold horizon
- 2010: discovery of probably the world’s largest, single deposit of rare earth bearing ion adsorption clays in north-western Madagascar
From 2002 to 2006, I held the post of Deputy Head at the Africa Section of the Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hanover/Germany. In 2006 I joined Fugro Consult GmbH, the German
Branch of Fugro NV, the well-known international company for geotechnical, survey and geoscience services. At Fugro Consult, I held the post of Head of Section “Mining, Infrastructure & Mineral Exploration”.
From October 2008 to September 2012, I was COO of Tantalus Rare Earths AG and in charge of the development of a new major REE-Ta-Nb-Zr deposit in northern Madagascar. During this project, I discovered what is
probably the World’s single largest deposit of REE bearing ion adsorption clays outside South China. The JORC compliant infered resource stood in April 2013 at 438 million tons @ 0.08% TREO, this represents
probably only some 30% of the total resources.
From October 2012 to January 2014 I worked as an independent geological consultant for various mining and exploration companies, consulting companies, investors and finance companies in Eastern Asia, West
Africa and southern Africa.
Since February 2014 I am Head of Exploration / Chief Geologist with AIM listed Premier African Minerals. The flagship project is the high grade RHA tungsten mine in Zimbabwe which will go in production in
mid 2015. Other projects with a very positive economic outlook are the Zulu LCT pegmatite and the Tinde fluorspar deposit in Zimbabwe.
As member of the European Federation of Geologists - No. 1261- I am a Qualified / Competent Person sensu Canadian NI 43-101, Australian JORC code and South African SAMREC code.
Besides my mother tongue, I am fluent in English and French and understand a few African languages and dialects.
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