Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics (1946 - 1992)

Summary

The Bureau of Mineral Resources was created in June 1946 with the following mission: "(a) to provide technological and technical advice to the mining industry, and to undertake geological and geophysical and other forms of research; and (b) to undertake market surveys and other economic investigations in relation to mining and development of the Industry." [NAA CA 218] The Bureau was situated in Melbourne, Victoria, from 1946 until 1958, when it moved to its Canberra location. In 1992 it transformed into the Australian Geological Survey Organisation (later Geoscience Australia).

Details

From National Archives Australia entry for CA 218:

"On 27 March 1946, the Mining Industry Advisory Panel agreed that because of their cost and highly specialized nature, the States should rely on the Commonwealth to meet their requirements for geophysical surveys. On 11 June 1946 and 18 December 1946 the Public Service Board issued certificates relating to Cabinet decisions of 19 February 1945 and 20 March 1946 for:
(a) 48 positions - 17 geologists, 24 geophysicists, 7 others
including a petroleum technologist
(b) 7 positions including a mining engineer.

The Public Service Board also approved the use of the name "Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics". The establishment of the Bureau of Mineral Resources, more or less in its present form, therefore dates from this approval. The growth of the Bureau since 1947 has been determined by its considerable success and the desire of governments to concentrate on surveys of those areas which hold out the greatest promise of producing minerals required for security and self-sufficiency and the earning of export income. The Bureau has permanent working arrangements with all, or most of the States for:
(a) indexing of literature on general geology and economic geology
(b) compilation and publication of geological maps of Australia
(c) ground and airbourne geophysical surveys

By June 1962 the Bureau consisted of the following Branches:
Petroleum Exploration Branch
Geological Branch
Geophysical Branch
Operations Branch
Mineral Resources Branch

On 13 August 1992, the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy and the Minister for Resources announced changes to the operational and administrative arrangements for the Bureau of Mineral Resources. The changes were seen as necessary to ensure that scientific support for resources decisions was provided in the most efficient way.

BMR functions were to be divided between two agencies which would be newly created within the Department of Primary Industries and Energy (DPIE). The Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO) gained all BMR functions except those dealing with petroleum and minerals resources." [NAA CA 218, 2022-11-23]

Related entries

Timeline

 1946 - 1992 Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics
       1992 - 2001 Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO)

Published resources

Books

• Wilkinson, R., Rocks to Riches: the Story of Australia's National Geological Survey (St Leonards (N.S.W.): Allen & Unwin, 1996), 446 pp. Details

Conference Papers

• Fisher, H., ''The Bureau of Mineral Resources' Contribution to the Geological Mapping of Australia', in Edgeworth David Day Symposium: Geological Mapping of Two Southern Continents: the Geological Mapping of Australia - From David to 1:50000; the Geology of Antarctica-Exploration to Exploitation? edited by D. F. Branagan; G. S. Gibbons and K. S. Williams (Sydney: Edgeworth David Society, 1988), pp. 55-59.. Details

Edited Books

• Johns, R.K. ed., History and role of government geological surveys in Australia (Adelaide: South Australian Government Printer, 1976), 111 pp. Details

Journal Articles

• Muhling, Peter and Collins, Bob, 'Dr (Doc) Norm Fisher', Newsletter, Earth Sciences History Group, 44 (2013), 6-14. Details
• Sydenham, P. H., 'Early geophysical practice: the BMR instrument collection', BMR journal of Australian geology and geophysics, 3 (1978), 241-8. Details
• Withnall, Ian, 'From tunneller on the Western Front to Director of the Bureau of Mineral Resources: the war service and career of P. B. Nye', Newsletter, Earth Sciences History Group, 45 (2018), 33-7. Details

Resources

• Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1476748. Details

Resource Sections

• 'Primary description of agency CA 218; Bureau of Mineral Resources. Geology and Geophysics. Registration of entity: 22 September 1987', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2000, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%20218. Details

See also

• Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Online edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, 3 May 2000, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/index_b.html. Details
• Branagan, D. F., 'Öpik, Armin Aleksander (1892-1983), Palaeontologist' in Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 18 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2012), pp. 247-8. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/opik-armin-aleksander-15423. Details
• Branagan, D. F., 'Noakes, Lyndon Charles (1914-1990), Geologist, Coast Watcher and Public Servant' in Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 18 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2012), pp. 223-4. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/noakes-lyndon-charles-14992. Details
• Laurie, John R., 'John Helsby Shergold 1938-2006', Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 34 (2007), 1-16 . Details
• Mackenzie, Doug, 'Ian Sweet d. 28 December 2013', TAG: Geological Society of Australia Newsletter, 171 (June) (2014), 39. Details
• McCracken, Ken, 'Rayner, Jack Maxwell (1906-1982), Geophysicist' in Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 18 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2012), p. 330. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rayner-jack-maxwell-15858. Details
• Shephard, Denis, 'Geophysical Instruments in the National Historical Collection', Preview, 163 (2013), 21-7. Details