It’s my very sad task to inform AIG members that Mark Hinman died overnight, 16th October 2020.  He was 62. Mark endured substantial health problems for most of his adult life to which he has now finally succumbed.

In the face of constant medical adversity his longevity, academic, professional and private achievements are truly remarkable. A towering measure of an indomitable and very fine man.

Admirable, that’s the word that will always fill my mind when thinking of Mark. Mark was one of those rare individuals you are profoundly fortunate to meet during a lifetime. A formidably intelligent, stoic, even-tempered, erudite and philosophical man with whom it was always a joyful and intellectually stimulating experience to share time with.

Mark was a master academic and project generating exploration geologist – an accomplished pure scientist with an undergraduate background in maths and physics.

He was a skilled house renovator, thinker, conversationalist, traveller and in younger days a fisherman, hunter and general outdoorsman. His greatest project was his family. He is survived by his steadfast wife Maggie and son Josh.

I am deeply honoured to have been able to call Mark my friend. Whilst he will be greatly missed, he leaves a remarkable legacy of determined achievement, persistence, scholarship, good nature, generosity and many other venerable traits.

His life is to be celebrated. An inspirational example for the future endeavours to all who were lucky to have known him.

Vale Mark Hinman.

Doug Brewster MAIG

Mark was a highly regarded consultant and in recent years an Associate Professor at the Sustainable Minerals Institute of University of Queensland.

Mark contributed to resource discovery, extension and both pre-feasibility and feasibility technical appraisals in roles as Principal Geologist, Chief Geologist and consultant with many major and mid-tier mining and exploration companies, including  MMG, Newcrest, Dundee Precious Metals, ERA-RIO,  Alligator Energy, Chinova-Ivanhoe, Evolution, Oceana, MRM-Xtrata, Blackwood Corp, Pasminco, Anglo American, North Limited, Noranda Pacific and QDME.

Mark demonstrated a special ability in the resolution of complex structural-tectonic controls on mineralisation, elucidation of their impact on the geotechnical and mining engineering aspects of resource extraction, and resource targeting at all scales from mine to continental in a broad range of base, precious and energy commodities. Mark was also a a skilled and practiced GIS integrator which he applied to exploration targeting by analysis of geological, remote-sensed and geophysical data.

I had the opportunity to work with Mark while with CRAE and later, Pasminco, during feasibility studies and commissioning of the Century Zinc mine in northwest Queensland, where his contribution to understanding the structure of the deposit, particularly in challenging the prevailing geological interpretation of the deposit, contributing to its successful development and operations. He was a thorough professional in every aspect of his work and interactions with peers.

Andrew Waltho FAIG