It is evident that there is an urgent need for establishment of centres for advanced technological training in all fields of applied geology to help the gap in training between what the efficient [Paul: practice] of geology requires and what the universities and technical institutes provide.

In conclusion, it is well to keep in mind dramatic increase in the demand for the geologists is not the result of deliberately planned action on their part. It is due to circumstances largely out of the control of the profession. Certainly the demand is growing on a base of sound scientific work and practical accomplishment, but it being driven by external forces, such as the world demand for minerals and Australia's favourable political and economic climate. There is also no doubt that this demand will continue to grow for some considerable time and then remain high. For how long will depend to at large degree on our effectiveness in finding and developing deposits of minerals and oil and gas.

Whatever the causes, however, geology now has unique opportunities. How the profession uses these will greatly influence its future standing with its associates in the scientific world, with industry and also with the community in general.

For during the past two decades, geology has risen from a rather obscure position in the community to one of prominence. In particular, the work of exploration teams in remote places scattered over the continent is now of great interest, not only to their employers, but also to a large and growing segment of the public through its direct investments in exploration ventures.

Not only must the profession maintain, and wherever possible raise, its technical standards of practice, but it must also maintain high ethical standards of conduct to ensure that its specialized knowledge and skills continue to be properly used for the good of the community. Certainly the current upsurge in activity has created many and diverse problems, but they are problems of vigorous growth, challenging problems, the kind to welcome.

References

Mitcham, T. W. (1969) : Econ. Geol., 64, 72.

Russell., R., T. (1967) : Discovery of major phosphate deposits northwest Queensland. Queensland Government Mining Journal, April, 1967.

Woodall, R., and Travis, G. A. (1969) : The Kambalda nickel deposits, Western Australia. Ninth Commonwealth Min. and Met. Congress, London.