b'ASEG 2021 Honours and AwardsFeatureASEG 2021 Honours and AwardsASEG Gold Medal: Malcolm Cattach Over the past 40 years, Mal has been a pioneer, often the pioneer, of a sequence of geophysical exploration technologies The ASEG Gold Medal is awarded from time to time forthat have become internationally established as World Leading. exceptional and distinguished contributions to the scienceIn 1984 he introduced microprocessor technology to the and practice of geophysics by a Member, resulting in widenewly developed digital Cs magnetometer, facilitating the recognition within the geoscientific community. The ASEGautomatic acquisition of positioned magnetic data that became President announced at the Awards Ceremony held ina precursor to his development of image processing software. September in conjunction with the AEGC 2021 that the ASEGThis achievement was recognised at the time with the Grahame Gold Medal has been awarded in 2021 to Dr Malcolm Cattach. Sands award of 1988.This award specifically recognizes Mals exceptionalHis PhD research completed in 1993 produced the Sub Audio contributions to geophysics in Australia and internationally,Magnetics technology, a task that required both the upgrading through his pioneering work spanning 40 years in theof the Cs magnetometer technology, the development of development of new and innovative geophysical explorationtheoretical requirements to enable the separation of the SAM technologies that have become internationally established. parameters, and case study proof of the combined performance of hardware and software. This work was recognised by a After graduating with a science degree from University of Newsecond Grahame Sands award in 1995.England in 1978, Mal worked as a geophysical field hand for two years with Newmont Mining. He returned to UNE in 1981Experience applying SAM using the best available commercial to complete a Masters preliminary year in the Department ofgeophysical transmitters enabled Mal to propose a specification Geophysics. He then enrolled in a Masters study sponsoredfor a new, very high-power transmitter to specifically meet by Newmont Holdings, analysing the comparison betweenSAM requirements. With assistance from a specialist electronic the performances of commercially available IP receivers.engineer, a range of high-performance transmitters were built. Upon completion of this MSc, Mal had the choice of obtainingThis development earned Mal an unprecedented third Grahame employment with Newmont, which had been his originalSands Award in 2012.ambition, or join John Stanley at the self-funding Geophysical Research Institute (GRI). John had developed a Cs vapourA further development of SAM, named SAMSON, enhanced magnetometer with automatic data positioning and digitalperformance in the acquisition of TFEM data. Their paper recording and pioneered the application of high-definitiondescribing this innovative application of geophysical magnetic mapping to mineral exploration, archaeologicaltechnology won Mal and his co-authors, the Laric Hawkins mapping and then the detection of UXO. In 1984 the GRI had aAward for best paper at the ASEG Conference in 2007. SAM and contract to develop the TM-3 magnetometer for the AustralianSAMSON have now received international acceptance in the Defence Department. Mal chose to support the GRI. geophysical exploration and mapping industries, and are used on all continents. SAM is not just a ground-based technique but Having gained an appreciation of the benefits of acquiring high- has also been successfully applied from a helicopter platform, definition magnetic data, and with his Masters experience ina development that earned Mal a second Laric Hawkins Award electrical methods, Mal proposed the concept of using the fast- in 2018.sampling Cs magnetometer to simultaneously acquire spatiallyWith three Grahame Sands awards for innovation in applied varying magnetic and time varying electromagnetic responses.geophysics, two Laric Hawkins awards, and Best Paper awards Under Johns supervision at the GRI, and with funding supportat ASEG Conferences, Mal has in fact received more ASEG from Normandy Poseidon, Mal subsequently undertook aawards for excellence in exploration geophysics than any other PhD researching all the basic physics underlying the Subawardee in the Societys 50-year history. Mals contribution Audio Magnetics (SAM) method by which the four parametersto the development of high resolution, and high-definition of TMI, TFMMR, TFEM and TFMMIP could theoretically bemulti-parameter geophysical mapping was also recognised in simultaneously acquired. Within the PhD program, MalEurope as a joint recipient (with John Stanley) of the Comenius confirmed the simultaneous acquisition of the TMI and TFMMRUniversity (Bratislava) Medal.parameters through practical application with case studies. Mal and John then co-supervised the PhD of David Boggs,In addition to contributing to many innovative technology who proved that the remaining two parameters could also bedevelopments, Mal has successfully established, managed and simultaneously obtained. operated Brisbane based Gap Geophysics, a commercially viable geophysical contracting and consulting company, providing When the GRI transitioned from an Institute to a privatean invaluable service to the exploration and environmental Company G-Tek, Mal took on the role of Director of Researchmapping industries, while continuing to advance an active and was on the Board. In 2005, after Johns retirement, Mal ledresearch and development program.the regrouping of the former GRI research staff in the formation of Gap Geophysics in Brisbane, and very successfully managedMal has also been an active Member and supporter of the a commercially viable geophysical company providing anASEG since 1984 and has subsequently participated in almost invaluable service to the exploration and environmentalevery ASEG Conference as a trade exhibitor and presenter. mapping industries, while continuing to advance an activeThroughout his career, Mal has demonstrated an extraordinary research and development program. In the 16 years sinceloyalty to the Society and to Australian geoscience by forming Gap, Mal has been responsible for bringing to maturitychoosing to present and publish his science and technology all the technologies that in the GRI days were but a dream. developments at ASEG conferences and in the ASEGs journal 49 PREVIEW OCTOBER 2021'