Mark Chamberlain

Geoscientist & Principal | Economic Geology | Oil & Gas

Greater Perth Area

About

Principal & Geoscientist at Rift Geoscience, working with mining and energy companies, providing technical consulting services, advice and solutions for exploration projects and asset evaluations. I am a PhD- and Master's-qualified geoscientist with 30 years of experience in energy and mineral projects. I have worked extensively across Southeast Asia, West Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Previously, as Exploration Manager for Premier Oil Indonesia, I discovered significant commercial oil and gas fields. I contributed to regional geological mapping programs with Premier Oil, Talisman Energy, and Mubadala Energy, and mentored and led multinational teams, resulting in significant reserve additions. I have considerable expertise in reserves and risk assessment, asset acquisitions and divestments, new ventures, basin and play-based evaluations, geological mapping, and 3-D modelling. In 2023, I pivoted and broadened my geoscience skills to serve mining clients, leveraging my experience as a structural geologist for mineral exploration clients. In 2025, I earned a Master of Ore Deposit Geology with Distinction from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Economic Geology (M.EconGeol) from the Centre for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences (CODES) at the University of Tasmania. While undertaking academic projects, I worked as a FIFO Project Geologist with a lithium mining company in Western Australia. Through my newly established company, Rift Geoscience (RIFTGEO), I aim to deliver value and innovation to the mineral and energy sectors and mentor the next generation of geoscientists.

Experience

  • Geoscientist and Principal at RIFT GEOSCIENCE
    Feb 2025 - Present · 1 yr 6 mos

    Geologist and Principal, advising and undertaking technical work in the mining and energy industries. RIFTGEO's technical projects offer a unique blend of academic rigour and practical experience. I work closely with a network of associates to deliver innovative multi-disciplinary solutions for our clients. Expertise and services offered include: MINERAL EXPLORATION - Geological mapping & GIS expertise, Structural Geology and 3-D modelling, Geochemistry mapping, Target generation, and Technical Report writing. OIL & GAS - New Ventures, Asset evaluations, Reserves & Risk assessments, Basin & Play Based Evaluations.

  • Master of Ore Deposit Geology with Distinction (UWA), & Master of Economic Geology (UTAS) at CODES - Centre for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences
    Feb 2023 - Dec 2025 · 2 yrs 11 mos

    Through the CODES and UWA Master's degree programs, I gained broad-based experience in Economic Geology and Ore Deposit Geology, with expertise in the following: • Ores and Magmatic Arcs in Southeast Asia (Indonesia) and South America (Chile & Peru), • Structural mapping in Archean greenstone belts. • VHMS Deposits, • Ore Deposit Models & Exploration Strategies, • Ore Deposit Geochemistry, • Exploration in Brownfield Terrains, • Leapfrog 3-D structural modelling, •QGIS expertise

  • Project Geologist at Liontown Resources Limited
    Jul 2024 - Oct 2024 · 4 mos

    Project Geologist working FIFO to a remote lithium mine site at Kathleen Valley, Western Australia. • Open pit geological mapping • LeapfrogGeo 3-D modelling of fault structures to assist geotechnical engineers on slope stability and mine planning. • Photogrammetry interpretation and mapping • Archean LCT pegmatite mineral systems

  • Senior Expert at OMV
    Jun 2018 - Dec 2021 · 3 yrs 7 mos

    Technical Leader for OMV Australasia. Basin screening projects (play-based evaluations), assets and NV opportunities in Australia and Southeast Asia. - Successful asset evaluation and US$700M acquisition of Sapura Malaysia in 2018, leading to the Sapura-OMV JV.

  • Consultant Geologist at Independent
    Aug 2015 - Jun 2018 · 2 yrs 11 mos

    Consultant for E&P companies in Southeast Asia on exploration strategy and asset evaluations.