Assoc.Prof Structural Geology (ret)
Department of Earth Sciences
The University of Queensland
Honorary Research Consultant

 Telephone: +61 7 3365 2178
 Facsimile: +61 7 3365 1277
 Email: rodh@earth.uq.edu.au

Structural Geology Consultant:
Holcombe Coughlin & Associates Australia

ABN: 29863107460

PO Box 593 Kenmore, Qld 4069
Australia
Telephone: +61 7 3378 6326
 Email: rod@holcombe.net.au

After more than 30 years of academic life, the last 15 of which had been spent in exploration applied research and consulting, I now split my time between commercial consulting (Holcombe Coughlin and Associates) and applied research at the University of Queensland (Research Exploration Initiative).

My expertise is in the structural analysis of metamorphic rocks, and my main interest is in the geological architecture and formation of mountain systems, both modern mountain ranges and eroded ancient mountain belts, particularly the characterisation of strain and flow kinematics of metamorphic rocks and shear zones, the evolution of orogenic belts, and the structural control of mineralisation. Additionally I have an interest in developing computer applications applied to mapping and structural analysis, and links to these can be found on this page.

My field experience has been divided between strongly deformed Precambrian metamorphic terranes (eg., Mount Isa, New Mexico, Southern Appalachians, Yilgarn, Finland, Brazil, Uruguay, Siberia, West Africa) and Phanerozoic continental margin orogens (Australian NEFB, Argentine and Peruvian Andes, Alpine Fault, New Zealand). I have also had passing experience in a variety of other terranes in the US, Scandinavia, Thailand, and Australia.

Current research projects are the regional structure and framework of mineralisation in Brazil and Uruguay; The Yenesei Ridge in Siberia; the Peruvian Andes (with Tim Coughlin, Arne Scherrenberg), and the northern New England Fold Belt of eastern Australia (with Chris Fielding, Scott Bryan).