Becoming a Hydrogeologist in Queensland

About this role

Hydrogeologists monitor, measure, analyse and describe the earth's surface and groundwater resources and many aspects of the water cycle, including human use of water resources.

What you might do day-to-day in this job

Typical tasks for a Hydrogeologist include:

• conducts preliminary surveys of mineral, petroleum and natural gas deposits with Prospectors, Mining Engineers, Metallurgists, and other mineral scientists and engineers
• prepares and supervises the production of laboratory reports and scientific papers
• conducts studies of the structure, nature and formation of the earth’s crust and the minerals contained in it
• studies and dates fossils and rock strata to develop knowledge of the evolution and biology of life forms, and to assess their commercial applications
• studies the effects of natural events, such as erosion, sedimentation, earthquakes and volcanic activity, on the formation of the earth’s surface and sea beds
• carries out exploration to determine the resources present by sampling, examining and analysing geological specimens, rock cores, cuttings and samples using optical, chemical, electronic and mechanical techniques
• conducts surveys of variations in the earth’s gravitational and magnetic fields to determine its physical features
• investigates the propagation of seismic waves to determine the structure and stability of the earth’s mantle and crust
• studies the causes of earthquakes and other stress states of the earth’s crust
• performs laboratory and field studies as well as aerial, ground and drill hole surveys.