About
EarthDownUnder is a professional geological consultancy based in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Our home city of Wollongong—affectionately known as “The Gong”—has a proud industrial heritage centred around the high-quality Permian coal seams of the Sydney Basin, which continue to underpin Australia’s steel-making industry at Port Kembla.
Wollongong has long been a hub for world-class geological research, attracting leading minds to the University of Wollongong and fostering a vibrant geoscience community. Drawing on this rich legacy, EarthDownUnder combines deep local knowledge with decades of national and international experience.
We have worked across Australia and globally—from complex tectonic terranes to critical resource provinces—solving some of the most challenging geological problems in industry and in academia. Our expertise spans mineral exploration, geotechnical and environmental risk assessment, and field-based geological training, tailored to the needs of industry, government, and environmental sectors.
Whether you’re targeting the next mineral discovery, characterising site hazards such as naturally occurring asbestos or heavy-metal contaminants, or seeking intensive, field-based training programs for your team, EarthDownUnder is your trusted partner in geoscience.
Contact Dr. Solomon (Sol) Buckman, Director and Chief Geologist, to discuss how EarthDownUnder Geological Consultancy can assist in enhancing your projects, building knowledge and increasing your chances of discovery.
Email: info@earthdownunder.com
Mobile: +61 428653717
Earthdownunder maintains full professional indemnity and public liability insurance, ensuring compliance with industry and government standards for consulting and field-based work.
Meet the team
“Experience is the best teacher—and in geology, the best geologists are those who’ve seen the most rocks. Between us, we’ve seen a lot of rocks.”
At EarthDownUnder, we bring decades of combined experience in the field, from the rugged terrains of Australia to some of the most complex geological provinces on the planet. Our consultancy is grounded in first-hand knowledge, practical field skills, and a commitment to solving real-world geological problems—whether in mineral exploration, site hazard assessment, or professional training.
Solomon Buckman
Founder & Principal Geoscientist – Earthdownunder
Dr. Solomon Buckman is the founder of Earthdownunder, a specialist geoscience consultancy based in the Illawarra. With a career bridging academia and mineral exploration, Solomon brings over a decade of experience working across Australia’s major geological provinces — including the Yilgarn greenstone belts, Pilbara iron ore, Gawler Craton IOCG systems, Mt Isa, Cannington, the porphyry systems of the Lachlan Orogen, and epithermal deposits in the New England Orogen.
Internationally, he has conducted field research in the Himalaya and Zagros Mountains, with a focus on structural geology and crustal processes. Solomon is also a recognised expert in petrography and NOA identification, supporting environmental risk assessments and exploration programs.
He has taught university-level courses in economic geology, igneous petrology, geological mapping, and natural hazard risk, and leads Earthdownunder with a commitment to technical excellence, practical outcomes, and collaborative expertise.
Allen Nutman
Senior Geochronologist – SHRIMP & Precambrian Geology
Dr. Allen Nutman is internationally recognised for his pioneering work in zircon U-Pb geochronology, specialising in the use of Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) technology. With decades of experience unlocking the age and evolution of metamorphic and igneous terranes, Allen is a global authority on Precambrian tectonics, particularly in Greenland, where he has conducted landmark research. His work underpins foundational tectonic models used in both academia and mineral exploration.
Paul Carr
Senior Mineralogist – XRD, XRF & Rare Minerals
Dr. Paul Carr is a leading expert in the mineralogical characterisation of complex geological systems, utilising XRD, XRF, and electron microprobe techniques to identify and classify rare mineral species. His work has provided critical insight into the oxidation zone mineralogy of Broken Hill (NSW), Tsumeb (Namibia) and the volcanic sequences of the Sydney Basin. Paul’s depth of analytical experience brings a rigorous scientific edge to mineral processing, exploration, and academic collaborations.
Brian Jones
Senior Sedimentologist – Stratigraphy & Resource Geology
Dr. Brian Jones specialises in sequence stratigraphy, sedimentology, and basin analysis, with broad experience across coal, petroleum, and gas systems, as well as fluvial and coastal environments. His expertise supports both resource evaluation and environmental impact studies, making him an asset for energy and infrastructure projects. Brian’s sedimentary models have informed exploration strategies and risk assessments in diverse depositional systems across Australia and beyond.
Colin Murray-Wallace
Principal Quaternary Geologist – Geochronology & Coastal Geomorphology
Dr. Colin Murray-Wallace is a leading Quaternary geologist with internationally recognised expertise in amino acid racemisation (AAR) dating of shell material. His work is foundational in understanding coastal geomorphology, sea-level change, and long-term landscape evolution. Colin’s research informs coastal hazard assessments and environmental planning, particularly in sensitive low-lying regions vulnerable to erosion and climate-driven impacts.
Gert van den Bergh
Geologist – Palaeontology, Archaeology & Volcanism
Dr. Gert van den Bergh is renowned for his multidisciplinary work in palaeontology, volcanology, and archaeology, most notably his research of Homo floresiensis (“The Hobbit”) on Flores Island, Indonesia. His expertise in volcanic stratigraphy and site-based geological investigation makes him a unique asset for both heritage and hazard-related assessments. Gert brings extensive field experience across Southeast Asia, supporting projects where geological context intersects with cultural or environmental significance.
Chris fergusson
Dr. Chris Fergusson is a specialist in structural geology and regional tectonics, with a focus on the complex terranes of eastern Australia. His work supports exploration teams in interpreting deformation histories, fault systems, and mineralisation controls. With extensive experience in orogenic systems, Chris plays a key role in 3D structural modelling and exploration targeting within both metamorphic and sedimentary basins.
Allan Chivas
Geochemist – Quaternary Systems & Isotope Geochemistry
Dr. Allan Chivas is a distinguished Quaternary geologist and expert in stable isotope geochemistry, applying his knowledge to regolith, hydrology, and ore deposit systems. Originally trained as an economic geologist, Allan’s work integrates environmental reconstruction with mineral system analysis. He maintains ongoing research in the Solomon Islands, where he investigates porphyry copper-gold systems through isotopic signatures — bridging fundamental science with applied exploration.