PROFESSOR RELATED WEBSITES
  Department of Geological Sciences Kimberlite Research Group
  Louis Ahrens Building, Library Road  
  University of Cape Town  
  Rondebosch, 7700, RSA  
  Room 505  
     
  ph: #27 (0)21 650 2930  
  fax: #27 (0)21 650 3783  
  email: jjg@geology.uct.ac.za  
     
  Biography Research Publications Teaching Students Personal  
 
   
 
Degrees
  • BSc (Hons) University of Cape Town, 1962.
  • PhD University of Cape Town, 1968.
 
Employment
  • CSIR Research Officer, University of Cape Town, 1963-1974.
  • Senior Lecturer, University of Cape Town, 1975-1979.
  • Associate Professor, University of Cape Town, 1979-1984.
  • Professor, University of Cape Town, 1985-present.
 
International Research Exchange Visits
  • Post-doctoral Fellow, Smithsonian Institute, USA, 1970-1971.
  • Visiting Scientist, Smithsonian Institute, USA, 1975.
  • Visiting Scientist, Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution, USA, 1981.
  • Visiting Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Massachusetts, 1985,1989.
  • Visiting Scientist, Grant Institute of Geology, University of Edinburgh.
  • Visiting Scientist, Department of Geology, Queens University, Kingston, Canada.
  • Visiting Scientist, CSIRO and Mcquarie University, North Ryde, Ausralia, 1989.
 
 
 
Dr John Gurney holds a personal chair in geochemistry and his primary interests are upper mantle research, diamonds, diamond exploration and instrumental analysis of minerals. This interest is pursued through the Kimberlite Research Group (KRG) which consists of several members of staff, post-doctoral fellows, and post-graduate research students. Currently supervision in the KRG is shared between Dr S H Richardson, Prof A P le Roex and Dr J J Gurney.
 
The KRG regularly has research opportunities at both post-doctoral and post-graduate levels. Applicants for post-graduate work should have at least an upper second class degree in geology with a strong background in geochemistry. Interested parties should contact Dr J J Gurney at the Department of Geological Sciences. Enrollment can be at any time, but funding grants run from 1st January each year and optimal chances of successful funding dictate that applications should be submitted before the end of August for projects scheduled to start the following January. However, this is not a hard and fast rule.
Follow this LINK for more information on John Gurney's Research
 
 
 
Gurney JJ and Kirkley MB (1996) Kimberlite dyke mining in South Africa. Africa Geoscience Review 3(2): 191-201 [Abstract]
 
Gurney JJ and Zweistra P (1995) The interpretation of the major element compositions of mantle minerals in diamond exploration. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 53(1-3): 293-309 [Abstract]
 
Helmstaedt HH and Gurney JJ (1995) Geotectonic controls of primary diamond deposits; implications for area selection. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 53(1-3): 125-144 [Abstract]
 
Richardson SH, Harris JW and Gurney JJ (1993) Three generations of diamonds from old continental mantle. Nature (London) 366(6452): 256-258
 
Gurney JJ, Levinson AA and Smith HS (1991) Marine mining of diamonds off the west coast of Southern Africa. Gems and Gemology 27(4): 206-219 [Abstract]
 
Kirkley MB, Gurney JJ and Levinson AA (1991) Age, origin, and emplacement of diamonds; scientific advances in the last decade. Gems and Gemology 27(1): 2-25 [Abstract]
 
Gurney JJ (1990) The diamondiferous roots of our wandering continent. South African Journal of Geology 93(3): 423-437 [Abstract]
 
Gurney JJ (1989) Diamonds. In: Ross J, Jaques AL, Ferguson J, Green DH, O'Reilly SY, Danchin RV and Janse AJA (Editors) Kimberlites and related rocks. Proceedings of the fourth international kimberlite conference. Geological Society of Australia, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia, pp 935-965
 
McCandless TE and Gurney JJ (1989) Sodium in garnet and potassium in clinopyroxene; criteria for classifying. In: Ross J, Jaques AL, Ferguson J, Green DH, O'Reilly SY, Danchin RV and Janse AJA (Editors) Kimberlites and related rocks. Proceedings of the fourth international kimberlite conference. Geological Society of Australia, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia, pp 827-832 [Abstract]
 
Gurney JJ (1984) A correlation between garnets and diamonds in kimberlites. In: Glover JE and Harris PG (Editors) Kimberlite occurrence and origin; a basis for conceptual models in exploration. University of Western Australia, Geology Department and Extension Service, pp 143-166
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current MSc students
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current PhD students