SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL, June 15, 2023 - Fredric L. Pirkle, PhD, has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Well-regarded for his contributions to the field of geology, Dr. Pirkle has distinguished himself through an extensive background of leadership. To wit, he is a past chair and current co-chair of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc's (SME) Valuation Standards Committee, a past president of the International Institute of Mineral Appraisers (IIMA), and a past president and vice president of the Southeastern Geological Society (SEGS). In addition to his ongoing affiliations with the SME, IIMA and SEGS, Dr. Pirkle serves as a member of the International Mineral Valuation Committee, the Geological Society of America and the American Institute of Professional Geologists.
Beginning his career at DuPont's heavy-mineral mining operations in Florida in 1972, Dr. Pirkle went on to serve as a contract geologist at the Franklin Company between 1977 and 1978. In this role, he was responsible for aiding in exploration efforts in the Atlantic Coastal Plain and southwestern United States for fluorspar and heavy minerals, as well as directing drilling programs, mineral processing and evaluating deposits. Following this period, he joined the Bendix Field Engineering Corporation as part of the National Uranium Resource Evaluation program, through which he specialized in the interpretation of aerial radiometric data. Advancing to become a research geoscientist, he collaborated with the Los Alamos National Laboratory's statistical division to handle and interpret large geological data sets – the resulting methodologies developed there would go on to see application in such areas as Copper Mountain, Wyoming and the Texas Coastal Plain. The results of his research efforts were subsequently published in various scientific journals, including the Journal of the International Association for Mathematical Geology and the Journal of Geochemical Exploration.
In 1981, Dr. Pirkle accepted a new role as a senior geologist at Conoco Inc., where he was developing their new "Frontier" uranium exploration program. When their uranium exploration efforts ceased later that year, he transferred to oil and gas exploration as a source rock specialist at the company's Advanced Exploration Organization Worldwide (AEOWW) initiative. In this role, he performed regional studies in both a domestic and international capacity, and developed several innovative mapping techniques including developing along with his colleague Harry Dembicki a source rock rating index that was further expounded upon in symposium presentations and proceedings as well as peer-reviewed articles he also developed basin analysis concepts and aided in study computerization. After rising to become a staff geologist at Conoco, Dr. Pirkle served as a liaison between their central research division and various exploration offices, during which time he took various tools and concepts developed by researchers and worked to make them applicable to explorers in the field.
Dr. Pirkle was transferred by Conoco's parent company (DuPont) to DuPont's heavy-mineral mining operations in Florida, where he rose to become a senior exploration associate. Among his responsibilities in this role, he served as a mine geologist and supervised students from a cooperative education program with the University of Florida. After his promotion to the position of senior exploration associate, he took charge of the Florida Plant Geology section and presided over a group of highly talented geologists, hydrogeologists, mining engineers, landmen, computer analysts, and drafters in their efforts to conduct heavy-mineral exploration both domestically and abroad in such countries as Spain, Turkey and Norway. Additionally, he developed a novel model for heavy-mineral exploration that was further expounded upon in symposium presentations and proceedings and peer-reviewed articles.
After departing from DuPont, Dr. Pirkle established his own self-titled geology company in 1997, which evaluated heavy-mineral prospects in Colorado and Georgia. The following year, he worked with Onsite Engineering and Management Inc. as a contract employee with Gannett Fleming Inc. (GF), where he was responsible for the creation of wetlands and streams, as well as the installation and maintenance of groundwater remediation systems at a train derailment site. In 1999, Dr. Pirkle transitioned to a full-time role at GF as a staff hydrogeologist, and availed himself by planning and executing exploration and evaluation programs for mineral and groundwater resources, among other responsibilities. Now serving as a principal geologist, he provides both expert testimony and depositions in cases regarding mineral evaluation and valuation, and has represented both mineral rights owners and mining companies in negotiations.
An expert in his field, Dr. Pirkle received a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Florida State University in 1972. Subsequently, he expanded upon his professional knowledge, earning a Master of Science in Geology from the University of Florida in 1974 and a Doctor of Philosophy in the same discipline from Penn State University in 1977. Likewise, he is a registered professional geologist in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
In honor of his outstanding achievements, Dr. Pirkle was recognized as a geology student while an undergraduate at Florida State by receiving the Conoco Oil Senior Scholarship and as a geologist by receiving the Hero of the Industry Award through the Florida Association of Professional Geologists. He was an adjunct professor in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Florida State College at Jacksonville from 2003 until 2019 teaching Earth and Space Science lectures and labs. In 2010 Florida State College at Jacksonville named him as the Adjunct Faculty of the Year. While his career has been filled with highlights, Dr. Pirkle is most proud to have served as a thought leader in the field of mineral deposit exploration, and to have exerted a positive impact on the lives of his students.
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