Dr Nick Direen Principal Geoscientist

  PhD, BSc. (Hons) Geology & Geophysics (University of Tasmania)

Nick is a multi-award winning geoscientist, recognised for his contributions in both geophysics and geology by both ASEG and the GSA (Stillwell & Howchin Medals). He is also one of Australia’s most versatile geoscientists, having worked across his career in government (Geoscience Australia 1999-2002), academia (U.Adelaide 2002-2007), minerals & energy consulting (Frogtech Pty Ltd 2007-2013) and in the global energy industry (ExxonMobil 2013-2021). He joined Mitre in 2021 after returning from the USA to Australia.

Nick has expertise in the theory and application of potential fields (gravity & magnetics) methods to structural and tectonic problems, and for subsurface prospecting for many mineral commodity types and hydrocarbons. He was a pioneer of the use of multi-scale edge analysis of gravity and magnetic data (“worms”); of the integration of gravity, magnetics and petrophysics with seismic reflection profiling; and of the application of the magnetotelluric method to minerals systems. He was a co-author of the well-known “finger of GOD” paper on Olympic Dam in 2006, among many other contributions to exploration geoscience.

Prior to joining Mitre, Nick completed projects on the structure and fluid pathways around the Lachlan foldbelt porphyry Cu-Au deposits; the Olympic Dam IOCG system; and the Challenger Au mine. Nick has successfully worked in the field in the USA, UK, Canada, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Romania, India & Nepal. He has been a crucial member of teams that discovered the Muruk gas field in PNG, Bajo del Choique unconventional field in Argentina, the Barracuda & Dorado discoveries offshore Sri Lanka, and the Pirmam field in Kurdistan / Iraq.

At Mitre, Nick has worked for clients evaluating IOCG in the Tennant Creek mineral field, Besshi-style polymetallics in the New England Orogen, Cu-Au skarns in the Lachlan foldbelt, orogenic Au in the eastern Victorian goldfields and the Koonenberry Belt (WNSW), polymetallic Cobar style deposits and MVT Ag-base metal deposits in NSW, and Ni and W skarn deposits in Tasmania. Nick utilises a synoptic approach to his work for clients, integrating gravity, magnetics, seismic (where available), airborne EM, DHEM and ground EM, together with structural and assay information for optimal target analysis.

Nick also holds a Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance from the Securities Institute of Australia, and worked for 3 years at ExxonMobil as a business development portfolio analyst; as such, he intimately understands the fundamental economic drivers for resource development projects.

Nick is a member of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the Geological Society of Australia; and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and the Society of Economic Geologists.

Publications

  • 2020 Halpin, J A, Daczko , N R, Direen, N G, Mulder, J M, Murphy, R C, Ishihara T. 2020. Provenance of rifted continental crust at the nexus of East Gondwana breakup. Lithos 354–355, 10536. doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2019.105363.
  • 2017 Direen, N G, Cohen, B E, Maas R, Frey F A, Whittaker, J M, Meffre S, Coffin, M F, Halpin J A, & Crawford, A J, 2017, Naturaliste Plateau: Constraints on the Timing and Evolution of the Kerguelen Large Igneous Province and its Role in Gondwana Breakup. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 64, 851-869 doi 10.1080/08120099.2017.1367326
  • 2016 Huang, Q., Kamenetsky, V.S., Ehrig, K., McPhie, J., Kamenetsky, M., Cross, K., Meffre, S., Agangi, A., Chambefort, I., Direen, N.G., 2016. Olivine-phyric basalt in the Mesoproterozoic Gawler silicic large igneous province, South Australia: Examples at the Olympic Dam Iron Oxide Cu–U–Au–Ag deposit and other localities. Precambrian Research 281, 185-199.
  • 2015 Dolson J, Burley S D, Sunder V R, Kothari V, Naidu B, Whiteley N P, Farimond P, Taylor A, Direen N G & Ananthakrishnan B, 2015, The Discovery of the Barmer Basin, Rajasthan, India, and its Petroleum Geology, AAPG Bulletin . Doi: 10.1306/10021414045 Pilia S, Rawlinson N, Cayley R A, Bodin T, Musgrave R, Reading A M, Direen N G, & Young M K.. 2015. Evidence of micro-continent entrainment during crustal accretion. Nature Scientific Reports 5: 8218 | DOI: 10.1038/srep08218 Pilia, S., Rawlinson, N., Direen, N. G., Reading, A. M., Arroucou P, Cayley R.A , Pryer L L, & Duffet M L, 2015. Linking mainland Australia and Tasmania using ambient seismic noise tomography: implications for the tectonic evolution of the east Gondwana margin. Gondwana Research 28, 1212-1227. doi 10.1016/j.gr.2014.09.014
  • 2013 Pilia S., Rawlinson N., Direen N. G., Cummins P. R., & Balfour N., 2013, Structural controls on localised intraplate deformation and seismicity in southern Australia: insights from Local Earthquake Tomography of the Flinders Ranges. Journal of Geophysical Research (Solid Earth)
    Direen N G, Stagg H M J, Symonds P A & Norton I O, 2013, Variations in rift symmetry: cautionary examples from the Southern Rift System (Australia–Antarctica), Geological Society of London Special Publication 369, 453-475. Conjugate Divergent Margins Mohriak,W. U., Danforth, A., Post, P. J., Brown, D. E., Tari, G. C., Nemčok, M.& Sinha, S. T. (eds) http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP369.4
  • 2011 Direen N G, 2011, Comment on Boger (2011) “Antarctica — Before and after Gondwana”, Gondwana Research, Discussion. Gondwana Research 21, 302–304. doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2011.08.008
    Direen N G, Stagg H M J, Colwell J B, Symonds P A, 2011. Dominant Symmetry of a Conjugate Southern Australian and East Antarctic Magma–Poor Rifted Margin Segment. Geochemistry, Geophysics, and Geosystems (G3) 12(2) doi:10.1029/2010GC003306 Maloney, D., Sargent, C., Direen, N.G., Hobbs, R.W. and Gröcke, D.R., 2011. Re-evaluation of the Mentelle Basin, a polyphase rifted margin basin, offshore south-west Australia: new insights from integrated regional seismic datasets. Solid Earth 2, 107-123. doi:10.5194/sed-3-1-2011
  • 2009 Hand M, Reid A, Szpunar M, Direen N, & Barovich K. 2009. Crustal architecture during the early Mesoproterozoic Hiltaba-related mineralisation event: are the Gawler Range Volcanics a foreland basin fill? MESA Journal 51: 19-24
  • 2008 Direen, N.G., Pfeiffer, K., and Schmidt, P.W., 2008. Strong remanent magnetisation in pyrrhotite: a structurally-controlled example from the Paleoproterozoic Tanami Orogenic gold province, northern Australia. Precambrian Research 165: 96-106 doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2008.05.007
    Direen N G, Stagg H M J, Colwell J B, & Symonds P A, 2008. Architecture of volcanic rifted margins: new insights from the Exmouth - Gascoyne margin, Western Australia. Australian J Earth Sciences 55, 325-347.
    Direen, N G, & Jago, J B, 2008, The Cottons Breccia (Ediacaran), and its tectonostratigraphic context within the Grassy Group, King Island, Australia: a rift-related gravity slump deposit. Precambrian Research 165, 1-14. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2008.05.008
    Thomas, J L, Direen N G, & Hand M, 2008. Blind orogen: integrated appraisal of multiple episodes of Mesoproterozoic deformation and reworking in the Fowler Domain, western Gawler Craton, Australia. Precambrian Research 166, 263-282. 10.1016/j.precamres.2007.05.006
    Tikku A A & Direen N G, 2008, Suspect evidence for a major Australian-Antarctic plate reorganization at Hawaiian-Emperor bend time. Science 321, 490c
    Halpin J, Crawford A J, Direen N G, Coffin M F, Forbes C J, & Borissova I, 2008, Naturaliste Plateau, offshore Western Australia: a submarine window into Gondwana assembly and breakup. Geology 36, 807-810 doi: 10.1130/G25059A.1
  • 2007 Direen, N G, Borissova I., Stagg H.M.J., Colwell J.B., & Symonds P. A. 2007. Nature of the continent-ocean transition zone along the southern Australian continental margin: a comparison of the Naturaliste Plateau, south-western Australia, and the central Great Australian Bight sectors. Imaging, Mapping and Modelling Continental Lithosphere Extension and Breakup. G Karner, G Manatschal & L Pinheiro (eds). Special Publication of the Geological Society (London) 282, 235-261
    Direen, N G, & Lyons P, 2007. Regional crustal setting of iron oxide Cu-Au mineral systems of the Olympic Dam region, South Australia: insights from potential-field data. Economic Geology 102(8), 1397-1414.
  • 2006 Heinson G S, Direen N G, & Gill R M. 2006. Magnetotelluric evidence for a deep-crustal mineralising system beneath the giant Olympic Dam Iron-Oxide Copper Gold deposit, southern Australia. Geology 34, 573-576.
    Crawford A J, Direen N G , Coffin M, Cohen B, Paul B & Mitrovic L, 2006, Extensive basaltic magmatism on the Naturaliste Plateau, offshore SW Australia. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 18: A116.
    Colwell J.B., Stagg H.M.J., Direen, N G, Bernardel, G., & Borissova, I., 2006. Chapter 6.6 The Structure of the Continental Margin off Wilkes Land and Terre Adelie Coast, East Antarctica. In: Fütterer DK, Damaske D, Kleinschmidt G, Miller H, & Tessensohn F (eds) (2005) Antarctica: Contributions to global earth sciences. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 325–338.
  • 2005 Direen, N G, Cadd A G, Lyons P & Teasdale J P. 2005. Architecture of Proterozoic shear-zones in the Christie Domain, western Gawler Craton, Australia: geophysical appraisal of a poorly exposed orogenic terrane. Precambrian Research 142, 28-44.
    Direen, N G, Brock D & Hand M. 2005. Geophysical testing of balanced cross sections of fold-thrust belts with potential field data: an example from the Fleurieu Arc of the Delamerian Orogen, South Australia. Journal of Structural Geology 27, 964–984.
    Direen N G, Goleby B R, Skirrow R G, Daly S J, Lyons P & Heithersay P, 2005, Eastern Gawler deep seismic proposal. In: Lyons, P. & Goleby, B.R. (eds) The 2003 Gawler Craton seismic survey: Notes from the Seismic Workshop. Geoscience Australia Record 2005/19, pp 1-10.
    Direen N G, Lyons P, Milligan P R, Heinson G S, & Gill R. 2005. Crustal architecture of the central Olympic Cu-Au province: constraints from gravity, magnetic and magnetotelluric data. In: Lyons, P. & Goleby, B.R. (eds) The 2003 Gawler Craton seismic survey: Notes from the Seismic Workshop. Geoscience Australia Record 2005/19, pp 70-71.
    Gill R., Heinson G., Direen N., Milligan P. and White A. 2005. Crustal architecture beneath Olympic Dam from magnetotelluric sounding In: Lyons, P. & Goleby, B.R. (eds) The 2003 Gawler Craton seismic survey: Notes from the Seismic Workshop. Geoscience Australia, Record 2005/19, pp 68-69.
    Heath P J, Greenhalgh S A, & Direen N G, 2005. Modelling gravity and magnetic tensor responses for exploration within the regolith. Exploration Geophysics 36, 357 – 364.
    Heath, P., Greenhalgh, S. A., & Direen N G, 2005. Investigations of surface magnetic susceptibilities at Fowler’s Gap, NSW. In: Roach I C, ed., Regolith 2005. Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration. Bentley, West. Aust., Australia. 2005.
    Lyons P, Drummond B J, Goleby B R, Direen N G, Schwarz M, Shearer A J, Fairclough M C, & Skirrow R G, 2005, Notes on detailed basement interpretation of Traverse 03GA-OD 1-6s data. In: Lyons, P. & Goleby, B.R. (eds) The 2003 Gawler Craton seismic survey: Notes from the Seismic Workshop. Geoscience Australia Record 2005/19, pp 58-60
    Stagg, H.M.J., Colwell, J.B., Direen, N.G., O'Brien, P.E., Brown, B.J., Bernardel, G., Borissova, I., Carson, L. and Close, D.B., 2005. Geological framework of the continental margin in the region of the Australian Antarctic Territory. Geoscience Australia Record, 2004/25.
  • 2004 Anderson N., Direen N. G. & Hill S. M. 2004. The Warratta Fault; geophysical architecture and landscape evolution significance. In: Roach I C (ed.), Regolith 2004. Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration. Bentley, West. Aust., Australia. 2004.
    Heath P. & Direen N. G. 2004. Gravity and magnetic forward modelling of the regolith. In: Roach I C (ed.), Regolith 2004. Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration. Bentley, West. Aust., Australia. 2004.
    Meffre, S., Direen, N.G., Crawford, A.J. and Kamenetsky, V., 2004. Mafic volcanics on King Island, Tasmania: evidence for break-up in east Gondwanaland at ca.579 Ma. Precambrian Research, 135, 177-191.
    Pfeiffer, K., Direen, N G & Sexton, M. 2004. Exploration under regolith cover, and the problem of remanent magnetism; an example from the Tanami Au province. In: Roach I C (ed.), Regolith 2004. Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration. Bentley, West. Aust., Australia. 2004.
    Stagg H.M.J., Colwell J.B., Direen, N G, O’Brien P.E., Bernardel G., Borissova I. & Ishihara T. 2004. Geology of the continental margin of Enderby and Mac. Robertson lands, East Antarctica: insights from a regional dataset. Marine Geophysical Researches 25:183–219.
  • 2003 Direen N G & Crawford A J, 2003a, The Tasman Line: where is it, what is it, and is it Australia’s Rodinian breakup boundary? Australian J. Earth Sciences 50, 491-502.
    Direen N G & Crawford A J, 2003b, Fossil seaward dipping reflector sequences preserved in southeastern Australia –a 600 Ma volcanic passive margin in eastern Gondwanaland. Journal of the Geological Society (London) 2003. 160, 985-990.
    Crawford A J, Cayley R A, Taylor D H, Morand V J, Gray C M, Kemp A I S, Wohlt K E, Vandenberg A H M, Moore D H, Maher S, Direen N G, Edwards J, Donaghy A G, Anderson J A & Black L P, 2003, Neoproterozoic and Cambrian continental rifting, continent-arc collision and post-collisional magmatism. In: Birch W D, ed. Geology of Victoria. Geological Society of Australia Special Publication 23: 73-93.
    Cadd, A. G., Direen, N. G. & Lyons, P. 2003. Geophysical investigations of crustal architecture around the Challenger Au mine, NW Gawler Craton, South Australia; a basic step towards understanding Au dispersion pathways. In: Roach I C (ed.), Advances in regolith. Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration. Bentley, West. Aust., Australia. 2003.
    Fairclough M.C., Schwarz M P, Ferris G M, Daly S J, Cowley W M, Zang W, Davies M B, Direen N G, Lyons P, Skirrow R G, Hoatson D M, Raymond O R, Fraser G, Neumann N, Whitaker A J, Lane R J L, Betts P, McPhie J & Allen S, 2003, Interpreted crystalline basement geology of the Gawler Craton, South Australia. Geological Survey Special Map. 1: 1 000 000. Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA, Adelaide.
  • 2002 Direen N G & Lyons P, Geophysical interpretation of the Olympic Cu-Au province, 1:250 000 scale map. 2002, Geoscience Australia, Canberra.
    Glen R A, Korsch R J, Direen N G, Jones L E A, Johnstone D W, Lawrie K C, Finlayson D M & Shaw R D, Crustal structure of the Ordovician Macquarie Arc, eastern Lachlan Orogen, based on seismic reflection profiling: responses to contractional and extensional deformation, Australian J. Earth Sciences, 49, 2002 pp 323-348.
    Hoatson D M, Direen N G, Whitaker A J, Lane R, Daly S J, Schwarz M P, & Davies M B, Geophysical interpretation of the Harris Greenstone Belt, 1:250 000 scale map. 2002, Geoscience Australia, Canberra.
    Stevens B.P.J., Mills K.J., Direen N.G., Buckley P.M. and Cooper I., 2002, Bancannia-Wonnaminta-Kayrunnera 1:100 000 Geological Interpretation Map, 1st edition, Geological Survey of New South Wales, Sydney. http://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/geological/geological-maps/interpretation/bancannia
    Stevens B.P.J., Mills K.J., Direen N.G., Buckley P.M. and Cooper I., 2002, Mount Arrowsmith-Cobham Lake 1:100 000 Geological Interpretation Map, 1st edition, Geological Survey of New South Wales, Sydney. http://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/geological/geological-maps/interpretation/arrowsmith
    Stevens B.P.J., Mills K.J., Direen N.G., Buckley P.M. and Cooper I., 2002, Nuchea-Grasmere 1:100 000 Geological Interpretation Map, 1st edition, Geological Survey of New South Wales, Sydney. http://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/geological/geological-maps/interpretation/nuchea
    Stevens B.P.J., Mills K.J., Direen N.G., Buckley P.M. and Cooper I., 2002, Topar-Bunda 1:100 000 Geological Interpretation Map, 1st edition, Geological Survey of New South Wales, Sydney. http://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/geological/geological-maps/interpretation/topar
  • 2001 Direen N G, Lyons P, Korsch R J, & Glen R A, 2001, Integrated geophysical appraisal of crustal architecture in the eastern Lachlan Orogen, Exploration Geophysics, 32, 225-235.
    Direen N G, Lyons P, Korsch R J, & Glen R A, 2001, Three-dimensional integrated geophysical appraisal of major structures in the northeastern Lachlan Orogen. AGSO Record 2001/09, 54-58.
    Archibald N J, Hill E J, Direen N G, Lyons P, Raymond O L, Holden D J, Mason R, & Korsch R J, 2001, AGCRC-Fractal Graphics northeastern Lachlan Orogen Project, AGSO Record 2001/09 p 59.
    Archibald N J, Hill E J, Direen N G, Lyons P, Raymond O L, Holden D J, Mason R, & Korsch R J, 2001, Wavelet-based edge detection processing (worming) and interpretation of magnetic and gravity data sets, northeastern Lachlan Orogen, AGSO Record 2001/09 pp 60-65.
    Lyons P, Direen N G, Archibald N J, Raymond O L, & Korsch R J, 2001, Mineral systems implications of multi-scale edge detection of crustal structures in the northeastern Lachlan Orogen, AGSO Record 2001/09 pp 81-85.
    Lyons, P., Tomkins, A. G., Fraser, G. L., Direen, N. G., Daly, S. J. & Frances, D. J. 2001. The geology and mineral potential of the Mulgathing Complex, NW Gawler Craton. In: Cassidy, K. F., Dunphy, J. M. & van Kranendonk, M. J. (eds.) Geoscience Australia Record 2001/37, pp 70-71.
    Sayers J, Symonds P A, Direen N G & Bernardel G, Nature of the continent-ocean transition on the non-volcanic rifted margin of the central Great Australian Bight, In: Non-Volcanic Rifting of Continental Margins: a Comparison of Evidence from Land and Sea. R C L Wilson, R B Whitmarsh, B Taylor, B. & N Froitzheim (eds.) Special publication of the Geological Society of London, 187, 2001, pp 51-77.
    Stevens B P J, Mills K J, Direen N G, Buckley P M and Cooper I, Koonenberry Pre-Permian Interpretation 1: 250 000 scale Map, version 2. 2001. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Department of Mineral Resources, St Leonards, NSW.
  • 2000 Direen N. G., Crawford A.J. & Willcox J. B. 2000. Structure and geological evolution of the Koonenberry fold belt, NSW; implications for mineralisation. In: Peljo, M. (comp), Broken Hill Exploration Initiative. AGSO Record 2000/10, pp. 33-34.
    Milligan P R, Direen N G, & Shaw R D, Geophysical atlas of the Curnamona Province 1:2 million scale. 2000, Australian Geological Survey Organisation, Canberra. 23pp.
  • 1999 Direen N. G., 1999. Geology & geophysics of the Koonenberry Belt, far western New South Wales, and eastern Australian correlates: timing, development and prospectivity of a sector of the Late Neoproterozoic - Palaeozoic Gondwana margin. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Tasmania.
  • 1998 Direen N. G., The Palaeozoic Koonenberry fold and thrust belt, western NSW: a case study in applied gravity and magnetic modelling. Exploration Geophysics, 29, 1998, pp 330-339.
  • 1997Direen N. G. & Leaman D E, Geophysical modelling of structure and tectonostratigraphic history of the Longford Basin, northern Tasmania. Exploration Geophysics, 28, 1997, pp 29-33.
    Direen N G & Roach M J, Geophysical indicators of controls on soil salinisation and implications, Longford Basin, northern Tasmania. Exploration Geophysics, 28, 1997, pp 34-38.
  • 1995
    Direen N. G., Geophysical modelling of the Longford Basin, northern Tasmania. Unpublished B.Sc(Hons) Thesis, University of Tasmania.
    Tracey R M & Direen N G, Gravity, in Papp E (Ed), Geophysical and remote sensing methods for regolith exploration, Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Evolution & Mineral Exploration Open File Report 144, 2002, pp 100-105.
    Direen N G*, 2014, Pirmam gravity and seismic integration. ExxonMobil Geophysics Symposium, Houston, March 2014*Best Daily Presentation
    Direen N G*, Crawford A J, Cohen B E, Coffin M F, Whitaker J M, Maas R, Meffre S & Vasconcelos P, 2013, Naturaliste Plateau volcanic province: the “smoking gun” for onset of the Kerguelen Hotspot. AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, Dec 2013.
    Direen N G, Krassay A A, Blevin J E, Cathro D L, Shi Z & Poudjom-Djomani Y Assessing reservoir volcanic risk in the Browse Basin using integrated seismic and potential field workflows. West Australian Basins Symposium, Perth August 2103
    Direen N G, Krassay A A, Blevin J, Bonnardot M-A & Pryer LL, 2012, Deepwater exploration in the Southern Rift System, offshore southern Australia: analogues and insights for petroleum systems from tectonostratigraphic framework studies. AAPG Deepwater technology Workshop, Brunei, Mar 2013.
    Direen N G, Stagg H M J, Symonds P A & Norton I O, 2012, Variations in rift symmetry: cautionary examples from the Southern Rift System (Australia–Antarctica). International Geological Congress, Brisbane, Aug 2012
    Direen N G, Bonnardot, M-A & L L Pryer, 2012, Antarctica – Before and after Gondwana: tectonostratigraphic terrane map and reconstructions. International Geological Congress, Brisbane, Aug 2012
    Direen N G, Stagg H M J, Symonds P A & Colwell J B, 2009, Through a glass, darkly: symmetry and asymmetry in the magma poor rifted margins of southern Australia and east Antarctica. Detachment Dynamics: Heat, Deformation, and Fluids in Extensional Systems: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland Oregon, Oct, 2009. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 41, No. 7, p. 48
    Direen N G, Calver C R, & McNeill A W, 2009, “Tungsten, Fire And Ice In The Realm Of The Ancient King”, Extended Abstracts and Field Guide, Geological Society of Australia (Tasmania Division) Field Symposium, King Island, Tasmania, 13-16 March 2009, Tasmania Division Publication TAS8. ISBN 978 0 9806264 0 7
    Direen N G, Jago J B & Meffre S, 2009, New perspectives on the tectonostratigraphic setting of the, Grassy Group, King Island, Australia: “Snowball Earth” or rift related deposit?, Geological Society of Australia (Tasmania Division), King Island Field Symposium, March 2009. Geological Society of Australia Field Guide & Abstracts, (Tas8), pp. 29-34. ISBN 978 0 9806264 0 7
    Direen N G & Jago J B, 2007, Cottons Breccia, and its tectonostratigraphic context within the Grassy Group, King Island, Australia: “Snowball Earth” tillite or “Zipper-rift” breccia?, Geological Society of Australia Specialist Group in Tectonics and Structural Geology Abstracts, Alice Springs, July 2007.
    Direen N G, 2006, Continental break-up: lessons for the Proterozoic from Phanerozoic basins and orogens, Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2006, Melbourne, July 2006
    Direen N G, Stagg H M J, Symonds P A & Soloninka L. 2006. The Mesozoic Southern Rift System: insights into the mode of Gondwana breakup from integrating multidisciplinary datasets. American Association of Petroleum Geologists International Conference, Perth, November, 2006.
    Direen N G, Stagg H M J, Colwell J B & Symonds P A. 2004. New constraints on non-volcanic rifting and continental breakup: integrated geophysical analysis of the East Antarctic rifted margins. Geophysical Research Abstracts EGU04-A-05342.
    Direen N G, Colwell, J B, Stagg H M J, & Symonds P A. 2004. The Gascoyne-Cuvier margin (Western Australia) revisited: integrated geophysical analysis of the distribution and volume of Seaward Dipping Reflector Sequences produced during volcanic rifted margin formation. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts 73: 205
    Direen N G, Stagg H M J, & Colwell J B. 2003. Integrated potential field modelling and deep-seismic interpretation: examples from the East Antarctic margin. Ninth International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences, GeoForschung Zentrum, Potsdam, September 2003.
    Direen N G, Colwell J B, *Stagg H M J & Brown B J. 2003. Integration of deep-seismic interpretation and potential field modelling: an example from Wilkes Land, East Antarctica. In B. Goleby, B. Drummond, S. Bannister & S. Henrys. 2003. (compilers) 10th International Symposium on Deep Seismic Profiling of the Continents and their Margins, Taupo, New Zealand Jan 6-13 2003. Programme and Abstracts, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences information series 52: 58.
    Direen N G, Lyons P, Jagodzinski E A, Milligan P R, Skirrow R G, Lane R, & Collins D. 2002. Observable crustal controls on hydrothermal activity in the Olympic Cu-Au province, Gawler State of Play Workshop CD, Adelaide, December 2002.
    Direen N G, Lyons P, Milligan P R, Heinson G S, & Gill R M. 2004. Crustal architecture of the Central Olympic Cu-Au Province: constraints from gravity magnetic and magnetotelluric data. Presented at the PIRSA Gawler Craton State of Play Conference, Adelaide, August 2004. PIRSA Report Book.
    Direen N G, Symonds P, Sayers J, Stagg H M & Colwell J B. 2003. Models for continental break-up and deep-water basin formation: Insights from integration of potential field modelling and deep-seismic data on conjugate continental passive margins. ASEG Extended Abstracts, Vol. 2003 No. 2 Pages 1 - 1, Published 1 August 2003
    Direen N G, Lyons P, Milligan P R, Jagodzinski E A & Skirrow R G. 2002. A first-generation 3d-model of the crustal architecture of the north-eastern Gawler Craton, and implications for Olympic Dam-style mineral systems. In Preiss W V (editor), Geoscience 2002: Expanding Horizons. Abstracts of the 16th Australian Geological Convention. Adelaide 1-5 July 2002. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts 67 p 61. (2 citations)
    Direen N G & Crawford, A J. 2001. A tectonic odyssey; the hunt for Australia's Rodinian boundary, and the significance of the "Tasman Line". In: 2001; a structural odyssey. (edited by Davidson, G. & Pongratz, J.). Geological Society of Australia. Sydney, N.S.W., Australia. 2001.
    Direen N G, Lyons P, Korsch R J, Glen R A, 2001. Integrated geophysical appraisal of crustal architecture in the eastern Lachlan Orogen. ASEG Extended Abstracts, Vol. 2001 No. 1 Pages 1 – 4.
    Direen N G, Archibald N J, Mackey T E, Raymond O L, Lyons P, Korsch R J & Hill E J, 2000, The turn of the worms: mineral systems implications of crustal structures in the eastern Lachlan Orogen derived from multi-scale edge analysis. In Skilbeck C G & Hubble T C T (eds), Understanding Planet Earth: Searching for a Sustainable Future. Abstracts of the 15th Australian Geological Convention, Sydney, July 3-7 2000. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts, 59, 133.
    Direen N G, Archibald N J, Hill E J, Mackey T E, Raymond O L, Lyons P, Korsch R J & Holden D J, 2000, "Annelidical geometry": a 3-D geological and geophysical appraisal of major structures in the eastern Lachlan Orogen using multi-scale edge analysis. In Skilbeck C G & Hubble T C T (eds), Understanding Planet Earth: Searching for a Sustainable Future. Abstracts of the 15th Australian Geological Convention, Sydney, July 3-7 2000.Geological Society of Australia Abstracts, 59, 132.
    Direen N G & Crawford A J, 1998, Evidence for the timing of continental breakup and volcanic passive margin formation, southeastern Gondwana: an actualistic perspective. In Bird R T (ed), The Assembly and Breakup of Rodinia. Workshop Proceedings, Perth, 7-8 September, 1998. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts, 50: pp 24-28. (2 citations)
    Direen N G & Crawford A J, 1998, Gnalta Group, far western NSW: a Late Cambrian tectonic melange? In Anon. (ed) Geoscience for the New Millennium Abstracts of the 14th Australian Geological Convention, Townsville 6-10 July, 1998. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts, 49, p 114.
    Baracco A M, Ranero C R, Direen N G & Stagg H M J, 2012, Tectonic structure of the continent-ocean transition along two conjugate profiles from South Australian and East Antarctic magma-poor rifted margins. Geophysical Research Abstracts EGU2012-8987
    Bastrakov E N, Skirrow R G, Direen N G, Mernagh T P & Wyborn L A I, 2004, Coupling geochemical and geophysical modeling to detect mineral systems undercover: an example from the Gawler Craton. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts 73: 52
    Borissova I, Direen N G. & Brown B J. 2003, Enderby Land - Elan Bank breakup: insights into the margin structure from seismic data and potential field modelling. Consortium for Ocean Geosciences Volume. Consortium for Ocean Geosciences Symposium 2003, Kialoa, July 2003.
    Colwell, J.B., Stagg H.M.J. & Direen N.G. 2003. Geology of the deep-water margin of East Antarctica between Queen Mary and George V Lands. Ninth International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences, GeoForschung Zentrum, Potsdam, September 2003.
    Crawford A J, Meffre, S, Direen N G, R R Keays, & Kamenetsky V S, 2009, King Island ~580 basalt sequences: Fossil seaward-dipping reflector sequence breakup magmatism. Geological Society of Australia (Tasmania Division), King Island Field Symposium, March 2009. Geological Society of Australia Field Guide & Abstracts, (Tas8), pp.27-28. ISBN 978 0 9806264 0 7.
    Crawford A J & Direen N G, 1998, Late Proterozoic - Early Palaeozoic evolution of the eastern Adelaide Fold Belt and Western Lachlan Fold Belt -the real breakup, and subsequent crust-forming events. In Bird R T (ed), The Assembly and Breakup of Rodinia. Workshop Proceedings, Perth, 7-8 September, 1998. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts, 50 pp 15-16. (5 citations)
    Crawford A J, Direen N G , Coffin M, Falloon TJ, Forbes C, Paul B, Cohen B, Mitrovic L, Pettigrew G, and Hamilton C. 2006. Origin of the Naturaliste Plateau and implications for Gondwana breakup. Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2006, Melbourne, July 2006.
    Fraser, G., Lyons, P. & Direen, N. G. 2002. Mesoproterozoic tectonism in the northwest Gawler Craton: 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, geophysical interpretations and extrapolations. Abstracts - Geological Society of Australia 67, 64. (6 citations)
    Gill R, Heinson G & Direen N G, 2004, A magnetotelluric profile across the Broken Hill and Olary Domains. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts 73: 161
    Gray M C, Direen N G & Hand M. 2006. New insights into the petrophysics and geophysical signatures of the Giles Complex layered ultramafic-mafic intrusions –Musgrave Province. Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2006, Melbourne, July 2006.
    Guerrero P E, Ranero C R, Mitrovic L, Direen N G, Stagg H M J, and Perez-Gussinyé M, 2009. Studying the Antarctica-Australia rifted conjugate margins using multichannel seismic reflection data. Geophysical Research Abstracts, 11, EGU2009-13328.
    Hand M, Direen N, Wade B, Szpunar M, Payne J, Reid A, Barovich K, Lyons P, 2007, Tectonics of the Olympic Dam time slice in the southern Australian Proterozoic. Unlocking South Australia’s Mineral Wealth / South Australian Resources & Energy Investment Conference Abstracts, Adelaide May 2007. PIRSA Report Book 2007/xx
    Heath, P., Greenhalgh, S. A., & Direen N G, 2006. Magnetic multipoles: forward models and inversion. ASEG Extended Abstracts, Vol. 2006 No. 1 Pages 1 – 5.
    Heinson G, Broxholme K, Gill R, Thiel S, Direen N, White A & Milligan P. 2004. Constraints on Australian lithosphere structure using magnetotellurics. Preview; 111:91.
    Heinson, G., Gill, R., Direen, N., A Lower-Crust or Mantle Source for Mineralizing Fluids Beneath the Olympic Dam IOCG Deposit, Australia: New Evidence From Magnetotelluric Sounding, American Geophysical Union Meeting, San Francisco, December 2005.
    Jago J. B. & Direen N G, 2009. A comparison of the Cottons Breccia, King Island with the Elatina Formation, South Australia. Geological Society of Australia (Tasmania Division), King Island Field Symposium, March 2009. Geological Society of Australia Field Guide & Abstracts, (Tas8), pp. 19-26. ISBN 978 0 9806264 0 7
    Jones L.E.A., Lyons P., Goleby B.R., Shearer A.J., Schwarz M., Skirrow R.G., Korsch R.J., Totterdell J.M., Preiss W.V., Direen N G, Fairclough M.C., Johnstone D.W. 2004. Gawler Craton Uncovered. ASEG Extended Abstracts, Vol. 2004 No. 1 Pages 1 – 4. 17th ASEG international conference and exhibition, Sydney, Aug 2004.
    Jorand C, Pryer LL, Direen N G & Loutit T S, 2012, First-pass inferred basement heat flow map from potential field data. International Geological Congress, Brisbane, Aug 2012.
    Leech, D, Direen, NG, Geslin, J, Darby B, and Aden, L. 2015. Evaluation and analysis of frontal structures of the Papuan fold-and-thrust belt – an integrated approach to refining structural uncertainty. AAPG-ICE, Melbourne, September, 2015.
    Milligan P R, Direen N G, Lyons P, Peljo M & Dance F, 2002, Analysis and 3d visualisation of new compilations of potential field data to help constrain 3D geological models. In Preiss W V (editor), Geoscience 2002: Expanding Horizons. Abstracts of the 16th Australian Geological Convention. Adelaide 1-5 July 2002. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts, 67 p 64.
    Milligan P R, Direen N G, & Lyons P, 2002, Analysis and 3d visualisation of new compilations of potential field data to help constrain 3d geological models. Preview, 102: 77
    Milligan P R, Lyons P, & Direen N G, 2003, Spatial and directional analysis of potential field gradients –new methods to help solve and display three-dimensional crustal architecture. ASEG Extended Abstracts, Vol. 2003 No. 2 Pages 1 – 4. (2 citations)
    Pfeiffer, K., Direen, N G & Sexton, M. 2006. Exploration under regolith cover, and the problem of remanent magnetism; an example from the Tanami Au province. ASEG Extended Abstracts, Vol. 2006 No. 1 Pages 1 – 4.
    Pilia S, Rawlinson N, Cayley R A, Bodin T, Musgrave R, Reading A M, Direen N G, & Young M K. 2015. European Geophysical Union General Assembly Vienna April 12-17 2015. Evidence of micro-continent entrainment during crustal accretion. EGU2015-2995
    Pilia S, Rawlinson N, Direen N G & Reading A M, 2013. Beneath Bass Strait: Linking Tasmania and Mainland Australia using Ambient Seismic Noise. ASEG-PESA Conference, Melbourne August 2013.
    Pilia S, Rawlinson N, Direen N & Reading A, 2013. Can we trace the eastern Gondwanan margin in Australia? New perspectives from transdimensional inversion of ambient noise for 3D shear velocity structure. AGU Fall Meeting San Francisco.
    Pilia S, Rawlinson N, Direen N & Reading A, 2012. Beneath Bass Strait: linking Tasmania and mainland Australia using ambient seismic noise. AGU Fall Meeting San Francisco 3-7 Dec 2012 Poster S41A-243.
    Pilia S, Rawlinson N, Direen N G & Reading A M, 2013. Beneath Bass Strait: Linking Tasmania and Mainland Australia using Ambient Seismic Noise. AGU Meeting of the Americas, Cancun, May 2013. AGU Abstract 1657097
    Sayers J, Symonds P A, Direen N G & Bernardel G, 2000. Nature of the continent-ocean transition on the non-volcanic rifted margin of the central Great Australian Bight. In Skilbeck C G & Hubble T C T (eds), Understanding Planet Earth: Searching for a Sustainable Future. Abstracts of the 15th Australian Geological Convention, Sydney, July 3-7 2000. Geological Society of Australia Abstracts, 59 p.438.
    Stagg, H.M.J., Colwell, J.B., Direen, N G, O’Brien, P.E., Bernardel, G., Borissova I. & Ishihara T. . 2003. Structure and sediment distribution of the deep continental margin of Enderby and Mac.Robertson Lands, East Antarctica. Ninth International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences, GeoForschung Zentrum, Potsdam, September 2003.
    Stagg, H.M.J., Symonds P A, & Direen, N G. 2006. Contrasting symmetry and asymmetry in the rifting of Australia and Antarctica. International Lithosphere Program “History of convergent and passive margins in the Polar realm: tectonic and sedimentary processes, transitions and resources” conference, Quebec, Canada, September, 2006.
    Thiel S, Gill R M, Petrick C, Scroggs M, Heinson G S, Direen, N G, Milligan P R, White A S & Peacock W R, Developing a tectonic framework for the Gawler Craton, southern Australia: paving the way for successful exploration programs, International Electromagnetic Induction workshop, Hyderabad, India, October 2004.
    Thiel S, Maier R, Heinson G, Selway K, Greenhalgh S & Direen N, 2008. Three-dimensional magnetotelluric imaging of the Central-Western Gawler Craton. Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2008, Perth Australia.
    Waters-Tormey CL, Whelan JA, Direen N G, Beyer EE, Kraus S, Reno BL and Kositcin N, Using Basement Exposures to Better Understand Influence of Deep Structure on the Structural Evolution of Intracontinental Basins with Unconventional Reservoir Potential. AAPG ACE 2014, Houston, April 2014.
    Waters-Tormey C, Beyer EE, Weisheit A, Reno BL, Whelan JA , Close DF, Direen NG, 2015. Using Basement Exposures to Constrain the Structural Evolution of the Southeastern Georgina Basin, Northern Territory, Australia. AAPG-ICE, Melbourne, September, 2015.