Dayna McGeeney

Areas of experience include: geology, mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, gemmology, fieldwork, specimen collection and curation, stereo and petrographic microscopy, x-ray diffraction, geotechnical centrifuge testing, particle size distribution, liquid water isotope testing, heavy mineral separations and drill core logging.

From a very early age, Dayna picked up rocks and marvelled in their shapes and colours. Collecting minerals and rocks continued and gave rise to questions as to how they were formed and why they were found at this point on the planet. This strong interest of knowledge lead to studying geology, remote sensing, geochemistry and gemmology. Her studies and previous research has taken her to PNG and country NSW investigating gold geochemistry and aquitard geology respectively. Both involving a large range of investigative techniques and laboratory instrumentation.

Today, Dayna uses this knowledge and understanding to assist in curating the Australian Museums 80,000+ specimen collection of minerals, rocks, gemstones, meteorites and tektites. Her assistance in collection management plays a role in setting up public gallery displays, aiding visiting researchers and her own investigations of the collections heritage, specimen species and locality identifications.

Dayna has a strong interest in bringing the adventure and knowledge of geoscience to the public by engaging people on the gallery floor and assisting in specimen identifications.

BSc (Hon 1) in Geology with Spatial Information Systems minor (UNSW) (Thesis title: Sedimentary Stratigraphy and Gold Geochemistry on Woodlark Island, PNG).

Currently studying for a Diploma in Gemmology (Gemmological Association of Australia).

• David, K, Timms, W, Hughes, CE, Crawford, J & McGeeney, D. 2018. Application of the pore water stable isotope method and hydrogeological approaches to characterise a wetland system. Hydrology and earth system sciences, vol. 22, no. 11, pp. 6023-6041. https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/22/6023/2018/
• Timms, WA, Acworth, I, Crane, RA, Arns, CH, Arns, JY, McGeeney, D E, Rau, GC & Cuthbert, MO. 2018. The influence of syndepositional macropores on the hydraulic integrity of thick alluvial clay aquitards. Water Resources Research, vol.54, Iss. 4, pp. 3122–3138. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017WR021681
• Bouzalakos, S, Crane, R, McGeeney, D & Timms, W. 2016. Stress-dependent hydraulic properties of clayey-silt aquitards in eastern Australia, Acta Geotechnica, vol.11, Iss. 5, pp. 969-986. doi:10.1007/s11440-016-0455-7
• Timms, WA, Crane, R, Anderson, DJ, Bouzalakos, S, Whelan, M, McGeeney, D, Rahman, PF, & Acworth, RI. 2016. Accelerated gravity testing of aquitard core permeability and implications at formation and regional scale, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, vol. 20, pp. 39-54. https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/20/39/2016/hess-20-39-2016-relations.html
• AJES Stillwell Award Nominee 2015:
  Acworth RI, Timms WA, Kelly BFJ, McGeeney DE, Ralph TJ, Larkin ZT & Rau GC. 2015. 'Late Cenozoic paleovalley fill sequence from the Southern Liverpool Plains, New South Wales - implications for groundwater resource evaluation', Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 62, Iss. 6, pp. 657-680. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/ref/10.1080/08120099.2015.1086815
• Timms WA, Crane R, Anderson DJ, Bouzalakos S, Whelan M, McGeeney D, Rahman PF, Guinea A & Acworth RI. 2014. 'Vertical hydraulic conductivity of a clayey-silt aquitard: accelerated fluid flow in a centrifuge permeameter compared with in situ conditions', Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 3155 – 3212. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hessd-11-3155-2014
• Timms WA, Whelan M, Acworth I, McGeeney D, Bouzalakos S, Crane R, McCartney J, Hartland A. 2014. In Physical modelling in geotechnics. Editors: Gaudin C, White D. 1: 193-199. Taylor and Francis Ltd (CRC Press) 6 Jan 2014, https://www.routledge.com/ICPMG2014-Physical-Modelling-in-Geotechnics-Proceedings-of-the-8th/Gaudin-White/p/book/9781138001527