Ralph is a geologist, mineralogist, petrologist and mineral collector (from childhood), living in Tasmania, Australia. Specialising in Tasmanian minerals, also minerals from Broken Hill, South Australia and a few other favorite areas; also secondary Cu-Pb-Zn minerals and phosphates and arsenates. A species collector - passed 1000 species with the help of good friend Steve Sorrell. Any size from micro to large.

I work for Mineral Resources Tasmania (Mines Dept of Tas) where I run the mineralogy/petrology labs and rock collection; studing various Tasmanian mineral deposits; analyse and describe samples (from gems to soils) for the Dept, general public, etc. An associate curator with the Tasmanian Museum and the Queen Victoria Museum.

President of the Mineralogical Society of Tasmania, and member of the Minralogical Society of Great Britain, the Mineralogical Association of Canada and the Specialist group for Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology (Geological Society of Australia). An associate editor for the Australian Journal of Mineralogy. I am a registered valuer of minerals under the Australian cultural heritage act.

On Mindat, I help manage the data for Australia and Tasmania in particular, since about 2008. When time permits I work on various best minerals and try to help with questions on forums.