Supporting the Mining and Geothermal Industries Since 1994

Sims Professional Services

Sims Professional Services

Dr. Sims served as EnergySource's VP Geology from 2011-2014. State-of-the-art exploration methods led to development of a 50MW power plant at the boundary of the industry-accepted productive limits of the main Salton Sea Field.  The 40+MW well HR 13-2 is likely the most powerful geothermal well in the world. 

Sims Professional Services

Through original work and detailed analysis of existing data, Dr. Sims has added resources at operating metal mines and industrial mineral quarries and developed structural and geochemical models that attracted new investments for exploration (from Sims, D. B., 1996, The relationship of ore and structural geology at the Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag mine, western Brooks Range, Alaska, Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Arizona).

"I have worked with Danny Sims for the last 20 years and consider him an expert in field geology with emphasis on assessment of raw material and slope stability.  His assistance has allowed several mine designs to be optimized." 3/13/2017

Cliff Maddocks, Regional Mine Manager
Lehigh Southwest Cement Company
Division of Lehigh Cement Company LLC
Heidelberg Cement Group

  • Dr. Sims provides personal services within his core competencies: 
  • Geology of ore deposits and industrial minerals
  • ​Geology of geothermal systems
  • ​Structural geology
  • ​Engineering geology for slope stability and slope design
  • ​Material properties of metal and industrial minerals deposits
  • ​​Written and verbal persuasive communication


​These competencies arise from different academic and professional career paths that he took over the past 36 years: 

  • ​1981-1994: Studies for B.S. degree in geology and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in economic and structural geology, exploration geologist for Newmont and Cominco Alaska, petrographer for material characterization
  • 1994-2001: Created Sims Geological Services and worked as an engineering geologist for slope stability and slope design of metal and industrial minerals mines for Call & Nicholas, Inc. 
  • 2002-2006: J.D. degree with focus on land use, mining, environmental and water law
  • 2007-2009: Exploration for precious metals in Mexico and Canada
  • 2009-2014: Geothermal exploration in Oregon and Idaho and development drilling at the Salton Sea as Vice President, Geology for EnergySource
  • 2014- present: Focus on slope design, property evaluation and material characterization for aggregate & industrial minerals mines, environmental/regulatory issues and geothermal


Dr. Sims has a large network of colleagues who work within their own core competencies and he relies upon those resources when needed.  There are no "bodies" that are assigned to your project to meet billable expectations.  When junior people are needed, Dr. Sims trains your staff or provides junior people that he hires for your specific job and he personally trains them as necessary.

Since 1987, Dr. Sims has conducted exploration for base metals, precious metals and industrial minerals.  His specialty is regional to mine-scale structural controls on mineralization.        

Since 1994, Dr. Sims has mapped over 200 linear miles of mine bench faces and interpreted geology for mitigation of slope failures and slope design at over 30 mines and quarries.  He  has also mapped the pre-mine surface for geotechnical feasibility at many mines, including the Diavik open pit and underground diamond mine, shown above.