A collaboration of previously foreign ideas and themes from 5 young Geos trying to find their way in the minerals industry.
Studying geology at The University of Adelaide was without a doubt one of the best decisions we all could've made. Through high level classroom education, exquisite field trips and endless hangovers, we got to understand the earth's processes on planetary to atomic scales and the complex history behind it all. From mapping regional scale metamorphism, using fossil presence to identify geological time periods and interpreting glacial activity from isotope data, we thought that we had gained a decent skillset to become a geologist in the real world.
Like most geology students, we all had the end goal of a career in the mining industry, specifically the minerals/metals sector. At the beginning of 2017 we were all fortunate enough to find jobs within geology departments and began our careers as young professionals. However, we quickly learned that being a geologist in academia and being a geologist in mining are significantly different things. After 4 years of intensive study (lol) we found ourselves having to learn new things about geology and what a geologist does from an economic perspective.
Fast forward 2 years, with joint experiences in underground, open pit and ISR based production and exploration geology for Au, Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, and U, we have compiled some common themes that we wish we had of been aware of when we finished university. If you are a geology student or fresh out of uni looking for geology work, here are 6 important things that we think you should know.
Number 1. Mining Terminology
'Yeah pretty sure Benno just took LV42 through the ROM pad down to the tailings dam for crib' might not make much sense when you first step foot on a mine site, but to an experienced mine worker these words are quickly to become second nature. Lucky for you, when you first start no one is going to expect you to know any of this, so ask as many questions as possible. It's better to seem like you have no idea in your first few weeks than be caught out not knowing after two years. Here's a list of things we put together that are worth looking up and becoming familiar with;
PLODs
Lump and Fines
Bench
Stopes
Berm
Batter
Shotcrete
Decline
Milling
JSA
Laydown
Collars
Different Drilling Styles (RC, AC, Mud Rotary, Diamond Core)
Different Drill Bits (PCD, HQ, NQ, PQ)
Jumbos
Dry Camp (IMPORTANT TO KNOW)
However, not all these terms are universal and will likely change between companies or sites, the point is get ready to learn a dictionary of new words.
Number 2. Driller/Operator – Geo Relationship
Being a geologist in the industry normally means you will have people working under your instruction, whether it be field staff, drillers, machinery operators, geotech's etc. University teaches teamwork, but to direct/supervise people is a completely different thing, especially in a high risk workplace such as an open pit or underground mine.
Geology is interesting because you often find yourself telling people what to do without actually having any idea how to do it yourself, which can sometimes cause issues. The biggest thing to remember is that most of these people are very experienced and will likely have been working with geologists for a long time, so it is best to use their expertise. Ask nicely and you'll get help, don't be the hotshot uni graduate who knows more than everyone, it's easier to just admit you don't know anything. Also keep in mind that you'll be spending up to 12 hours a day or even living with these people.
Number 3. The Use and Understanding of Different Computer Programs
In the current industry, a geologist spends more time looking at data than they do looking at rocks. As a geologist becomes more senior at a company, it is apparent that they spend less and less time doing hands on geology, so make the most of being in the field while you can. Having said that, becoming familiar with common computer programs now is a good thing to do.
GIS - In undergraduate studies you will most likely be exposed to GIS programs (possibly ArcGIS or ERDAS Imagine) but in industry you will be using them quite often. Industry standards are ArcGIS, MapInfo, ERDAS (remote sensing) and QGIS. QGIS is open source (free) and can be easily downloaded.
3D Modelling - 3D modelling and resource estimation is something you will definitely learn on the job. There's a lot to know and it requires a lot of time and patience to get what you want. Some of the industry standards are Leapfrog, Vulcan and Datamine. They have quite expensive software licenses so I wouldn't worry about downloading anything onto your personal computer.
Databases - Obviously a lot of data is collected during mining/exploration (drill collars, geology interp, assays, geophysics etc) and just as obviously it's all stored somewhere. Data entry will be a big part of what you do and ensuring correct data is being entered is crucial. Similar to 3D modelling, it won't likely be something you learn at university so definitely expect to learn it. Microsoft Access and Acquire are common softwares.
Some other programs that may be useful to know are listed here;
Wellcad - downhole visualistion (predominantly oil and gas)
IoGAS - Geochemical interpretation
Orange - Data science/machine learning
Number 4. The Value of Conferences and Networking Events
Besides the excessive alcohol consumption, conferences and networking events are invaluable within the industry. You meet, connect, and become mates with people from all different departments from all around the world. The mining industry is huge and geology is just one small component of it.
One thing we recommend is not to treat mining conferences/events as job fairs. People are trying to promote themselves or their companies, whether it's tech trying to sell to companies, or companies trying to sell to investors, you won't find many people who attend these events with the sole purpose of hiring. Having said that, if you see/hear something that sparks interest, go and talk to people. Most people in the industry are very approachable and I don't know many (especially geologists) who would shy away from a chat over beer or wine.
Number 5. Understanding Indigenous and Environmental Impacts
A massive part of being a geologist is working with local/indigenous people and environmental staff. This may be touched on at university but the importance of it is worth reiterating. You probably won't be working directly with these parties when you first start working, and it normally all happens during the exploration phase of mining, but it's important to understand that without the agreement of all parties involved mining should not go ahead.
There is no doubt that mining and exploration defaces the earths surface, and knowing the significance of certain sites from an indigenous and environmental perspective prior to mining is very important. All parties undertake a 'clearance' of a proposed site to look for any indigenous heritage sites/artefacts or environmental components that may be affected by mining activity. It is absolutely crucial that if there IS something of significance to either of these parties that you respect and understand that it should not be touched. No amount of metal is worth defacing historical sites or destroying the homes of endangered flora and fauna.
Number 6. How Important We Are As Geos
Due to the uncertainty, cost and where the industry currently sits, less and less economic mineral deposits are being discovered. We have to be creative and think outside the box, it's not as easy as drilling a hole straight through a magnetic anomaly anymore and saying 'oh well' when you don't get a hit.
The worlds in a funny place right now, we are seeing human induced global warming strongly affecting our planet and huge advancements in construction and technology (your old Samsung flip phone had about 11 metals in it, while your new iPhone has approximately 62). While the energy resources side of mining is somewhat replaceable (solar, wind, nuclear etc), the way humans use minerals/metals is not. As geologists we are on the front of discovering economic deposits that the world needs, whilst also balancing the crucial sustainability of our planet.
We have the ability to change the way we extract our natural resources for the better, and we need to take responsibility for this as the future of the mining industry.
Take home points for fresh grads
1. Get ready to learn new words.
2. Be nice to drillers.
3. Make the most of your GIS lectures.
4. Go to networking events/conferences.
5. Learn and appreciate the historical significance of your work site.
6. Strap in, the worlds changing.
A wise old man once said to me that if you sectioned up everything you've learnt that is applicable to your career it would be a 10%, 20% and 70% split. 10% from what you learnt at school, 20% from your University/TAFE studies and 70% on the job training. So if you don't feel ready to comfortably work as a geo yet don't worry, because you're probably not.
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