1 A Career Mineral Exploration, Resource and Mining Geology Presenter: Ben Lepley Location: BGS, Keyworth
My Journey so Far 2 Love of mountains Geology A Level BSc/MESci in Geology (no specialisation) Love of sparkly ore minerals Geological Technician SRK Cardiff Consultant Geologist SRK Cardiff and Sweden CGeol chartership through GeolSoc
SRK Consulting - Disciplines 3 Exploration Geology Resource Estimation Mining Geology Geotechnics Mining Reserve Estimation Mineral Processing Tailings & Waste Disposal Project Infrastructure Water Management Environmental & Social Multi-Disciplinary Services
SRK Consulting Mandate Types 4 Feasibility Studies Scoping/Conceptual Pre-Feasibility Studies Feasibility Studies Due Diligence (2 nd Opinion) Debt Capital Markets Equity Capital Markets Internal Board Decision Operational support Operation startup closure
SRK Consulting - Projects 5 Commodities: gold and precious metals, bauxite, base metals, iron, REE, potash, phosphates, coal, gemstones... Locations: deserts, jungle, rainforest, tundra, urban, taiga, underwater and extraterrestrial (?!) Stages: exploration, start-up, operational and closure Team: lone, discipline, multidiscipline, sub-contractors and clients
Geology in Exploration and Mining regional exploration 6 Target generation Reconnaissance Regional mapping and sampling Form and idea and test it
Geology in Exploration and Mining focussed exploration 7 Head scratching Core logging Geological interpretation Licence application Drillhole planning Community relations Managing contractors Budget control
Geology in Exploration and Mining structural geology 8 Core logging Data analysis Mine mapping 3D modelling Resource model input Geotechnical assistance
Geology in Exploration and Mining sampling and analysis 9 Sampling Testwork Geochemical analysis Quality control Statistical analysis
Geology in Exploration and Mining geological modelling 10
Geology in Exploration and Mining Mineral Resource estimation 11 Data validation 3D modelling Geostatistical analysis Grade estimation Validation Classification Resource Reporting
Geology in Exploration and Mining Mine Geology 12 Open Pit / Underground Grade control Core logging 3D modelling Mine mapping Mine planning Health and Safety
SRK Geology Commissions 13 Exploration management and supervision Database audits Structural geology Mineralogy and petrology Sampling & QA/QC audits Geostatistics 3D geological modelling Resource estimation Mine site assistance Due diligence reviews and audits
Daily Activities 14 Exploration geology and management On-site communications, logging, mapping, logistics, geophysics, QAQC, sampling Software: Excel, CAD, 3D software (e.g. Leapfrog, Datamine, Surpac) Structural geology Map creation by hand or tablet, data collection and analysis, 3D modelling, QAQC Software: Excel, 3D software, stereonets Resource Estimation Data verification, statistics & geostatistics, 3D modelling, grade interpolation, block modelling, resource classification and reporting Software: Excel, CAD, 3D software (e.g. Datamine. Leapfrog, Surpac, Vulcan) Mine Geology Block-outs, grade control, on-site communications, mine mapping, sampling Software: Excel, CAD, 3D software
Career Progression 15 Exploration and Mining Companies Financial Institutions and Consultancies Exploration-Resource-Mining Geologists Exploration Manager Technical Services Manager Mine Manager Company Director
Summary 16 Mining and exploration - varied and rewarding career International industry - experience different cultures, environments and geological terrains Variable work - apply technical skills acquired at university to real world problems and get your hands dirty Consultancies - open to graduates and people with a widerange of skills and experience Career progression - huge scope for moving sideways and upwards
Recommendations - exploration / mining geology 17 General geology / exploration geology BSc Specialise at MSc level if required Work experience at Uni Join professional organisation as student Conferences, meetings, field trips, contacts, journals SEG Society of Economic Geology exploration/mining IoMMM Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining mining geology/metallurgy specific GeolSoc FGS then CGeol/CSci good for general geology, well respected worldwide
SRK Office Locations 18 >1,400 Professionals, 45 offices, 20 countries, 6 continents
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