Profession exploration geologist

Exploration geologists examine and prospect for mineral deposits. They identify, define and obtain legal title to an economically viable mineral deposit.  They are responsible for design, management and execution of the exploration programme.  

Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

Personality Type

• Investigative / Realistic
• Realistic / Investigative

Knowledge

• Geology

  Solid earth, rock types, structures and the processes by which they are altered.

• Minerals laws

  Law related to land access, exploration permits, planning permission and minerals ownership.

Skills

• Advise on geology for mineral extraction

  Provide advice of the impact of geological factors on the development of mineral production. Take into account factors such as cost, safety, and characteristics of deposits.

• Model mineral deposits

  Geologically model mineral deposits in order to determine their location, their aspect and their economic potential.

• Interface with anti-mining lobbyists

  Communicate with anti-mining lobby in relation to the development of a potential mineral deposit.

• Complete initial resource statements

  Comply with all regulatory requirements in completing an initial resource statement, an assessment of the quantity of valuable minerals that are present.

• Conduct environmental site assessments

  Manage and oversee environmental site prospection and assessments for mining or industrial sites. Designate and demarcate areas for geochemical analysis and scientific research.

• Interpret geophysical data

  Interpret data of a geophysical nature: Earth's shape, its gravitational and magnetic fields, its structure and composition, and geophysical dynamics and their surface expression in plate tectonics.

• Address problems critically

  Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and alternative methods of tackling the situation.

• Use earth sciences tools

  Employ a number of tools for example geophysical, geochemical, geological mapping and drilling to discover a mineral deposit.

• Negotiate land access

  Negotiate with landowners, tenants, mineral rights owners, regulatory bodies or other stakeholders to obtain permission to access areas of interest for exploration or sampling.

• Communicate on the environmental impact of mining

  Prepare talks, lectures, consultations with stakeholders and public hearings on environmental issues related to mining.

• Apply strategic thinking

  Apply generation and effective application of business insights and possible opportunities, in order to achieve competitive business advantage on a long-term basis.

• Communicate on minerals issues

  Communicate on minerals issues with contractors, politicians and public officials.

• Negotiate land acquisition

  Negotiate with landowners, tenants, mineral rights owners or other stakeholders of land containing mineral reserves in order to buy or lease the land.

• Determine characteristics of mineral deposits

  Prepare and conduct geological mapping, logging, sampling and assay of drill core and other subsurface rock samples. Analyse results in plans and sections, with particular emphasis on geostatics and sampling theory. Examine in 3D the maps, deposits, drilling locations or mines to determine the location, size, accessibility, contents, value and potential profitability of mineral deposits.

• Examine geochemical samples

  Analyse laboratory samples using equipment such as spectrometers, gas chromatographs, microscopes, microprobes and carbon analysers. Determine the age and characteristics of environmental samples such as minerals, rock or soil.

• Build business relationships

  Establish a positive, long-term relationship between organisations and interested third parties such as suppliers, distributors, shareholders and other stakeholders in order to inform them of the organisation and its objectives.

• Evaluate mineral resources

  Search for mineral resources, including minerals, oil, natural gas and similar non-regenerative resources after obtaining legal rights to explore in a specific area. Endorse the assessment of the mineral reserves.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB