Profession geotechnician

Geotechnicians collect and process rock and soil samples for geomechanical testing. They also describe the quality of rock mass, including structure, discontinuities, colour and weathering. Mine geotechnicians may measure the size of underground openings. They report the collected information to geologists and engineers as required.

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Personality Type

Knowledge

  • Impact of geological factors on mining operations

    Be aware of the impact of geological factors, such as faults and rock movements, on mining operations.

  • Geology

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

Skills

  • Collect samples

    Set up and operate equipment to collect water, gas or soil samples for testing.

  • Prepare technical reports

    Prepare technical reports that describe results and processes of scientific or technical research, or assess its progress. These reports help researchers to keep up to date with recent findings.

  • Install rock movement monitoring devices

    Install and operate monitoring devices, such as extensometers to measure deformation and movement, pressure cells to measure stresses and geophones to measure microseismicity.

  • Test raw minerals

    Take samples of mineral materials for testing purposes. Execute various chemical and physical tests on the materials.

  • Prepare samples for testing

    Take and prepare samples for testing, verify their representability; avoid bias and any possibility of accidental or deliberate contamination. Provide clear numbering, labelling and recording of the sample details, in order to make sure that the results can be accurately matched to the original material.

  • Troubleshoot

    Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.

  • Perform sample testing

    Examine and perform tests on prepared samples; avoid any possibility of accidental or deliberate contamination during the testing phase. Operate sampling equipment in line with design parameters.

  • Use a computer

    Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.

Optional knowledge and skills

prepare geological map sections maintain cores negotiate land access physics communicate on the environmental impact of mining plan geotechnical investigations in the field health and safety hazards underground

Source: Sisyphus ODB