I’d decided it was time for a career change when I left my previous employer in May 2021. I’d worked as a consultant previously in my career for almost ten years with consulting companies and more than a year in my own practice, which ultimately evolved into a full time, fulfilling role with one of my principal clients. That was, however, more than 15 years ago and a bit of work was needed to understand the market and the areas in which I wanted to try to focus my efforts.
My first priority was to take a break and take steps to gain greater exposure to aspects of exploration and mining geoscience that I was interested in, but hadn’t had the opportunity to explore further. My list included:
learning about developments in data science gaining traction in interpretation and analysis of geoscientific practice in both exploration and mining
deploying on-line databases of geological and mineral resource information
examining techniques that could be used to extend analysis of inherent uncertainty to geologic models forming the basis of mineral resource estimates
gaining greater exposure to, and knowledge of the commercial aspects of exploration and mineral resource development, and
developing a greater understanding of the roles of boards in corporate governance and achieving business objectives.
I tackled the latter by successfully completing the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) well regarded Company Directors Course. The course comprised five days of lectures and practical sessions in Brisbane, along with extensive pre-reading needed to gain maximum value from the face to face sessions, reflection on the course content and completing recommended reading provided during the face to face component of the course, and completing the assessment which takes the form of an examination and completion of an assignment. In all, I found that successfully completing the course required a three to four month commitment, which definitely delivered value.
The AICD course is exceptionally well structured and delivered and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in how businesses should be managed. I was recognised as a Graduate member of the Institute (GAICD) in November 2021, after enrolling in May and completing the coursework component of the course during July.
Recommencing Work
I was ready to get back to work in early 2022. This involved careful thinking about what I wanted to do in terms of the types of projects I was prepared to undertake and how to establish a client base. There was also a need to ensure that my business was appropriately structured to meet legal requirements and protect both myself and my family should something go wrong.
Setting up a Business
The most important steps from a legal and regulatory viewpoint were to secure appropriate professional insurances, set up the business structure and implementing systems to handle invoicing and manage accounts effectively with the aim of having to spend as little time as possible on compliance and housekeeping tasks.
Professional Insurances
Fortunately, both The Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) and Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) have relationships with insurance brokers who the two professional institutes work with to ensure that cost effective and appropriate coverage is available to members.
Independent consulting and contracting practices require broad-form public and product liability and professional indemnity insurance. Additional cover in the form of workers’ compensation may also be required, particularly if you plan to undertake field work on mine sites. This will usually be specified by prospective clients.
You need to have a clear vision of the consulting services that you intend to provide as different activities are recognised as having distinctly different risk profiles that attract different premiums. Some forms of geoscientific work are also the subject of coverage exclusions in policies offered by some companies, so it’s essential to read the fine print when comparing policies. What you plan to do will also influence the level of coverage required, which goes to the cost of maintaining insurance cover.
Having a broker you are confident with is important, as the time your broker puts into understanding your needs has a direct impact on insurance costs and keeping premium increases to a minimum through your demonstration of best practice in managing risks to which your consulting business is exposed. I opted for the policies provided by the brokers responsible for the AusIMM scheme and can’t fault their service and understanding of my business’s needs.
Managing Business Finances
A good accountant is essential. I was fortunate to have a friend recommend a firm that has been fantastic in setting up a company and trust structure under which my business operates. A personal referral from someone you trust beats any advertising or on-line review.
My accountants set up a cloud-based accounting system for me which has been really valuable. My business’s bank accounts are linked directly to the accounting system which results in my having a single point of reference for all financial information. It looks after invoicing and keeps track of what invoices have been paid and those that are waiting to be paid, or where the client needs a reminder (which has been rare). Keeping the accounts up to date is simple and only takes a few minutes on days where there are expenses to record or transactions to reconcile that can be done anywhere due to the cloud-based system used. My accountants proactively look after all of the required financial statements and tax returns. All I need to to is tell them that the system is up to date for them to make sure that all statutory requirements have been satisfied on time.
Timesheets
Consulting is a time-based business. I’ve found a simple iOS app, Hours Tracker, to be a great time saver. I simply clock-in and clock-out of projects during each day. My phone is always on my desk when I’m working so it couldn’t be more convenient and it eliminates any guesswork. It’s also backed up to the cloud from where data can be accessed from a desktop app.
Engagement Contracts and Agreements
The other major requirement is a document setting out clear terms of engagement. Agreements to undertake consulting work need to be based on more than a “handshake” or, as is more often the case, email exchanges setting out a subjective scope of work and expected deliverables. Many clients will already have engagement terms or contracts for contracting or consulting work, which may be quite suitable but need to be clearly reviewed before signing. Many, however, prefer that the consultant provide terms.
AIG sought guidance for members in this area from the Institute’s legal advisors, Ashurst, in August 2021. This advice set out four key areas to be covered by independent consulting agreements.
Key issues to be covered by independent consulting agreements, Australian Institute of Geoscientists, 2021
The four key areas identified in the advice provided by Ashurst (above) concisely capture the key areas that need to be dealt with.
Contracts under which work is performed need to include:
A clear description of the services to be provided
how long the engagement will be for and when and how it may be terminated
payment terms
statement of obligations of both the client and consultant
confidentiality and management of intellectual property
a clear description of the client-consultant relationship, including statement of any potential conflicts of interest
terms (e.g. hours of work and provision of equipment and other resources relevant to the work to be performed)
legal obligations of both the client and consultant.
These points provide a useful checklist when both drafting and reviewing agreements.
There are no “off the shelf” templates for suitable agreements that I’m aware of. The services of an appropriately experienced solicitor are usually required to draft a suitable template agreement, or to review agreements provided by potential clients, particularly for larger projects.
Any client-consultant agreement needs to balance the needs and expectations of both the consultant and client. It needs to include a description of the scope of the project to be undertaken, expected deliverables and the timeline in which the work specified should be delivered. It also needs to set out payment terms for both consulting time and any expenses that could be incurred during the course of the project. Importantly, the agreement also needs to set out how required variations and extensions to the project scope will be managed and agreed to by both parties, and the mechanisms by which any disputes will be dealt with, including dealing with liabilities.
That covers the company structure and basic tools. Finding and keeping clients will be covered in a subsequent post.
Micro credentials are attracting increasing attention as a means of obtaining recognition of existing skills or completing targeted training in specific areas, especially where skills are not covered by current university courses.
Micro credentials and Employability form one of the five pillars being pursued by The Australian Council of Professions, alongside Education, Accreditation, Professionalism and Ethics, and Diversity, Culture and Inclusion.
Developments are following two tracks:
Short courses, where candidates complete a structured training course and complete an assessment to demonstrate competence and requisite knowledge in the field; and,
Recognition of knowledge gained through industry experience, which again involves demonstration of acquired knowledge.
Recognition is being provided by universities, accredited commercial education providers and, increasingly, by professional associations. Universities are going as far as recognising micro credentials as prerequisites or as credits for enrolment or the award of higher degree qualifications.
The issue is particularly relevant to Australian geoscience at present, with a number of universities replacing courses in geology and geophysics with more broadly based courses in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Science. These courses have been criticised widely as not providing an adequate understanding of geology and geological processes in particular, and for not delivering “industry-ready” graduates. Who, really, would seriously claim that they did not learn enormously in their first years of employment? The real test should arguably be whether graduates have knowledge of scientific investigation and methods that underpin “good science” where hypotheses developed are adequately tested.
Micro credentials are, however, reinvigorating the concept of experiential learning which appears to have lost support, particularly as a pathway to professional association membership, in recent years. A number of professional associations have also introduced more specific education requirement, where membership[ applicants need to provide academic transcripts that demonstrate completion of requisite subjects in their degree courses. This requirement has existed in Canada for PGeo registration for a number of years.
The micro credential concept is in its infancy, but it seems to offer a credible means for professionals to expand their opportunities by demonstrating skills in areas of direct interest to employers.
I was advised today that I successfully completed all the requirements of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Company Directors Course.
The Company Directors Course is designed to give directors a distinct career edge through a better understanding of their duties and responsibilities. It also helps in developing skills to facilitate sound decision making and imparting best governance practices.
The course is essential learning for directors seeking to establish themselves in their career as a trusted and respected board member.
I really enjoyed the course which exceeded my expectations. It is very interactive, well facilitated and it was interesting to hear the experiences of other delegates, from a range backgrounds, during the five days of lectures. The course requires a significant commitment to complete the pre-reading, assignment, quiz and exam. I would recommend the course to anyone with an interest in corporate governance, particularly the relationship between boards and their executive teams.
Explorers and miners have an array of different drilling techniques at their disposal. There are differences, however, in the information provided.
How the information provided can be used throughout the course of an exploration program, in the delineation of resources or production grade control, can have a marked impact on project timing and the need for additional drilling as a project progresses.
Exploration and resource evaluation are, first and foremost, the process of collecting pertinent, geological observations that may be used to determine how a deposit was formed, the character of mineralisation and where extensions or repetitions of identified resources may exist. Observations should be unbiased and unconstrained by preconceptions of how a discovery may be ultimately mined. Understanding the controls on mineralisation development and distribution is critical.
I like to think of mineralisation being able to be classified, from a primary, structural viewpoint, as falling into two discrete groups:
Structured mineralisation, where the controls on mineralisation distribution may be observed or reliably interpreted from mesoscale (drill core, hand specimen or outcrop scale) observations; and,
Unstructured mineralisation, where mesoscale observations do not provide a clear basis for understanding mineralisation distribution.
The simplest example of structured mineralisation is, arguably, coal, probably followed by evaporites that occur along palaeosurfaces. The material of economic interest occurs within a stratigraphic sequence where other components have little or no economic value. Stratiform basee metal mineralisation is another good example where bedding has a profound impact on mineralisation distribution. Not all structured mineralisation is controlled by bedding: far from it. Secondary structures, including cleavage and faults, can impose tight controls on mineralisation distribution, as can alteration which may be both a product of the mineralising process itself or responsible for creating distinct geochemical and physical conditions under which mineralisation develops.
Unstructured mineralisation may include some styles of gold mineralisation, but that may be more a function of gold not being visible, but other associated minerals define different styles of mineralisation. Porphyry Cu-Au mineralisation is probably also an example of unstructured mineralisation due to the boundaries between mineralogically distinct parts of the mineralised system being diffuse and gradational rather than sharp and distinct.
Diamonds are an interesting case where the problem of sampling sparsely distributed minerals becomes an overriding concern. In my view, more diamondiferous kimberlites are examples of structured, rather than unstructured mineralisation due to significant grade variation occurring between mineralogically and texturally distinct rock types in the volcanic system in which they occur, which has profound implications for collecting representative samples.
Ask the question “can I put my finger on a point at which the lithology, mineralogy or fabric of the rock and the mineralisation it contains changes”? If the answer is yes, the mineralisation you’re dealing with should be considered to be structured.
What does this mean for drilling and sampling?
Structured mineralisation needs to be sampled to the visible domain (lithological, mineralogical, structural) domain boundaries. Failure to honour these boundaries results in materials with potentially different characteristics being mixed. This could adversely affect the determination of their actual grade, mineralogy, metallurgical and even rock mass (geotechnical and hydrogeological) characteristics. The simplest impact is that samples may incorporate mineralisation and dilution.
Is this something I should be concerned about?
Yes. Dilution and ore loss form part of the suite of modifying parameters applied in converting Mineral Resources to Ore Reserves. Samples collected on a regular interval basis, for example, from RC or other forms of non-cored drilling, could contain significant proportions of unmineralised material. Defining boundaries for geological modelling become based on analytical data (grades or hyperspectral mineralogy) which will almost invariably contain diluting material which will reduce the grade obtained from samples or vary the concentrations of deleterious elements or minerals evident in analytical data.
These issues will be further compounded when dilution and ore loss factors are applied during even conceptual mining studies if the project gets that far with a pessimistic suite of grades. Potential for selective mining may go unrecognised, again with potentially significant implications for a project. Waste rocks adjacent to mineralisation, similarly, may be incorrectly classified as requiring more onerous environmental management and remediation than is actually required.
These impacts are less evident when dealing with unstructured mineralisation which needs to be interpreted solely using analytical data, and may ultimately be mined using similar data. Mining of structured mineralisation may be controlled visually, improving mining efficiency, reducing dilution and ore loss and minimising costs.
I prefer to use RC drilling because it’s lower cost per metre and faster than diamond drilling. These are both significant factors but they may not take account of the value of forgone data, including reliable grades, representative mineralogical information and the need to undertake specialist metallurgical and geotechnical drilling, when this data could be obtained more systematically and routinely during the course of initial resource evaluation. The lost opportunity involved could increase the amount of drilling required and resource risk inherent in the project, and the time required to collect data required for different levels of study. In whole project terms, cost savings may not be realised.
Understanding how mineralisation is structured also contributes to an understanding of resource continuity, which is arguably the single most important factor in geological modelling and resource evaluation.
Data Quality
Effective sampling underpins and helps to ensure data quality, essential in the minimisation of resource risk. Data quality assurance requirements extend beyond assays, to bulk density data, understanding rock mass characteristics and variations in these characteristics, mineralogy, other physical characteristics of all rock materials that could be disturbed or affected by mining, and sample locations in three-dimensional space.
The quality and consistency of geological logging is also very important. The issue is achieving consistency between geologists who will, naturally, place different emphasis on different attributes, based on their previous experience. A structured approach to logging helps to achieve consistency by prompting geologists to provide specific observations in their descriptions. A structured logging system does not need to use codes. Significant advances in text search and interpretation software have been made which assist in making logs more readily interpreted for computer-based analysis and geological modelling. Coded logging systems need to be carefully designed, usually for specific prospects, so that they do not attempt to deal with the plethora of rock types, mineralisation and alteration assemblages and styles evident in mineral deposits, which invariably reflect a complex combination of geological conditions.
All geological software features rules that may be applied to help to ensure the basic integrity of drilling data. A database with integrity, however, may be far from validated. Validation is achieved by putting data to use: viewing new drill holes in the context of previous, surrounding drilling that will identify inconsistencies beyond those covered by simple integrity checks that need to be further investigated.
There is also a need to distinguish between observations and interpretations. Competently recorded observations are facts that should only be changed after a thorough review of samples or core, either directly or with the aid of high quality sample and core photographs. Observations, for example, include downhole depths, lithology, mineralogy, grainsize, texture, structural features and discontinuities. Interpretations include stratigraphy and geological domains, which will (and should be expected to) evolve as knowledge of the mineralisation being investigated develops.
Technologies
There are a few, readily available, robust technologies that are available to explorers and miners to maximise the value of drilling data:
As mentioned above, flexible text search capabilities may be used to prepare logs for further analysis or rapidly identify features of interest recorded in logs.
Accurate drill hole surveying. Drill hole locations should be surveyed. Simple, handheld GPS data may be adequate for initial, reconnaissance drill holes, which can always be more accurately surveyed later. Drill hole coordinates and elevations collected by a licensed surveyor are a means of assessing the reliability of terrain models that will become important in resource evaluation.
Reliable down-hole surveying is just as important in determining where mineralisation sampled by drilling is located. Every drill hole deviates to some extent.
Collection of oriented core should be considered essential. Understanding both the location and orientation of geological features removes an entire layer of uncertainty in geological interpretations. Reliable, effective tools have been collected that can be included in stored core as a permanent record of the observations collected. It’s perfectly possible to collect reliable orientation data from both inclined and vertical drill holes.
Use a drilling method that maximises sample integrity to minimise sample or core loss. Record core and RC sample recovery. The use of triple-tube drilling helps to minimise core disturbance during both drilling and core presentation, improving the quality of samples and fundamental geotechnical data collected from core in the field.
Reflex “Oriblock” core orientation tool
Collect high quality core photographs. Lighting is everything. Photographs of wet core should be free of reflections, especially where use of computer-based machine learning techniques is being considered for the collection of lithological and rock mass quality information.
My view is that high quality core or non-cored drilling sample photographs are essential as drilled materials begin to deteriorate as soon as samples are recovered and should not be considered to be a permanent reference.
Image resolution is a secondary consideration to producing images free of reflections, removal of which can become the greatest contributor to the cost of applying these techniques.
Kore Geosystems’ Spector core photography system – one of several high quality, productive drill core and sample photography systems now available.
The advent of hyperspectral mineralogical data collection has been game-changing in recent years by improving the consistency of geological data, as well as providing comprehensive mineralogical data that may be used to classify mineralisation and associated rocks for resource evaluation, metallurgical and environmental management and remediation purposes. Good data may be collected by all analytical laboratories from coarse materials during sample preparation at low cost.
Down-hole geophysical logging offers quantitative collection of important data including structure (acoustic televiewer, microresistivity and dipmeter logs are all proven technologies), bulk density, hydrogen density (which is a proxy for moisture content), mineralogical variations, grades (in an increasing range of settings), and rock mass properties. The minerals industry has been slow to adopt technologies that are critical tools for minimising resource risk in oil and gas exploration and reservoir characterisation and in other energy resource evaluation applications, including coal and geothermal energy which employ similar drilling techniques to the minerals sector.
An important feature of a number of the technologies and techniques mentioned above is that they can, partly, bridge the gap between data provided by non-cored versus cored drilling.
Planning is key.
Exploration, in particular, is a high technical risk activity but that should not preclude planning for success, deciding when to decide to collect data that will be needed to take a project through exploration to studies focusing on resource development, which should be early in the course of the project.
Explorers frequently take the approach of, following a promising intersection (which establishes a project of merit), stepping out to test for an extension to the revealed mineralisation, and gradually infilling the project area over time. Projects of merit gather momentum quickly by attracting additional attention and resources, which may create inertia in project management if an effective plan is not in place.
A potentially productive response to a project being recognised as having merit is to drill to assess mineralisation continuity at an early stage. This provides detailed information on geological and mineralisation variability that, in turn, helps to determine the level of drilling required to achieve desired levels of confidence and progress the project efficiently. Surprisingly few explorers do this.
Does this really matter?
There are surprisingly few studies in the public domain of the benefits of this approach. Two anonymous examples follow.
A company was evaluating a shale-hosted, stratiform base metals project using predominantly RC drilling. The sentiment was that they were dealing with a potentially large resource but scoping studies showed convincingly that the grades were marginal for open cut mining. Adopting cored drilling (HQ3 core) with good, routine core photography and down-hole geophysical logging allowed drilling to be oriented more parallel to bedding (the deposit was actually folded), collection of basic geotechnical data to replace assumptions and acquisition of comprehensive, quantitative bulk density data. Resistivity and magnetic susceptibility logging clearly defined strong lithostratigraphic controls on mineralisation development. Recoverable grades increased by one-third when sampling was changed from regular one-metre samples downhole to lithologically based sampling. The geophysical density logs showed that laboratory measurements were highly conservative. Specific gravity was being measured on pulverised samples using volumetric glassware, but consistent results are hard to achieve in a high throughput, production focussed environment like a commercial assay lab being put under pressure on both costs and turnaround. Changing sampling protocols to honour controls on mineralisaion resulted in the project’s NPV more than doubling, dispelling doubt regarding the economic feasibility of the project. This also formed the foundation for a re-assessment of selective mining options that ultimately led to a ten-fold increase in NPV.
Studies of a structurally controlled, moderately to steeply dipping, lode-style, zinc-lead-silver deposit used routinely collected, basic, rock mass properties observations (RQD and visually estimated rock strength) to better understand variations in rock mass properties throughout the deposit. Oriented core was able to be used to demonstrate that a thickened, apparently moderately dipping section of the deposit was an artefact produced by reverse faulting, which was able to be incorporated in the deposit’s geological model due to oriented core demonstrating a flattening of the deposit being unlikely. There were concerns that intense shearing in the mineralised zone hangingwall would contribute to excessive dilution during mining. Collection of samples using both mineralisation style and fracture intensity, however, enabled areas where a pillar could be left between stopes and the sheared ground enabled this risk to be effectively managed and contrinuted to a decision to develop the project. Interestingly, the analysis of data that contributed to this decision was made by a new owner of the project, after the former owner that collected the data, decided to divest rather than proceed with the development of the project.
Last Words
There is a strong case for treating arguably any project, and certainly, one that has reached project of merit status as a case where we need to plan for success. Think carefully about the observations of mineralisation and the enclosing host rocks acquired during drilling and what data needs to be collected to describe them in an effective, objective manner that facilitates examination of all potentially feasible development options. Scoping studies have an important role in demonstrating a project’s potential. Pre-feasibility studies provide a platform for the assessment of multiple, potential development options, the best of which then form the basis for feasibility studies.
A former colleague conied the term re-feasibility study to describe the too frequent need to repeat pre-feasibility studies, even after proceeding to feasibility and realising that the option being assessed was demonstrably not the best option for the project. There are cases where this is a consequence of advances in mining and metllurgical technologies or quantum shifts in the market for the commodities to be produced. There are far more cases, however, where this is a consequence of feasibility studies becoming too focussed on limited options too early. The cost of this is significant in terms of capital invested in studies and the need for more, study team morale and investor confidence, which are important but often overlooked considerations. Good planning from the outset provides a means of avoiding this.
We frequently hear and read expressions like “the voice of the orebody” and ”the rocks speak” which are pretty good metsphors, generally, for the message presented here.
I’d go one step further. The rocks speak, but we need to learn their language and listen”. There is a conversation to be had that will benefit our profession.
We work in an environment where, usually, exploration and mining tenure provides mineral resource asset security, which should facilitate more open sharing and discussion of situations like these, to the benefit in terms of both technical competence and much-needed investor public confidence in resource stewardship by our profession and industry.
I’m extremely pleased and quite humbled to have been named as the AIG Medal recipient for 2021.
AIG Medal for 2021
The award recognises outstanding service to the Australian Institute of Geoscientists by an Institute member and is the highest award granted by the Institute.
I value my membership of the Institute which is, I think, a dynamic and responsive body representing geoscientists in all fields of the profession throughout Australia and, increasingly, internationally.
Congratulations to Sam Lees for being named as the recipient of the award for 2020.
Thanks to everyone who has been in touch over the past few weeks.
I took advantage of a redundancy to leave Rio Tinto Exploration at the end of May, 2021 after almost 15 years with the company (this time around). I also spent 10 years with Rio Tinto companies earlier in my career.
My first priority was to use the opportunity this created to take a break and spend some time with my family, while giving thought to the next phase of my career.
I’m particularly keen to build on my extensive experience in multiple commodities, deposit styles and types of project in ways that add value and, in doing so, deliver interesting and challenging engagements that deliver positive results. I’ve also used the opportunity to undertake further study by completing the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ highly regarded Company Directors Course. The course provided valuable insights into the development of commercial and not-for-profit entities, and ways to make them more responsive and effective through improved governance.
In the past few years I have been really excited to be involved in exploration and development of battery metals projects, recognising commodities for which new demand will be driven by emerging technologies and seeking out opportunities in these fields. I’ve also developed a passion for sustainable development principles which will be in integral part of the future for resources and mining industries, from the earliest stages of exploration, throughout mine development and operations, through to mine closure. These principles can be applied in ways that will help to make us better explorers, developers and operators, to the benefit of all stakeholders and the perception of mining professions in our broader community.
In pursuing my future goals, I’ve established a consulting practice that I’m keen to develop, but I am also open to employment opportunities.
I am also continuing my work with the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, or which I’ve been a director for more than 20 years. I’m committed to continued professional development and helping others to recognise its value and benefits to their career. The Institute is at an exciting point in its development. I plan to step down as a director to make room for change, but would like to remain involved through committee work.
I place considerable value on professionalism, evidenced through voluntary professional registration, a demonstrated commitment to professional ethics, and continued professional development.
I’m a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Geological Society of London.
Additionally, I’m a Professional Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), a Member of the American Geophysical Union and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
I’m also a Registered Professional Geoscientist (RPGeo) in Mineral Exploration and Mining Geology under the Australian Institute of Geoscientists professional registration program, which I think is the more rigorous professional registration program for geoscientists operating in Australia.
These memberships demonstrate my broad interests in. both technical and management fields. They help to keep me in touch with a vibrant geoscience community and are a great means of building a strong professional network in both geoscience, and through AusIMMm the broader mining and resources industry.
My AIG and AusIMM memberships also enable me to act as a Competent Person for public reporting of mineral exploration activities, mineral resources and ore reserves to Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges, and stock exchanges in other countries under reciprocal reporting arrangements. Ore Reserves reporting, of course, is undertaken as part of a team, working in collaboration with suitably qualified engineers, metallurgists and allied professionals responsible for quantifying mining, metallurgical and an increasing range of other modifying factors required to meaningfully convert mineral resources estimates to ore reserves.
Being a Registered Professional Geoscientist (RPGeo) is especially valuable to me. Unlike Canada and a number of U.S. states, there is no requirement (at present) for professional registration of geoscientists. The program, however, demonstrates my professional standing with my peers and provides independent confirmation of my personal continued professional development efforts.
Maintaining my AICD membership also requires meeting continued professional development requirements relevant to best practice when working as a company director.
I encourage all geoscientists to take up membership of a professional institute as a means of building their networks, accessing professional development opportunities, and meeting public expectations of professionals in any field.
Andrew Waltho Consulting Pty Ltd is open for business!
After many years working for mid-tier and major exploration and mining companies, I’ve reached a point in my career where I believe I can contribute more as a consultant, working independently for clients, focussing on aspects of exploration and mining geoscience where I believe I can contribute value.
Experience and expertise are central to this. I’ll be focussing on fields where I can demonstrate competence, and working with other consultants to meet client needs where required to deliver the best possible outcome.
These pages will feature occasional articles on a range of topics that I’m interested in, to help stimulate discussion and consideration of how these ideas could add to projects.
Thanks for your interest. Visit this site regularly for updates.
You can also check out my capabilities and experience by following this link.
