Geoscience Careers - Exploration Geology - Sara Turnbull

Summary

In this presentation, an exploration geologist shares their career journey, focusing on key experiences in Mozambique, where they worked on diamond and graphite projects. They detail the essential steps in exploration, from desktop studies and GIS analysis to fieldwork and drilling techniques, highlighting the challenges and rewards of exploration geology. The presentation also touches on trends in the industry, including the shift from grassroots exploration to brownfield projects and the growing skills gap. The speaker emphasizes the importance of education, collaboration, and the role of geoscientists in advancing exploration and mineral resource development.

Takeaways

• 😀 The presentation was designed for junior geoscientists, but was adapted to suit a more experienced audience of senior geologists.
• 😀 The speaker's background is in exploration geology, with extensive experience in Mozambique, covering a variety of commodities.
• 😀 The exploration process begins with a desktop study to identify suitable regions and gather geological information, such as historical mineral occurrences.
• 😀 The Savvy River Alluvial Diamond Project was the speaker's first major exploration project, involving mapping, trial pits, and diamond recovery through barrel screens and jigs.
• 😀 The speaker discusses the importance of using GIS and geophysics to identify and validate mineralization, as demonstrated during the graphite project in Mozambique.
• 😀 Exploration techniques like RC drilling and diamond drilling are essential to confirm mineralization, with RC being a quick, low-cost method for initial testing.
• 😀 Auger drilling is suitable for shallow, unconsolidated sediments, such as those found in secondary deposits, and was used during the exploration of the Montepoig ruby deposit.
• 😀 The exploration process can be challenging, requiring long hours and harsh conditions, but offers the opportunity to work in remote and unexpected areas.
• 😀 There has been a noticeable decline in the discovery of large mineral deposits since 2012, with junior companies focusing on less risky projects and major companies dominating the exploration field.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of collaboration between experienced and junior geoscientists to address the skills gap and ensure continued success in finding world-class mineral deposits.

Q & A

What was the initial project that the speaker worked on during their career?

The speaker's first project was the Savvy River Alluvial Diamond Project, located near the border between Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The project began with a desktop study to identify suitable geological conditions for diamond exploration.

What is the general process for starting an exploration project, as described in the talk?

The process typically begins with a literature and desktop study to identify a suitable region for exploration. This is followed by a GIS regional and target selection, which involves researching historical mineral occurrences, remote sensing, and geochemical analysis. The project then progresses into fieldwork, including trial sampling, mapping, and drilling, to validate the findings.

Why was the Savvy River Diamond Project not financially sustainable, according to the speaker?

The Savvy River Diamond Project, despite finding diamonds, was not financially sustainable due to high expenses related to exploration and the scale of the project, which made it economically unfeasible for the exploration company.

What geophysical method was used in the graphite project in Mozambique, and what did it help to identify?

In the graphite project in Mozambique, the team used geophysical line walking (perpendicular to the strike) to identify potential mineralization. This method led to the discovery of significant graphite-bearing areas, which were further validated through RC drilling.

How did the speaker describe the difference between RC drilling and diamond drilling?

RC (Reverse Circulation) drilling is a quick and inexpensive technique used for initial exploration to confirm mineralization, but it can be destructive, especially when targeting larger mineral particles. Diamond drilling, on the other hand, is more precise and is used for detailed geological analysis, including the study of metallurgical properties.

What was the significance of the Kaola resource found during the graphite project?

The Kaola resource turned out to be one of the highest-grade graphite deposits discovered in the project. Despite initially being underestimated, the deposit proved to be lucrative, containing a significant amount of graphite with a by-product of vanadium pentoxide.

What are some alternative drilling methods mentioned in the talk, and for what kind of exploration are they used?

In addition to RC and diamond drilling, the speaker mentioned auger drilling, which is typically used for shallow depths and targeting unconsolidated sediments. This method is effective for sedimentary or secondary deposits, especially in regions with less consolidation.

How does exploration in Africa compare to other continents in terms of exploration budgets?

In 2019, Latin America led global exploration budgets, while Africa ranked fifth. Despite this, Africa remains an area of interest for exploration, particularly countries like the DRC, Burkina Faso, and Ghana, which are leading in spending on mineral exploration.

What trend has been observed in the exploration industry regarding the size and number of new projects?

The exploration industry has seen a decrease in the discovery of large-scale projects, with only 52 maiden or initial resources being recorded in 2020, down from 175 in 2012. Additionally, there has been a shift toward spending more on brownfield projects rather than on high-risk greenfield exploration.

What is the speaker’s view on the future of geoscience and the importance of education in the field?

The speaker believes that the future of geoscience lies in education, particularly for younger generations. They emphasize the growing skills gap in the industry and the need for collaboration across disciplines and generations to continue making significant discoveries in mineral exploration.