Mineral Exploration

Photograph : Erich Petersen/Society of Economic Geologists; Char t : Candidate database, Stratum International F A L L 2 0 1 5 13 of baby boomers approaches retirement age, the industry is facing a demographic time bomb that will have a major nega- tive impact if not managed appropriately. Both Stratum International and the Mining Industry Human Resources Council have observed that 40 to 50 per cent of the mining workforce is aged 50 or older. Stratum notes the efforts of many organizations "to retain the older workforce for longer, using pension incentives, flexible working patterns and extra benefits, to keep experience within the business and transfer their knowledge to the next generation of leaders." Yet it cautions, "This, however, is no solution if younger profes- sionals are not being attracted or retained within the indus- try, or if older workers are unwilling or unable to pass on their expertise." To address this learn- ing gap, there are numerous learned and professional soci- eties around the world that meet the interests of geoscientists. Many offer career guidance as well as providing continuing professional development. Membership in the Society of Economic Geologists ( SEG), one such society, is open to all geoscientists with an inter- est in economic geology. This includes a large number of professionals drawn from industry, government and academia who are dedicated to advancing our under- standing of the genesis of mineral deposits and putting this knowledge to the test in the search for the next big discoveries. With its headquarters in Littleton, Colorado, the SEG has a growing mem- bership of approximately 7,000 geoscien- tists, residing in more than 100 countries. Canada is particularly well represented with some 1,300 members, of whom nearly 500 reside in British Columbia. To ensure the retention of and con- tinued professional development for the mid-career geoscientists who will be the next generation of industry leaders, the SEG provides annual senior manage- ment courses and organizes a wide range of short courses, workshops and lectures. Some of these are held in the excellent training facilities at the SEG's head- quarters, but many more are delivered at venues around the world. In the first half of 2015 alone, the SEG had already delivered short courses on the geology of gold deposits at Mining Indaba in Cape Town, the geology of copper and gold deposits at PDAC 2015 in Toronto and greenstone belt metallogeny at the Joint Assembly in Montreal. Field trips to major mines and min- ing camps are also a key ingredient of the ongoing training of professional geolo- gists. Trips planned for late 2015 include a short course on gold mineralization in Ghana, coupled with a field trip. There will also be six field excursions linked to the SEG's major annual conference, which will be held in Hobart, Tasmania, in late September, with the theme "World-Class Ore Deposits: Discovery to Recovery." Nine short courses are also a key element of the Hobart meeting, ranging from reviews of Carlin-type and skarn deposits to interpretation of aero- magnetic data and geometallurgy. A different and very positive perspec- tive on the challenges and rewards of leading from the front is provided by a series of video interviews with key people in the field of economic geology, acces- sible via the SEG's website at segweb.org. These can't fail to inspire those who want to succeed, no matter their stage of career. The SEG actively promotes entry to the profession by encouraging the establishment of SEG chapters within university departments. The SEG pro- vides some modest funding to kick-start the chapters, also ensuring that at least two SEG Fellows (one from the students' faculty and one from industry) agree to provide support and guidance. Funding is available for field excursions; this year, it allows students to investigate altera- tion and mineralization in Iceland and Sweden and to visit a range of mineral deposits and active hydrothermal sys- tems in North Island, New Zealand. In addition, industry funding, channelled through the SEG's Foundation, is used to support at least one, and often two, student-dedicated field trips each year that attract international participation. SEG members are encouraged to present lectures to chapters, and there is an active mentoring system to support younger members. Recognizing that many universi- ties do not teach economic geology, the SEG is also in the process of compiling a modular course of introductory lectures, spanning global metallogeny through individual deposit types, that can be delivered by SEG members when visit- ing the institutions. At the more advanced graduate and post-graduate levels, significant fund- ing is provided via the SEG Foundation's Graduate Student Fellowship Program and Student Research Grants. Strong selection criteria ensure that the most able young geoscientists are encouraged to develop their interests in economic geology. In summary, the SEG is playing a critical role in recruiting, retaining and inspiring young geoscientists and pro- viding the ongoing training throughout their careers that will enable them to eventually assume the reins of leadership. The corollary is that continued invest- ment by industry is essential to ensure that professional organizations like the SEG can provide the career-development opportunities that foster these leaders. ■ Bob Foster is chair of the education and train- ing committee of the Society of Economic Geologists and chief executive officer of Stratex International PLC. SEG student field trip to the Punta del Cobre mine, Chile. Age ● 25-34 0.4% ● 35-44 21.8% ● 45-54 39.4% ● 55-64 33.5% ● 65-74 4.4% ● 75+ 0.4% Age profile of senior mining industry personnel reporting to a general manager or higher

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