Mineral Exploration

Photograph : W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 17 Photograph : iStock W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 17 T he mineral exploration indus- try is expecting a shortage of workers as the current gener- ation of workers enters retire- ment. Because the industry is changing so quickly, anyone who is interested in one of its rewarding careers will need to com- mit themselves to lifelong learning – con- tinuously upgrading and refining their education and professional training, says AME BC chair David McLelland. "There have been many changes in mineral exploration," McLelland says. "Examples are changes to prospectors' rights of entry on private land; the shift from ground staking to online, selection- based tenure acquisition; online assess- ment filing and tenure renewal; increases to the maintenance cost of mineral claims; and [the] court-imposed duty of government to consult First Nations regarding development work." McLelland says most self-evident mineral occurrences have already been explored. "That has left deposits that are non-apparent, deeply buried, or difficult to access or develop. That increases the cost of exploration." More positively, attempts to limit exploration's footprint on the land have led to new ways of applying science to the industry. "Many of these new methods leverage prospectors' and geoscientists' capacities," McLelland says. "The use of computational science in surveying and seeing the physical world is enabling us to analyze complex, dynamic signals and rela- tionships; test hypotheses; and communi- cate and collaborate in near-real time." While all these changes have been taking place, a concentration of mineral exploration companies, exploration scien- tists and industry professionals has been growing in Vancouver. "With the con- centration of this talent, there has been an increase in the research and development of new technologies and methodologies corresponding to the increased need for greater efficiency," McLelland says. The demand for labour in the indus- try has also been affected. "With the recent acceleration of technical applica- tions and the advent of online, interdisci- plinary collaboration in our industry, the demand for people who are prepared to continuously learn new communication and technical skills is simultaneously increased," McLelland says. "This fact is present in all aspects of the industry, from labour to research." In response to these changes, people working in or considering a career in the industry need to think carefully about their education and training. "If you are interested in technical work, it is a good idea to acquire the best science education you can," McLelland says. "Although techniques, equipment and methodolo- gies change quickly, the science does not. A good grounding in theory and practice will not be outmoded and can be applied to specializations as new innovations and technologies emerge." McLelland says that although aca- demic credentials are important, they need to be supplemented with common sense and a commitment to lifelong learning. "Sometimes the technology we get qualified for changes or disappears, or the market for some qualification dries up," he says. "It's better to aim as high as we can see, at least a little ahead of today's technologies, and be prepared for a con- tinuum of learning." Lifelong learning INDUSTRY CHANGES HAVE LED TO THE NEED FOR GREATER EMPLOYEE FLEXIBILITY AND CONTINUED TRAINING By Peter Caulfield

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