Exploration geologist to mine geologist
An exploration geologist already meets 44% of what the mine geologist role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.
55.5/ 100
1 How much of what a mine geologist is expected to do is already part of an exploration geologist’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the mine geologist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A mine geologist role treats 7 of its required skills as things an exploration geologist already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- address problems critically
- advise on geology for mineral extraction
- chemistry
- communicate on minerals issues
- communicate on the environmental impact of mining
- determine characteristics of mineral deposits
What stands in the way is 7 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 9 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A mine geologist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an exploration geologist background worth leading with.
- already held determine characteristics of mineral deposits information skills
- already held logging agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary
- already held communicate on the environmental impact of mining communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held communicate on minerals issues communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held negotiate land access communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held advise on geology for mineral extraction communication, collaboration and creativity
All 9 carried skills, including the 7 the mine geologist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 15 missing skills fall into 5 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn advise on mining environmental issues required
- still to learn deal with pressure from unexpected circumstances required
- still to learn provide information on geological characteristics required
- still to learn prepare scientific reports required
- optional, not held advise on mine development optional
- optional, not held advise on mine equipment optional
- optional, not held advise on mine production optional
- still to learn plan mine operations required
- still to learn supervise staff required
- optional, not held develop site remediation strategies optional
- still to learn use mine planning software required
- optional, not held maintain records of mining operations optional
- optional, not held monitor mine production optional
- optional, not held assess operating cost optional
- optional, not held dimension stone optional
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a mine geologist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 plan mine operations practise this
- 02 advise on mining environmental issues practise this
- 03 deal with pressure from unexpected circumstances practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 9 skills that carry over
- already held address problems critically skill
- already held advise on geology for mineral extraction skill
- already held chemistry knowledge
- already held communicate on minerals issues skill
- already held communicate on the environmental impact of mining skill
- already held determine characteristics of mineral deposits skill
- already held geology knowledge
- already held logging knowledge
- already held negotiate land access skill
8 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held advise on mine development optional
- optional, not held advise on mine equipment optional
- optional, not held advise on mine production optional
- optional, not held develop site remediation strategies optional
- optional, not held dimension stone optional
- optional, not held maintain records of mining operations optional
- optional, not held monitor mine production optional
- optional, not held assess operating cost optional
15 held skills the mine geologist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role apply strategic thinking skill
- not needed by the target role archaeology knowledge
- not needed by the target role build business relationships skill
- not needed by the target role complete initial resource statements skill
- not needed by the target role conduct environmental site assessments skill
- not needed by the target role economics knowledge
- not needed by the target role evaluate mineral resources skill
- not needed by the target role examine geochemical samples skill
- not needed by the target role interface with anti-mining lobbyists skill
- not needed by the target role interpret geophysical data skill
- not needed by the target role minerals laws knowledge
- not needed by the target role minerals prices knowledge
- not needed by the target role model mineral deposits skill
- not needed by the target role negotiate land acquisition skill
- not needed by the target role use earth sciences tools skill
1 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- optional, not held dimension stone optional
Common questions about this move
Can an exploration geologist become a mine geologist?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. An exploration geologist already covers 44% of what a mine geologist is expected to do: 9 skills carry over, 7 of which the mine geologist role treats as required.
What skills does an exploration geologist need to become a mine geologist?
7 required skills are missing, plus 8 optional ones. They fall into 5 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is plan mine operations.
How hard is the move from exploration geologist to mine geologist?
Its learning distance is 55.5 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.