Mine geologist to environmental geologist
A mine geologist already meets 35% of what the environmental geologist role asks for. The move turns on 8 required skills not yet in the profile.
58.5/ 100
1 How much of what an environmental geologist is expected to do is already part of a mine 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 environmental geologist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An environmental geologist role treats 4 of its required skills as things a mine geologist already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- address problems critically
- advise on mining environmental issues
- communicate on the environmental impact of mining
- develop site remediation strategies
What stands in the way is 8 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 7 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An environmental geologist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a mine geologist background worth leading with.
- already held develop site remediation strategies management skills
- already held advise on mining environmental issues communication, collaboration and creativity
- 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 chemistry natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
All 7 carried skills, including the 4 the environmental geologist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 12 missing skills fall into 7 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 examine geochemical samples required
- still to learn study groundwater required
- still to learn conduct environmental site assessments required
- still to learn conduct erosion control required
- still to learn manage environmental impact required
- still to learn environmental legislation required
- still to learn conduct sediment control required
- still to learn use technical drawing software required
- optional, not held hydrology optional
- optional, not held biology optional
- optional, not held geography optional
1 further area in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an environmental geologist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 conduct erosion control practise this
- 02 conduct sediment control practise this
- 03 examine geochemical samples 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 7 skills that carry over
- already held address problems critically skill
- already held advise on mining environmental issues skill
- already held communicate on the environmental impact of mining skill
- already held develop site remediation strategies skill
- already held chemistry knowledge
- already held communicate on minerals issues skill
- already held negotiate land access skill
The 1 learning area not shown above
- optional, not held archaeology optional
4 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held archaeology optional
- optional, not held hydrology optional
- optional, not held biology optional
- optional, not held geography optional
17 held skills the environmental geologist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role advise on geology for mineral extraction skill
- not needed by the target role advise on mine development skill
- not needed by the target role advise on mine equipment skill
- not needed by the target role advise on mine production skill
- not needed by the target role assess operating cost skill
- not needed by the target role deal with pressure from unexpected circumstances skill
- not needed by the target role determine characteristics of mineral deposits skill
- not needed by the target role dimension stone knowledge
- not needed by the target role geology knowledge
- not needed by the target role logging knowledge
- not needed by the target role maintain records of mining operations skill
- not needed by the target role monitor mine production skill
- not needed by the target role plan mine operations skill
- not needed by the target role prepare scientific reports skill
- not needed by the target role provide information on geological characteristics skill
- not needed by the target role supervise staff skill
- not needed by the target role use mine planning software skill
5 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn environmental legislation required
- optional, not held archaeology optional
- optional, not held hydrology optional
- optional, not held biology optional
- optional, not held geography optional
Common questions about this move
Can a mine geologist become an environmental geologist?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A mine geologist already covers 35% of what an environmental geologist is expected to do: 7 skills carry over, 4 of which the environmental geologist role treats as required.
What skills does a mine geologist need to become an environmental geologist?
8 required skills are missing, plus 4 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is conduct erosion control.
How hard is the move from mine geologist to environmental geologist?
Its learning distance is 58.5 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.