Mineralogist to geologist
A mineralogist already meets 72% of what the geologist role asks for. The move turns on 10 required skills not yet in the profile.
44.6/ 100
1 How much of what a geologist is expected to do is already part of a mineralogist’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 geologist role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A geologist role treats 37 of its required skills as things a mineralogist already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- apply for research funding
- apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities
- apply safety procedures in laboratory
- apply scientific methods
- apply statistical analysis techniques
- collect geological data
What stands in the way is 10 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 56 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A geologist role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a mineralogist background worth leading with.
- already held petrology natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held sedimentology natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held geological mapping natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held geochemistry natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held examine geochemical samples information skills
- already held provide information on geological characteristics communication, collaboration and creativity
All 56 carried skills, including the 37 the geologist role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 31 missing skills fall into 11 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 carry out geological explorations required
- still to learn conduct soil sample tests required
- still to learn execute analytical mathematical calculations required
- still to learn record test data required
- optional, not held conduct land surveys optional
- optional, not held monitor geotechnical structures optional
- optional, not held develop scientific research protocols optional
- optional, not held investigate soil stability optional
- optional, not held prepare surveying report optional
- optional, not held study aerial photos optional
- still to learn geological time scale required
- still to learn mathematics required
- still to learn statistics required
- optional, not held geochronology optional
- optional, not held geophysics optional
- optional, not held soil science optional
- still to learn calibrate laboratory equipment required
- optional, not held solve location and navigation problems by using GPS tools optional
- still to learn cartography required
- still to learn scientific modelling required
- optional, not held advise on building matters optional
- optional, not held design scientific equipment optional
- optional, not held provide technical expertise optional
- optional, not held write research proposals optional
5 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a geologist role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 carry out geological explorations practise this
- 02 cartography study this
- 03 conduct soil sample tests 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 56 skills that carry over
- already held apply for research funding skill
- already held apply research ethics and scientific integrity principles in research activities skill
- already held apply safety procedures in laboratory skill
- already held apply scientific methods skill
- already held apply statistical analysis techniques skill
- already held collect geological data skill
- already held communicate with a non-scientific audience skill
- already held conduct research across disciplines skill
- already held demonstrate disciplinary expertise skill
- already held develop professional network with researchers and scientists skill
- already held disseminate results to the scientific community skill
- already held draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentation skill
- already held evaluate research activities skill
- already held geology knowledge
- already held increase the impact of science on policy and society skill
- already held integrate gender dimension in research skill
- already held interact professionally in research and professional environments skill
- already held manage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data skill
- already held manage intellectual property rights skill
- already held manage open publications skill
- already held manage personal professional development skill
- already held manage research data skill
- already held mentor individuals skill
- already held operate open source software skill
- already held operate scientific measuring equipment skill
- already held perform laboratory tests skill
- already held perform project management skill
- already held perform scientific research skill
- already held promote open innovation in research skill
- already held promote the participation of citizens in scientific and research activities skill
- already held promote the transfer of knowledge skill
- already held publish academic research skill
- already held scientific research methodology knowledge
- already held speak different languages skill
- already held synthesise information skill
- already held think abstractly skill
- already held write scientific publications skill
- already held advise on geology for mineral extraction skill
- already held apply blended learning skill
- already held collect samples for analysis skill
- already held conduct field work skill
- already held develop geological databases skill
- already held develop scientific theories skill
- already held examine geochemical samples skill
- already held geochemistry knowledge
- already held geographic information systems knowledge
- already held geography knowledge
- already held geological mapping knowledge
- already held impact of geological factors on mining operations knowledge
- already held interpret geophysical data skill
- already held petrology knowledge
- already held prepare geological map sections skill
- already held process data skill
- already held provide information on geological characteristics skill
- already held sedimentology knowledge
- already held teach in academic or vocational contexts skill
The 5 learning areas not shown above
- optional, not held perform computer analyses of geotechnical structures optional
- optional, not held use geographic information systems optional
- optional, not held apply digital mapping optional
- optional, not held logging optional
- optional, not held assess environmental impact optional
- optional, not held environmental legislation optional
- optional, not held conduct sediment control optional
21 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held geochronology optional
- optional, not held conduct land surveys optional
- optional, not held conduct sediment control optional
- optional, not held logging optional
- optional, not held monitor geotechnical structures optional
- optional, not held perform computer analyses of geotechnical structures optional
- optional, not held solve location and navigation problems by using GPS tools optional
- optional, not held use geographic information systems optional
- optional, not held advise on building matters optional
- optional, not held apply digital mapping optional
- optional, not held assess environmental impact optional
- optional, not held design scientific equipment optional
- optional, not held develop scientific research protocols optional
- optional, not held environmental legislation optional
- optional, not held geophysics optional
- optional, not held investigate soil stability optional
- optional, not held prepare surveying report optional
- optional, not held provide technical expertise optional
- optional, not held soil science optional
- optional, not held study aerial photos optional
- optional, not held write research proposals optional
17 held skills the geologist role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role assist with geophysical surveys skill
- not needed by the target role collect data using GPS skill
- not needed by the target role communicate on minerals issues skill
- not needed by the target role create thematic maps skill
- not needed by the target role determine characteristics of mineral deposits skill
- not needed by the target role determine crystalline structure skill
- not needed by the target role evaluate mineral resources skill
- not needed by the target role geodesy knowledge
- not needed by the target role implement mineral processes skill
- not needed by the target role label samples skill
- not needed by the target role minerals laws knowledge
- not needed by the target role model mineral deposits skill
- not needed by the target role operate microscope skill
- not needed by the target role perform sample testing skill
- not needed by the target role separate metals from ores skill
- not needed by the target role test raw minerals skill
- not needed by the target role use earth sciences tools skill
10 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 cartography required
- still to learn geological time scale required
- still to learn mathematics required
- still to learn scientific modelling required
- still to learn statistics required
- optional, not held geochronology optional
- optional, not held logging optional
- optional, not held environmental legislation optional
- optional, not held geophysics optional
- optional, not held soil science optional
Common questions about this move
Can a mineralogist become a geologist?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. A mineralogist already covers 72% of what a geologist is expected to do: 56 skills carry over, 37 of which the geologist role treats as required.
What skills does a mineralogist need to become a geologist?
10 required skills are missing, plus 21 optional ones. They fall into 11 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is carry out geological explorations.
How hard is the move from mineralogist to geologist?
Its learning distance is 44.6 out of 100, which is the moderate 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.