Career Mirror -- by Mark Sproxton

Weeks and weeks of working 14-hour days in Africa have paid off. The countless times walking all over the property, checking rock samples, checking and re-checking geological data and meeting with fellow scientists puts a smile on the face of the mineral exploration geologist. Just as the company's permit to work the land expires a new, and rich, source of minerals appears. In one day the company's value jumps $40 million.

That type of one-day increase doesn't always happen but it is what he's paid to do, explains Robin Chisholm, a mining exploration geologist who is president of consulting with Taiga Consultants Ltd. "We advise our clients on how to find things and we do it to the point where they can find things to be mined." Those earth-bound treasures to be mined include diamonds, precious metals such as gold, or base metals such as copper.

As a consultant, Chisholm's company is hired by companies doing mining exploration. Chisholm, along with geophysicists, geochemists, geological technicians, computer programmers and computer graphic people work together to produce data that shows companies where to mine. The work sounds similar to oil and gas exploration geologists, but Chisholm said other than title, the work is very different. "They fly desks," he said, meaning petroleum geologists spend most of their time in the office. "We don't fly desks in my (business)."

When in the field, Chisholm said he spends most of his time outdoors collecting data on the property. Some of the work could include conducting geological mapping, travelling from outcrop to outcrop collecting data from them, or overseeing a drilling program to collect core samples from the rock below the ground. "Generally we work a 12 to 14 day. We don't do anything other than work. Often our operations run 24 hours a day."

When in the office, the exploration geologist will spend time collecting and compiling information from what he and others on his team have collected. Days indoors will also include spending much time on the phone, sending e-mail and working with all the information on the computers. "Essentially, we collect data in the field and back in the office we analyze it."

For 28 years the boom and bust work of mining exploration geology has been a part of Chisholm's life. But he knew a little bit about rocks before entering the work world. "I was fortunate in having some exposure to the geology end of things when I was in high school," he said. "I took it in university. This was a career path that (looked like it) might pay someone. At the time, biology and things like that... there were few paying jobs in Canada."

He holds no regrets of the career choice. "I like the scientific aspect to it. It makes you learn all the time and think about what you're doing all the time. You're almost never doing anything repetitive." He holds travel, which has included Africa, Central America, Europe and Southeast Asia as something he likes and dislikes about the work. Regardless of where he works, there's always the chance it could be the last contract for a while.

"The worst part of it... it's boom and bust. Anyone who (considers) this career better have something to do when they're unemployed because they will be unemployed. We are in the business of spending money. In a down turn, people don't want to spend money." Those considering becoming a mining exploration geologist should also expect to work daily with computer equipment and to have a scientific and analytical mind, Chisholm said.

The job opportunities also look bright as there haven't been many people going into the career and those currently there are getting close to retirement, he added. "If you want to make a lot of money, go be an accountant or a stock broker. If you want to do something interesting and have your (mind) working all the time, this is a great job."