Rio Tinto Exploration

Craig

Project Geologist,
Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration, South America Region

In 2000 I graduated with Honours in a Bachelor of Science (Applied Geology) from University of New South Wales. Prior to these studies I had worked as a geological technician in the Western Australian gold fields and this work had given me exposure to an industry that I saw as providing a different and exciting career and lifestyle.

Upon graduation I was employed as a geologist with Rio Tinto Exploration based in Perth and working with a team whose aim was to discover a world-class diamond deposit in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia. In this highly satisfying role I was exposed to all aspects of grassroots exploration including project generation, land access negotiations, site visits with traditional landowners, field based and helicopter supported sampling and geological mapping programs and the drill testing of geological targets. Later this role came to include iron ore exploration in the Pilbara region, nickel exploration in the Musgrave Ranges of South Australia and a short secondment to the Merlin Diamond mine in the Northern Territory.

In 2003 I was transferred to the South American exploration arm of Rio Tinto, taking up residence in the northern Chilean city of Antofagasta, located in the heart of the Atacama Desert. The area, renowned for its copper endowment, hosts some of the world's great copper deposits including Chuquicamata and the partly Rio Tinto owned Escondida. Here my role is that of a project geologist responsible for the generation and management of porphyry copper exploration projects. Having completed nearly two years in Chile I will now be moving on to Rio Tinto Exploration's Project Generation Group where I will be based in Melbourne and work in China on a fly in/fly out basis.

Rio Tinto has a strong commitment to training and development of its employees and this has enabled me complete a great deal of training including a diamond exploration course in South Africa, tours of the key porphyry copper deposits of South America and training in other aspects of the mining and exploration industry such as working with communities and safety management.

Rio Tinto continues to provide me with a rewarding and challenging career, which presents great opportunities to develop both professionally and personally.

Graham

I graduated with Honours in Earth Science from The University of Queensland in 1997. I grew up on a sheep station in western Queensland, and prior to uni, worked as a jackaroo on a station near home. But I really wanted more from my life - adventure, professional qualifications, opportunity - and I didn't want to let go of the wide-open spaces and my fascination with nature.

I joined Rio Tinto Exploration to have the best of both worlds - to use geology to push the boundaries of mineral exploration, and to see the world doing it.

Based firstly in Brisbane, I worked on zinc exploration projects around the Century Mine in northwest Queensland and near Broken Hill. In 1999 I was seconded for four months to the Coal & Allied Howick Mine in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, as the Mine Geologist.

In late 1999 I transferred to Darwin where I was involved in the resource evaluation of the Wonarah phosphate project and greenfields reconnaissance for phosphate throughout the Northern Territory. I was also involved in deep drilling for the potential underground expansion of the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia.

Following a three-month secondment to Peru in 2002, to assist in the resource evaluation of the Marcona copper project, I transferred to Perth. A promotion later, I now generate and test bauxite projects Australia-wide. My goal is to discover the next world-class bauxite deposit for Rio Tinto.

It would be hard to rival my experience with Rio Tinto Exploration. In seven years I have worked in the most amazing places with incredibly dynamic people. I've had so much fun doing it too. I wouldn't swap my job for anything. Rio Tinto Exploration is among the world's premier exploration teams, and I am an integral part of it.

My future, I feel, is what I want to make of it.

Career Testimonial

Sam

Project Geologist

When I left England for South America, I went with an old green sofa, a great deal of enthusiasm and 9 words of Spanish. Seven years later I find myself in Australia with the same old green sofa, a job I thrive on and a Chilean companion.

South America was unforgettable. I first landed in the lunar landscape of Antofagasta, Chile during a Rio Tinto Vacation Placement in 1996. A year later, having graduated in Geology and Geophysics from Durham University I was back there again, working with the Porphyry Copper Exploration team.

A steep learning curve, responsibility and lots of hard physical work came alongside the privilege of working with an international team of geologists in spectacularly remote places. Fairly quickly I learnt Spanish, how to dance (badly) and made some firm friendships.

Initially I spent most of my time in the field running geophysical surveys and integrating the results with geology and remote sensing data. In 1999 I was made responsible for geophysics in Argentina and in 2000 for geophysics in Chile.

Although I was initially employed as a Geophysicist, Rio increasingly supported my interest in geology by giving me mapping and drilling experience, sending me on mine trips and by giving me my own exploration projects to run. As part of a small, flexible field office I also found myself contributing to the Global Information System (GIS) and implementing Rio's safety standards for Chilean field operations.

Last year I was seconded to the Perth Exploration office as a Project Geologist and am now coordinating exploration for Argyle Diamond Mine. Coming to Australia has meant swapping donkeys for helicopters and high-altitude dizziness for soaring temperatures. The learning curve has steepened again and I'm enjoying the challenges of a new commodity, working with local Aboriginals and gaining experience in the mine environment.

I look forward to ongoing challenges; who knows, perhaps next time the helicopter will be swapped for a snowmobile or canoe one day?
Victor Kakebeeke Career Testimonial

In 1997 I graduated with an honours degree in Geology and Petroleum Geology from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. My fascination with the Scottish hills and the outdoors led me to doing a geology degree, I always wanted to know what was inside these hills, what they where made from and how they formed.

I started with Rio Tinto in the Africa and Europe district region working on geophysical surveys in Sweden as a field assistant. In January 1998 I was asked to run the in house geophysical unit. This took me to various places in Europe and Africa over the period of three years. During these three years I worked on various exciting grass root projects of various commodities.

For the last three years I have been working as a geologist on Iron Ore prospects in Western Africa and recently was seconded to Australia where I work in the Pilbara in search for the next giant iron ore deposit.

It hasn't just been the wide geological and geophysical experience that Rio Tinto exposed has me to. Other areas such as community relations and the environment play a large role in the exploration industry and as a geologist you get exposed to these issues.

I have enjoyed the various geological, geophysical, social and environmental challenges I have been exposed to in last six years in various geographical settings. The biggest challenge is yet to be fulfilled and that is to find the next large iron ore mine.