Student Journal - Adelaide Student Chapter - Geology & Palaeontology Students Vacation Work
The past 3 months with Rex Minerals as a vacation student at Hillside on the Yorke Peninsula has provided me with extensive insight into the unique project stage. Since its discovery in 2008, the Hillside Cu-Au Project has an approved feasibility study, allowing operations to begin for the first copper concentrate to be produced within the next five years.
As a geology student, familiarising myself with the complexities of an IOCG system is challenging yet exciting, whilst opening a gateway to better understanding the evolution of the ore body. Being involved with activities including groundwater drilling, geochemical soil sampling and learning how to use GIS software, has shown me the diversity of roles a geologist undertakes. However, beyond my academic knowledge, my biggest learnings from this experience have been the interpersonal skills I’ve built in working with a variety of people, all applying their different skills and knowledge to develop South Australia’s next big copper mine.
Figure 1: Early mornings on the groundwater drill rig.
The guidance of everyone at Rex has shown me the diversity of opportunities in the mining and resources industry. Coming into the final year of my undergraduate degree, I have some clarity on the aspects of geology I have fascinations with. Particularly around bettering our practices through an ESG perspective, including re-purposing legacy mines and characterising ore bodies based on chemical expression. I am hoping these interests will guide my semester long research project and my honours next year, to ultimately apply academic knowledge to real world contexts.
Although getting ‘that foot in the door’ to the industry required perseverance and determination, the reward has not only helped shape my career and taught me life lessons but importantly opened many further opportunities for me.
Engaging in local industry bodies like AusIMM (through conferences, technical talks and other events) is a fantastic gateway to industry exposure and has aided me to secure the roles I now have within the industry.
Figure 2: Disseminated chalcopyrite mineralisation of skarn/gabbro host rock.