Grade Control Evaluation Geologist at Tharisa

Purpose of Role

• To evaluate and monitor the quality and quantity of mineral resources extracted, by conducting detailed geological assessments, to ensure mining activities are in line with production targets and geological models. To construct geological grade control models, dig plans and conduct short term reconciliation, ensuring regular mapping and structural interpretation for Block models and geological levels is done to optimise resource extraction.

Role Context

• Identify potential geological risks that could impact mining operations and recommend mitigation strategies to ensure hazard management plans are observed.
• Monitor the input of data, ensuring accurate geological data capturing into the database.
• Manage the Grade Control Database to enable accurate grade control quality and quantity reconciliation per mining block.
• Construct and maintain up-to-date Grade Control Models to enable the comparison of actual mining outcomes to geological models.
• Provide updated geological and structural maps of all pit excavations to support efficient mining operations.
• Incorporate pit mapping, pit face sampling geology and pit geotechnical mapping into grade control models to provide a well-rounded view of the pit environment.
• Provide updated grade control wireframe and grade control model using all structural and mapping data, enabling an accurate determination of the grade, quality and distribution of mineral resources.
• Flag risk and/or opportunity areas after any grade control model update, adjusting models to improve accuracy.
• Assurance/Quality Control to ensure models are an accurate representation of actual pit activities.
• Work closely with short term and production engineers and metallurgist to optimise operating development and maximise ore extraction to optimum grades.
• Conduct periodic model reviews, audits and field investigations, QA/QC (Quality
• Lead the team according to Tharisa Minerals’ leadership principles and values throughout the entire employee life cycle (performance management, reward etc) to ensure, inter alia, a high-performance culture.
• Implement and monitor quality assurance programs to ensure accurate records are maintained for face sampling, RC logging, assay results and all geotechnical activities.
• Responsible for mill-head grade, production, pit, and historical reconciliation to identify, analyse and report on variance between planned and actual results that highlights opportunities.
• Conduct dilution and ore loss reconciliation per block on a monthly basis and recommend improvement strategies.
• Reconcile volumes between grade control estimates, survey measure and actual count, to enable the implementation of modifications to sampling practice or to the methods or parameters used to calculate grade, tonnage or contained metal.
• Keep statutory and internal reporting as required, ensuring all required periodic month end grades reporting is completed and distributed on time.
• Provide input into required changes in resources (financial or non-financial) to enable the achievement of team and/or own objectives.
• Request and allocate required assets and/or resources for the fulfilment of work objectives to guarantee quality outputs.
• Provide staff with day-to-day direction and tasks aligned with Departmental procedures, to enable the usage of less resources more efficiently.
• Communicate with all relevant Departments (internal and external) on issues of the area of speciality. Liaise across the relevant Departments by engaging with the appropriate stakeholders to ensure all stakeholders remain abreast of Departmental objectives, any potential derailers are appropriately managed and duplication of work is avoided.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Grade 12 (NQF4)
• Bachelor of Science Honours Degree (NQF8) or equivalent in Geology
• Member of professional body (SACNASP)

Job specific experience:

• A minimum of between five to seven (5-7) years of experience, of which at least three (3) years as an evaluation/modelling geologist
• Experienced in managing geology grade control models and reconciliation
• Proficiency with SABLE, Data mine Studio EM/RM, Strat3D and MS Office
• Experience with other geoscience software is advantageous 
• Proficiency in Geostatistics is advantageous 
• Working knowledge of QA/QC protocols and procedures
• Driving License