Ross Sherlock, who spent most of his career as an exploration geologist in the mining industry, says that professionally and financially, it’s a very rewarding career that allows for extensive travel and unforgettable experiences. “The industry is high-tech, clean, and respectful of the environment,” Sherlock said. “Employees get to visit remarkable places, do remarkable things, and are paid well for their work.”
At Laurentian University, Sherlock is a faculty member at the Harquail School of Earth Sciences, the Chair of Mineral Exploration Targeting, and the Director of both the Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) and the Metal Earth project, which is Canada’s largest university-led geoscience research project. It’s a busy job, which takes him to various global sites and cities, meeting industry geologists, students, and academics to discuss new exploration projects or advance ongoing research. He is also a registered P.Geo., which is a requirement to work as a professional geoscientist.
Global opportunities in Earth Sciences
Undergraduate Earth Sciences students at Laurentian’s Harquail School of Earth Sciences choose the profession and the program for many reasons. Second-year student Alexandra (Ali) Garland considered studying astrophysics to learn about the entire universe. However, once she visited Laurentian’s Open House, met Earth Sciences students and faculty, and toured the campus, she knew she found the right place to spend her next four years. “I am fascinated by the vastness of the universe, and Earth Sciences lets me explore everything,” she said.
After touring another university, she said she “liked the vibe” at Laurentian because it’s a smaller school where she can focus on her studies and feel part of a vibrant community. The local geology is another advantage. "There's no better place than Laurentian if you're interested in rocks! I pass by so many just walking from Residence to my classes. Other universities bring their geology classes here on field trips to see what we can look at any day of the week," Garland says.
Garland is excited about her future, with opportunities to discover the world. “I’ve already been on so many field trips, and now I’m going to Nevada and then Canada’s largest mining convention, in Toronto,” she says, describing the annual Laurentian University Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) Student Chapter trip and the annual Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention.
Garland is one of approximately 50 Laurentian Earth Sciences and Geology students participating in the Convention, which attracts 30,000 people from 130 countries. They will present research, attend events, and network with employers. They will also witness the incredible scientific, economic, and social impacts of mineral exploration and mining worldwide, which is not always evident until you see it yourself.
A PDAC and international geology field trip veteran, third-year undergraduate student Devon Patterson started the Earth Sciences program after completing a diploma in chemical engineering. He has had a lot of fun and gained work experience, spending the past two summers driving ATVs and boats while collecting samples and geoscience data for the Ontario Geological Survey. Patterson says, “I’ve learned a lot; it’s been a great opportunity, and I look forward to a bright future working in regional geoscience and mapping. Field geology is a truly interdisciplinary science and is one of the few occupations that gets you out on the land. Being a nation well endowed with mineral wealth, Canada offers many employment opportunities in geology with the ongoing push to transition to a more sustainable future.”
Patterson describes the advantages of studying at Laurentian, saying “I have had the opportunity to work in one of the most interesting greenstone belts in the world and have visited several major mining camps around Northern Ontario, guided by brilliant mentors and excellent professors. Last year, I went to Chile with the SEG Student Chapter and did a full geology tour through one of the most significant copper mining regions on the planet. This year, I’m going to Nevada.”
Industry-funded projects & geoscience knowledge attract investment
After completing an undergraduate degree, many students advance their studies at the graduate level. Full-time Geology graduate students, MSc or PhD, who complete a thesis at the Harquail School of Earth Sciences through a fully-funded project have program costs covered through research grants and/or industry or employer contributions. Students may also choose a MSc in Applied Mineral Exploration, which doesn’t require a thesis.
Geology Master’s (MSc) student Nathan Carter enrolled at Laurentian to pursue his graduate degree because of the School’s professors and excellent reputation. Carter is finishing a fully-funded MSc thesis project with Canada Nickel and is working as a field geologist for the Ontario Geological Survey in Sudbury.
“My career goal is to continue doing more active field research. I enjoy looking at how different processes can expand and extend the life of nickel mines, specifically how increased alteration of the rocks positively influences nickel recoverability in low-grade, high-tonnage nickel deposits. I’m very interested in the economic side of exploration and in communicating important geological information to the public,” Carter says. He is particularly interested in finding new critical mineral deposits in remote areas of northern Ontario, which will be economic drivers that support the Canadian economy and local communities.
Projects like Carter’s MSc with Canada Nickel, the work he is doing at the Ontario Geological Survey, and the Metal Earth project are crucial for the future of the Canadian economy. Ross Sherlock explains, “The better we understand the processes that govern metal endowment, the better we are at targeting ore bodies appropriate for mineral exploration and mining.”
In other words, when we understand why valuable natural resources like gold, nickel, copper, lithium, silver, or others are located where they are, we will be more efficient in finding them, and estimating the amount available. We can also better attract investment and be more responsible in managing resources for a sustainable future.
For the next generations of geoscientists, answering these questions (and others) will require new tools, methodologies, creativity and innovation. There’s no better place to start than at Laurentian University.
Discover the educational opportunities and career possibilities at Laurentian University’s Harquail School of Earth Sciences.