Geology and exploration
The geologists are our primary link between the bedrock and the outside world. They lay the foundation for safety in the mine, map the ore body's extension, and look for various signs of copper-rich flows in the rock. Simply put, the geologists pave the way for the rest of the operations and ensure that future mining will function. Do you want to join our geology team?
Meet our Geology Team Leader, Max
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The first thing I do in the morning is check the drill core that has been drilled in the last 24 hours. Then it's time for our brief morning meeting, where we discuss what needs to be done during the day. I also spend some time on our collected geological data, interpreting it, and planning our new drill holes together with the geology team.
Maximilian Kroeckert Geology Team Leader
The drill cores pave the way in the geologists’ work
The geologists are the first in a mining project to discover new copper deposits in the rock. Here, Max and Elvis from Viscaria’s geological team share their experiences of prospecting for ore—and the joy of finding a quality drill core.
─ Before we plan a drilling operation, we always examine the geological data available for the area. In the Viscaria project, we can benefit from the extensive drilling conducted by other companies in the past, says Viscaria’s group manager for the geology team, Max Kröckert
Certain qualities are particularly beneficial for a geologist. Naturally, you need the right education, but it’s also a plus if you’re methodical and enjoy solving technical challenges both out in the field and in the office. Exploration and prospecting are essential aspects of the geologists’ work. However, even though the work is groundbreaking in many ways, it’s rarely done haphazardly.
During drilling operations, so-called drill cores are extracted from the ore body. These cores are samples that indicate the degree of mineralisation in the ore. In the cores, geologists also search for signs and vectors indicating additional mineralisations nearby. Such signs could be veins of carbonate or layers of magnetite. This work is crucial as it lays the foundation for where the mining project and processing plant will be located.
─ The rock and its levels of mineralisation determine where the facilities should be established. The best feeling for us geologists in the Viscaria project is when we discover a fresh drill core with a beautiful copper mineralisation,” says Nsioh Elvis Nkioh, geologist at Viscaria.
Within the geology team, a wide range of nationalities is represented. One reason for this is that geologists who want to work on large mining projects must be prepared to travel to where the ore is located and move on to the next job when the mining project ends. As a result, Viscaria's geology team has a wealth of combined experience from different working environments, and they note that Norrbotten has its unique characteristics as a workplace.
The foundation for a safe mining environment
The work of geologists lays the foundation for other parts of the project and is crucial for building a safe mining environment. The team maps where the rock is strong and where there are faults, pockets, or fragile areas. This information is then used by mine planners, who determine the placement of tunnels and how they should be reinforced.
Up to today, geologists in the Viscaria project have logged copper mineralisations all the way from the surface down to a depth of 1 kilometer, and so far, they have not found an end to the mineralisation; it is what they call “open” in all directions.
Core drilling in Norrbotten
“Here, we must adapt our work to the changing seasons. Winter gives us access to areas that are otherwise too soft and wet to place a drilling rig, meaning we drill in different areas during summer and winter. During summer, the wetlands offer their own challenges in fieldwork, not least due to the abundance of mosquitoes! On the other hand, an advantage is Viscaria’s proximity to Kiruna and adjacent infrastructure. Those living in the Mining Area have a great acceptance and understanding of mining, which is very positive. These conditions are rarely found in other mining projects,” concludes Max.