Geologist Gears Up For Busy Season Ahead

While most people think of spring as a time to drag out the lawn-mower or hose down the patio furniture, geologist Venessa Bennett is thinking bear spray, mosquito nets and hiking boots because unlike most people, she’s not afraid of breaking a nail, skin-ning a shin, or going days without a hot shower.

In fact, “roughing it” is the part of her job as a Metallongenist/Mineral Assessment Geologist with the Yukon Geological Survey that she enjoys most. Sitting behind a desk is not her cup of tea, so to speak.

It’s “so not me” she says. The ‘off sea-son’ in Whitehorse is a very anxious time for her because like many of her col-leagues with the Geological Survey, she wants to get back into the field where she’ll spend the next four or five months at various sites throughout the Yukon Territory checking out claims and analyz-ing deposits and other discoveries.

Equipped with the barest of supplies, but armed with enthusiasm and a host of academic credentials (she holds a Ph. D. in Geology from Memorial University in Newfoundland), Venessa will soon leave the comforts of her recently purchased house in Whitehorse and head for the hills, liter-ally, to do what she does best; look for new deposits of minerals right in her backyard… The Yukon Territory.

The upcoming and in some instances, the currently underway 2010 field season in the Yukon looks to be one the most active seasons seen in the territory for many years. Initial back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that mineral explora-tion expenditures this year may represent the highest recorded in the Yukon, directly reflecting high precious metal prices on the global markets.

Aggressive mineral exploration is crucial in frontier terrains such as the Yukon in order to find new discoveries, and new dis-coveries are critical for sustaining the lon-gevity of the Canadian Mining Industry. And it’s people like Venessa Bennett who are helping ensure it happens.

“The Yukon is in a unique situation in the relationships and rapport that exists between the mineral exploration and placer mining communities and the Yukon Geological Survey. As an organiza-tion, we are motivated to support our exploration clients in whatever ways we can, either by generation of new regional geophysical surveys, generation of up-to-date and more accurate 1:50 000 geologi-cal and surficial maps, or by providing hands-on support, knowledge and/or technical expertise”, says Bennett.

“One of my key roles within the YGS is to provide a better understanding of the local and regional controls on mineraliza-tion throughout the Yukon and to com-municate that understanding to the exploration community to assist both property scale exploration and stimulat-ing new areas of interest other than cur-rent hotspots.”

In order to carry out her job, Bennett works closely with the exploration commu-nity, government mapping groups (bedrock maps are one of the important datasets through which exploration programs are built) and also researchers and their stu-dents who provide access to high-level and more detailed data on the nature and con-trols of any mineralizing system of interest.

Bennett points out that such a variety of activities does not just simply happen; a significant amount of time and resources are devoted every winter and spring to pre-pare for the upcoming summer season.

Northern Canadian explorations sea-sons are short, typically ranging between 2-4 months, five if one chooses to deal with the beginning of winter (snow storms, freezing water lines etc).

Meticulous and thorough preparation ensures the smooth operation and success of any field program.

To find out more about what is involved, Canadian Mining Journal asked Bennett the following:

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY IN THE FIELD INVOLVE?

“Field work of any kind in geology tends to be dictated by routine which is held to with almost regimental discipline. An early breakfast is followed by an early transit to the field site which can either be by vehicle or aircraft depending on the remoteness and infrastructure present. The type of work carried out varies significantly and can include geological mapping from regional scale involving hiking anywhere between 5-8 km a day and conducting routine stops at evenly spaced intervals along a traverse line to record geological information to detailed trench mapping where a grid is created across the trench and geological observations are recorded throughout the grid. Other types of field work include geochemical sampling of a variety of media (e. g. soils, stream sediments, trees, moss). Soil and biogeochemical sampling will typically occur in a grid-like pattern over an area of interest to better vector on anomalies that may be present. Sample locations are evenly spaced and occur in straight lines, regardless of most terrain. Stream sediments sampling utilizes the drainage systems and watersheds that occur within a property. Other types of field work can involve ground geophysical surveys, which are carried out within a similar grid array as geochemical sampling surveys.

At the end of the day, if aircraft are involved to transport people to the work area, the plane/helicopter (most commonly in the Yukon), arrives at a designated meeting spot. Depending on terrain and vegetation, a helipad generally needs to be cleared, the size of which relates to the helicopter being used. It can take a good deal of time and energy (what’s left of it) to prepare the helipad for pickup and its always better to err on the side of caution and clear as much as possible to avoid having to walk and clear another site. Once arriving back to camp, samples are attended to (i. e. unpacked, ensure labeling is correct and number of samples is correct). Samples are generally laid out in a logical fashion in preparation for shipping out to prep labs. After supper, most evenings are spent dealing with the data collected during the day (entering into databases, QC/QA datasets, database management), plotting the days data and planning for the next work day (where to go, what to sample, how far to travel, what route to take, co-ordinates and work plan) as well as letting other more junior team members know what the next days plan will be.”

LIVING CONDITIONS?

“Much like the diversity of fieldwork carried out, living conditions also can vary significantly. Temporary field camps can vary from large, contractor-built, multi-person and multi-million dollar exploration camps, that can house 30+ people. Accommodations generally include a four-to-a-tent wall tent which generally has a stove (oil or wood) to warm in the colder times of the season (early spring and fall). In addition to the sleeping quarters, office tents, kitchen/mess tents, washrooms and other operational tents are generally part of exploration camps, particularly if significant drill campaigns are taking places. On the opposite end of the spectrum, two-to-three-person fly camps are generally used to access remote areas in order to carry out reconnaissance style work, prospecting and regional bedrock mapping. These camps typically have individual two or three-person sleeping tents and a general eating/office tent. Gear is typically kept to a minimum in order to be able to move in one helicopter load to the next field location of interest. A scaled up version of the fly camp involving canvas tents and personal sleeping tents is a common approach adopted during larger four to 10+ people government bedrock mapping campaigns. A Weatherhaven or equivalent tent is generally used as a kitchen and office tent. Camp location is chosen so as to access clean and drinkable water as well as to be reasonably sheltered from the weather and to be central to the field area. With the exception of the fly camp, power to field camps is generally through the use of generators of various powers.”

PHYSICAL TRAINING?

“A significant amount of pre-season training occurs before a field season both organizational and ideally, personal. First aid, bear safety
, vehicle and aircraft safety as well as firearm safety are key components of pre-season training. Required physical training is limited other than passing a medical, however, the rigors of sustained fieldwork typically encourage people to prepare in some personal way (exercise program) prior to launching into the field. However, in reality, a week or two of sore arms and legs can generally not be avoided at the beginning of the season. Personally, I tend to prepare by going on longer day hikes several times a week a few months prior to the beginning of the season.”

SCARIEST/MOST FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD?

“In 2007, I was in a geological mapping program in Nunavut on the Boothia Peninsular which is bounded on the east by the Arctic Ocean, a region with a significant polar bear population. While traversing the coastline, we noticed a white fuzzy object in the distance. We stopped immediately and checked the wind direction. What made the situation a little more troublesome was that the firearms had not arrived to camp yet, so we had limited protection other than standard bear mace and bear bangers. The biggest concern was we just could not see exactly what the white fuzzy thing was in the distance because it was at the very limit of our depth perception. We attempted to use the satellite phone to call into camp, with no success. All the while keeping a keen eye fixed on the white fuzzy thing. After approximately five minutes, I had an idea to pull out my digital camera and take a high resolution photograph and zoom in on the white fuzzy thing. After taking several photos we carefully scrutinized a coarsely pixilated image on the small camera display and breathed a sigh of relief. The photo revealed it was the rear fuzzy white end of a large caribou that was swaying slowly from side to side while eating lichen. We got up and continued on with the day only to find out that night that the guys who were doing the helicopter work in the islands immediately off the coast from us (we could see them all day) had spotted three polar bears swimming in the icy waters off of the islands. I was glad to get the shotgun when it finally arrived to camp!”

MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE(S) IN GENERAL AND ONE IN PARTICULAR?

“Despite the nature of the work, geology is one of the most rewarding careers and is why most geologists are very passionate about talking rocks and talking about work. It challenges you to think on many different levels (often four dimensions) and provides you with a very diverse skill base, ranging anywhere from operating multi-million dollar, high-tech analytical equipment to using a backhoe to dig a trench to bush/wilderness survival. The diversity of the job and the different skill sets required at different times of the year keeps the job challenging and dynamic, albeit somewhat hectic and busy at times. A lot of the winter period is dedicated to trying to analyze and understand the data collected during the summer in order to solve the problem for each particular project of interest. The problem-solving nature of geology is a very rewarding part of the job as it keeps your mind constantly thinking and absorbing new information. Working and living in beautiful and remote places across the world is also one of the more rewarding components of the job. Geology is an observation-based science, no shortage of things to see and no two rocks are the same. One of the best parts of working in geology is the diversity of the people you meet particularly in the field where so many people with different cultural back- grounds, professions and skill sets are thrown into remote bush camps. There are always interesting stories that result.

As for my most rewarding experience: I have been fortunate enough to spend time living and working as a geologist in both Greenland and Antarctica. In both experi- ences, I was fly camping with one or two other people with very minimal gear. Both of these experiences changed my perspective on both my work and life. They are very hum- bling places, particularly when you are work- ing by yourself removed from any support other than what you can provide yourself.”

AND FINALLY, WHAT OR WHO FIRST GOT YOU INTERESTED IN GEOLOGY?

“I think I was initially just attracted to the idea of being in remote places. When I finished high school I enrolled to be involved with an organization called ANZES (Australian and New Zealand Scientific Exploring Society) for a sum- mer program in the rainforests of Queensland in Australia. Essentially ANZSES run scientific programs in all different parts of Australia. They get a team leader in for different scientific disci- plines, biology, geology, entymology, flora and fauna experts and divide the partici- pants up according to their interests. Fortuitously enough I chose geology as my first choice, although I really had no idea at that stage what it was about. The team then spent five weeks in tropical rainforest, dealing with leaches, snakes bird-eating spiders etc and carrying out geological mapping. I really enjoyed the experience although I wasn’t completely hooked on the rocks. The following year I enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program at Macquarie University in Sydney, think- ing I would do environmental science. However, in that first year I did two earth sciences courses, one of which took place in central New South Wales and was a field mapping course. Despite 35 C+ tem- peratures and fire that burnt down the kitchen hall and all our materials, I really loved the course so I continued on and did more Earth Sciences courses. Four years later I graduate with Honours and the University medal and took off to Antarctica for six months. It was the Antarctic experience that truly got me hook-line-and-sinker for geology. I never looked back. After coming back from Antarctica, I came to Canada. My supervi- sor from Macquarie University encour- aged me to leave Australia and suggested I study in Newfoundland. He had spent several sabbaticals there and loved the geology of “the rock.” I also was fortunate enough to receive a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship otherwise I never would have been able to afford to come and study here. I was accepted directly into a PhD program and Memorial University of Newfoundland. The project was entirely field-based and the field area was about 150 km NNW of Yellowknife in the NWT. It was a very challenging and fascinating area and time of my career.”