Mineralogist

Petrolab Limited; Redruth; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension

Parking

Casual dress

Job summary

Petrolab Limited in Redruth, Cornwall seeks a Mineralogist for maternity cover with strong potential for permanent placement. You will manage multiple projects, perform routine and advanced mineralogical tests, and use SEM/automated mineralography alongside optical petrography, applying expertise across concrete, aggregate, rock core, and mineral processing samples.

The role requires lab-based work with limited remote options and a commitment to UK/EU/ASTM standards, collaborating with a

Qualifications

• Experience in geological analysis of construction materials.
• Advanced petrographic analysis using petrographic microscope (reflected light preferred).
• Degree (or higher) in geology or engineering with relevant industry experience.

Responsibilities

• Deliver projects from receipt to final report with minimal supervision.
• Perform high-level optical petrography and operate SEM/mineralogy systems.
• Ensure work adheres to internal procedures and international standards (UK, EU, ASTM).
• Write clear technical reports with actionable client insights.

Skills

Petrographic analysis

SEM/Automated mineralogy

Communication

Geological interpretation

Education

Geology or engineering degree

Tools

Petrographic microscope

Job description

Mineralogist (Maternity Cover with Permanent Potential).

About Petrolab

Petrolab is a successful and growing geological consultancy providing support services to the mining, minerals processing, materials, and construction industries worldwide from its base in Redruth, Cornwall, UK. We provide dependable and accessible interpretative reporting to our clients, helping them evaluate the potential of their mineral resources and solve materials-related problems.

The Role

We are looking to recruit a seasoned Mineralogist to undertake petrological and mineralogical consultancy projects. This role is initially a fixed-term contract to provide critical project continuity during a maternity leave, but carries a strong possibility of transitioning into a permanent role due to our ongoing business growth.

You will immediately begin delivering multiple projects to defined timescales. You will undertake routine and complex mineralogical tests and operate advanced scientific instrumentation (including scanning electron microscopes/automated mineralogy and optical microscopes). You will apply your advanced macroscopic and microscopic identification and geological expertise across a broad range of materials—including concrete, aggregate, rock core, and mineral processing samples, in accordance with UK, European, and American technical standards.

You will join a highly motivated, collaborative team of mineralogists, where your experienced insights will help drive our core business areas, including automated mineralogical classification, and geomaterials examination.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Delivery: Manage and deliver commercial petrographic and mineralogical projects from receipt to final reporting with minimal supervision.
• Advanced Analysis: Perform high-level optical petrography (transmitted and reflected light) and operate SEM/automated mineralogy systems.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure all analytical work strictly adheres to internal procedures and international technical standards (UK, EU, ASTM).
• Interpretative Reporting: Write clear, dependable, and definitive technical reports providing actionable insights for clients.

Key Skills & Qualifications

• Experience: Prior professional experience in the geological analysis of natural and man-made construction materials is essential.
• Technical Mastery: Advanced expertise in petrographic analysis using a petrographic microscope (reflected light analysis skills are highly desirable).
• Education: A degree (or higher) in a relevant geological or engineering discipline, backed by years of applied industry experience.
• Standards & Compliance: Proven ability to work precisely to strict industry standards (e.g., concrete and aggregate testing protocols, mundic standard procedures).
• Communication: Excellent oral and written communication skills for producing high-quality client reports.
• Location & Logistics: Based at our laboratory in Redruth, Cornwall. Due to the nature of analytical work, there is very limited opportunity for remote working.
• Physical/Legal: Ability to handle manual tasks (aggregate, concrete, stone, and ore samples) within a laboratory environment, and the right to permanently work in the UK.

Petrolab supports the professional development and personal growth of its staff with a comprehensive benefits package.

• Salary: Competitive, depending on experience.
• Hours: Standard 37.5-hour week.
• Holiday: 33 days holiday (including bank holidays).
• Security: Employer contributory pension.
• Health: Private health insurance.
• Parking: Free onsite parking.
• Dress code: Casual.