Senior Mine Geologist

Montana Resources; Butte (MT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Montana Resources seeks a Senior Mine Geologist to develop and maintain geological resource models for the Montana Resources operation. You will lead in-pit and near-pit drilling, interpret results, and provide technical leadership in resource estimation, orebody interpretation, and reserve conversion.

Collaboration with mine engineering, metallurgy, and operations ensures accurate resource reporting and optimal mine planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in geology or related field required.
• Master's degree preferred in geology or geostatistics.

Responsibilities

• Develop, update, and validate 3D geological and resource models.
• Interpret drilling data for lithology, structure, alteration and mineralization.
• Conduct resource estimation and classification using geostatistics and best practices.
• Prepare mineral resource updates and support reserve conversion activities.
• Maintain geological databases and QA/QC.
• Support annual and life-of-mine resource reporting.
• Provide geological input to mine planning and scheduling.
• Collaborate with mine engineers to optimize pit designs.

Skills

Leapfrog Geo

MineSight

Geostatistics

Block modeling

Variography

Resource classification

QA/QC

Excel

Resource estimation

Open pit mining

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Geology, Geological Engineering, Earth Sciences, or related discipline

Master's Degree in Geology or Geostatistics preferred

Tools

Leapfrog Geo

MineSight

Job description

The Senior Mine Geologist is responsible for the development, maintenance, and reconciliation of geological resource models supporting the Montana Resources operation. The position is also responsible for in-pit and near-pit development drilling and interpretation of results. This position provides technical leadership in resource estimation, orebody interpretation, grade control integration, resource classification, and reserve conversion activities. The Geologist collaborates with mine engineering, metallurgy, and operations teams to ensure accurate resource reporting and optimal mine planning along with mine development.

Required Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Geology, Geological Engineering, Earth Sciences, or related discipline.
• Master's Degree in Geology or Geostatistics preferred.

Required Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in mining geology, with significant experience in open pit copper operations.
• Demonstrated experience in mineral resource estimation and geological modeling.
• Experience with drilling methods and QA/QC of exploration data.
• Experience with resource reconciliation and mine planning integration.
• Proficiency in Leapfrog Geo and MineSight,
• Strong knowledge of geostatistics, block modeling, variography, and resource classification.
• Advanced Microsoft Office and technical reporting skills.
• Strong understanding of geological modeling and resource estimation methodologies.

Resource Modeling & Estimation

• Develop, update, and validate 3D geological and resource models.
• Interpret lithological, structural, alteration, and mineralization data from drilling programs.
• Conduct resource estimation and classification using geostatistical techniques and industry best practices.
• Prepare mineral resource updates and support reserve conversion activities.
• Maintain geological databases and ensure data quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC).
• Support annual and life-of-mine resource reporting.

Resource Reconciliation

• Perform reconciliation between resource models, grade control models, and production results.
• Identify and evaluate variances affecting mine and mill performance.
• Recommend improvements to estimation methodologies and geological interpretations.
• Monitor model performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

Technical Support

• Provide geological input to mine planning and scheduling processes.
• Collaborate with mine engineers to optimize pit designs and extraction strategies.
• Support drilling programs through targeting, logging standards, and geological interpretation.
• Provide geological interpretation of paragenesis, mineralization, alteration, zoning and structural controls of porphyry copper deposits.
• Assist with economic evaluations and technical studies.
• Participate in feasibility, optimization, and expansion projects.

Reporting and Compliance

• Prepare technical reports, resource statements, maps, and presentations.
• Ensure compliance with company resource reporting standards
• Maintain documentation supporting resource estimates and technical assumptions.