A diamond & minerals exploration company is looking for a Diamond Exploration Specialist to be based in Johannesburg
Purpose of the Role
To deliver diamond information and data to enable company Exploration and the Mines to make informed techno-economic decisions. To conduct diamond studies in order to assess diamond deposits and to assist in the generation of new target areas. To assist with general laboratory maintenance. To collaborate with other specialists to deliver on key innovation and diamond research projects. Build technical capacity and collaborative networks with internal and external stakeholders.
Monitoring and Diagnosis): Application of expertise in mineralogy and diamonds, to analyse and characterise diamonds then integrate and interpret the data, as well as to improve technical processes and methodologies to increase the effectiveness of decision making in Exploration
Key Responsibilities
Technical data generation and decision-making support
- Generate and utilise diamond data for the Diamond Studies Laboratory as required by the Technical Manager: Diamond Studies Laboratory to assist Exploration in the assessment of diamond deposits and generation of target areas.
- Provide diamond insights to support Exploration decision making and provide recommendations.
- Integrate diamond data with other datasets in collaboration with other specialists/stakeholders (other diamond specialists, field geologists, mineral chemists, geophysicists, geological modelling specialists etc. as relevant) for active venture projects, Technical Reviews, submissions or mine REP projects to assist in the evaluation of the economic potential of diamond deposits.
Continuous improvement
- Assess and make recommendations regarding the generation, integration and interpretation of diamond and related information, particularly with regard to the incorporation of new tools into existing workflows or on-boarding of new methods/technologies.
- Develop and maintain on-going relationships with peers to continuously identify new innovative methodologies and ideas and to present recommendations for improvement via new or existing research projects.
- Identify and undertake value-adding research projects (internal and external) and present findings to stakeholders.
- Provide laboratory analysis and project documentation support to the Technical Manager: Diamond Studies Laboratory and Diamond Lead/Principal: Diamonds.
- Review data from new technologies and apply innovative techniques such as machine learning to gain new technical insight
- Demonstrate safety, health and environmental leadership aligned to the company policies and standards.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant legal, safety, health and environmental management standards and best practices.
- Collaborate with peers internally within the Group and externally to develop and identify best practice principles and foster an inclusive technical framework for diamond research, analysis, and data.
- Manage self to ensure continued growth and to create/use platforms whereby technical knowledge is exchanged within the wider company Exploration environment promoting synergies between stakeholders
- BSc Honours in Earth/Chemical Sciences.
- MSc/PhD (NQF 9/10) would be an added advantage
- Professional Registration (e.g., Pr Eng.; Pr. Sci. Nat)
- At least 25 years diamond experience of which at least 2 years have been in a specialist role (MSc study in diamond studies would be considered equivalent).
- 2 years of experience in a mineralogical laboratory environment.
- 1 to 2 years of diamond exploration experience
- Diamond knowledge
- Diamonds, kimberlites and mantle petrology
- Diamond characterisation techniques: e.g., FTIR, SEM, breakage analysis, diamond surface features, isotopic studies
- Diamond exploration techniques and stages of work
- Geological sampling techniques, kimberlite treatment processes and concentration methods
- KPCs and diamond legislation
- Applied geology and geostatistics
- Ability to create data-driven models
- Intermediate data management
- Project management principle
- Professional presentation skills
- Written & verbal communication (internationally recognised publications)
- Planning, coordinating, prioritising & executing
- Research methodology and Innovation
- Facilitating
- Negotiating
- Quality management
- Ability to strategize
- Manual dexterity
