Scroll to the bottom for a list of institutions that offer Geology
WHAT IS GEOLOGY AND WHO IS A GEOLOGIST?
A geologist is a person who studied geology in university. Geology is the study of the earth materials such as soils, rocks, water, petroleum and minerals and processes under which they were formed. When geologists understand these processes under which the materials were formed, they use that knowledge to locate new mineral deposits or new water resources or petroleum that are useful in the economy of countries. Minerals provide sources of metals for industrialisation while water is an input in domestic homes and all forms of industries and agriculture.
WHERE DO GEOLOGISTS WORK?
Geologists can work for the department of water affairs for the government where they explore for new sources of water, typically ground water. Also, non-governmental organisations like the world Vision or SNV can employ geologists to help them locate good sources of ground water that they can access using boreholes typically in rural areas for rural communities to use. A geologist who specialises in water exploration is called a hydrogeologist.
A geologist can also work as a mineral exploration geologist for a mineral exploration company or for the geological survey department of the government to look for new mineral deposits. Mineral exploration companies are typically foreign private companies who come into the country to make mining investments. Once new profitable mineral deposits have been discovered, a mine such as that of Copper on the Copperbelt province is opened. At the mine site, a geologist continues to direct the mining company in terms of the quality of the mineral at each stage of the mining process. At the mine site, a geologist also helps to locate ground water and pump it out so that mining activities are not disturbed by flooding of water.
WHAT TASKS ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORK?
For the geologist who works in water exploration (hydrogeologist), their day to day job involves going out in the field with special equipment called geophysical equipment that is used to take measurements of specific factors on the ground. From those measurements a hydrogeologist will sit on the computer to use a computer software that will help the geologist interpret those readings to be able to know if there is water below the ground and at what depth and what the volume of the water is. Then boreholes can be drilled to confirm the presence of that water and borehole pumps are installed for people to access that water.
For the geologist who works in mineral exploration, it involves going out in the field in remote areas to stay there for a few weeks typically. This is because areas where mineral exploration occurs are typically remote. In the field, a geologist will collect soil samples and rock samples that are taken to the laboratory for chemical analysis to determine if the soil or rocks have minerals in them. If the soils and rocks show signs of minerals in them, the geologist will drill into the ground using drilling machines and bring out rocks from depths as deep as 1000m below ground in a systematic pattern to define the size and quality of the mineral deposit. A mineral exploration geologist also uses geophysical machines like the ones a hydrogeologist uses to measure factors in the ground that could indicate the potential of minerals even before drilling into the ground is done.
WHAT IS THE WORK SCHEDULE OF A GEOLOGIST?
The work schedule or shifts of a geologist depends on the organisation one is working for. If one is working for a government department, they typically follow the normal 08hrs to 17hrs work schedule Monday to Friday. If one is working for a mining company, some mines work 08hrs to 17hrs while others have some geologists who have to work in the night shifts to monitor the quality of the mineral deposit being mined in the night. A mineral exploration geologist goes away from home for about 4weeks to 8weeks and returns home for a break of about 2weeks to 4weeks and repeats the process. This is so because they work in remote areas sometimes with no proper communication back home, depending on the company one is working for if they cant afford to buy satellite phones or satellite internet.
WHAT DOES THE JOB MARKET LOOK LIKE?
The job market for geologists lies in four areas and the chances of finding a job is explained in order of highest probability as follows. A geologist can find a job in a mining company, some mining companies continue to look for more minerals around the mine area. Therefore, the mine can have geologists working at the mine and working as mineral exploration geologists around the same mine. The chances are higher that one will find a job in the mine. Some companies are just mineral exploration companies before they can find a mineral deposit, therefore a geologist can find a job here as well. There isn’t a very good number of exploration companies, many of them explore for about 5 years, and if they don’t find anything to mine they close or move to another country and carry some of their geologists from Zambia. The government is another employer in its various departments such as the geological survey department or water affairs department or ZCCM-IH. Non-governmental organisations are another employer as discussed earlier.
The job market in the mining industry is sort of a see-saw, when the metal prices are doing well mining companies want to mine more and invest in exploring for more mineral deposits and when metal prices are low, they reduce labour and jobs are hard to find. It goes in those cycles. Typically, its not a very stable industry, but its worth the risk though.
WHAT SORT OF CAREER-PERSONALITY MATCH IS REQUIRED?
To enjoy being a geologist, you need to be a person who loves science based subjects. In your first year you will learn these and you need to pass them. After graduation, to enjoy work, you need to be a person who loves investigative science because geologists go out to collect data to interpret and make a judgement whether there is water or minerals below the ground. All that needs some good analytical skills and an interest in learning how to use computer software. Not to design software, but just to learn how to use them. You learn them on the job not really in school.
Scroll to the bottom for a list of institutions that offer Geology
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
As most science based programs, its competitive and entry depends on the levels of competition in the University. Typically, they look for 12points in six subjects and below which should include Mathematics, Science, and English with three other subjects.
WHAT SUBJECTS WILL THE PROGRAM COVER?
When one enrols into university to study geology, they will learn A level science in the first year i.e Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and in the following years they start to narrow down to more specific subjects of geology such as Petrology, Sedimentology, Economic geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Engineering geology, Hydrogeology and Mineralogy as examples of subjects to be covered among others
WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS OF STUDY CAN MAKE SOMEONE A GEOLOGIST?
To work as a geologist, there is no alternative qualification apart from earth sciences based qualification such as geochemistry or geophysics, but typically a Zambian geologist needs to have a degree in geology.
WHAT ARE THE FUTURE ADVANCED QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE AND WHY?
Once you study geology, you may decide to pursue a master’s degree in Exploration Geology, or Geophysics or Geochemistry or Business Administration or Mineral Resources Estimation or Hydrogeology. A master’s degree gives you a upper hand when it comes to finding new jobs in competitive environments especially abroad. It’s a sign that apart from general skills, you have taken keen interest to master one area of your job more than other people. With a master’s degree one would become a university lecturer as well
INSTITUTIONS THAT OFFER GEOLOGY
COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY
Duration: 5 years (Bachelor of Science in Mining and Exploration Geology)
Mode: Full time only
Admitting school: School of Mines and Mineral Sciences
Intakes: January
Location: Kitwe
Contacts:
Tel: +260 212 290873
Website: www.cbu.ac.zm/fees
UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA
Duration: 5 years (Bachelor of Mineral Sciences in Geology)
Mode: Full time
Admitting school: School of Mines
Intakes: January
Location: Lusaka
Contacts:
Tel: +26 021 129 1777
Website: www.unza.zm/academics/undergraduate/bachelor-of-mineral-sciences-geology