Have you ever thought of becoming a geologist? If so, this article is for you. It will introduce you to this sometimes not really known profession and might even motivate you to work in this fascinating field. In this article, you will learn about many aspects of what being a geologist means, like where they work, a typical day, etc.
It is a profession for those who are curious, like science, and enjoy being outdoors and learning every day. You are almost a detective, looking for clues and searching for answers about the underground's composition and formation. These clues can be found in rocks and soil, in mineral patterns and even in chemical signatures.
Geologists collect, analyze, and interpret data to understand the Earth and its creation better. They also do a lot of fieldwork, collecting samples and mapping outcrops of rocks to find geologically interesting locations.
There is no real typical day for a geologist; it really depends on who you are working for. Generally speaking tho, geologists will spend 5-15 hours a day outside during the more pleasant months of the year and do lab work for the rest of the year. Once the fieldwork is completed, most geologists will send the samples collected to a lab for analysis. Once the results are back, they will interpret the data, hoping to find interesting stuff.
Many geologists do prospective development for the potential value of land sites for the oil and gas industry and the mining industry. Most geologists will work for these types of companies, but you can also find them working in environmental or geophysics firms. Many are also employed by the government.
In Quebec, you need to achieve a baccalaureat in geology at the university and then apply to the Order of Geologists.
The salary of a geologist mostly depends on where he is working and what his rank is. A junior geologist will generally earn around $60 000 to $70,000 a year, but seniors can earn way over $100 000 a year.
A geologist will sometime specialize in a precise field by doing a master's degree and even a Ph.d.
Most dangers a geologist could encounter are related to the environment. Indeed, geologists spend lots of time outside doing fieldwork in sometimes really remote places. The dangers can come from animals, toxic plants, bad weather, and vehicles. That's why it's important to be well-prepared and to pack survival gear when you go into the field.
While geologists may not be replaced by robots soon, technology will certainly change the nature of the job. Methods of exploration, sampling, and analysis will change, and the focus of the job will increasingly be on the environment with fewer resources to be found.
There is no specific age to retire as a geologist. It mostly depends on how much money you can save and the retirement age in the country/state you live in.
Right now, I am in my last semester of Cégep in mineral technology. The next step is maybe going to the university and doing my baccalaureate in geology. I would like to be a geologist and do exploration work around the globe for mining companies.
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