Pearl Mathenda Phiri
Rustenburg
Summary
Experienced geological professional with extensive knowledge in mining and mineral exploration. Demonstrated expertise in technical and personnel management, with a strong track record in chrome and platinum exploration, mining operations, and production. Motivated and energetic individual known for exceptional organizational and prioritization skills, thriving under pressure.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Mine Geologist
Pilanesberg Platinum Mine
11.2022 - 02.2024
- Company Overview: Sedibelo Resources - Pilanesberg, ZA
- The development, implementation and maintenance RC drilling procedures to ensure quality assurance and quality control for the open pit grade
- RC borehole planning, creating Block models (basic), Resource models (basic), and Resource estimations (basic) in Datamine
- Reporting monthly expected grades and tonnages valuations and estimations from ore mining blocks
- Reporting monthly borehole data to the Resource Geologist to update the Mineral Resource model
- Data management activities include data acquisition in Logchief software, the Lims system, QA/QC assessments, and liaising with the laboratory for efficient assays
- Training and mentoring the RC sampling team on the RC grade control procedure to ensure compliance
- Supervising RC drilling contractors
- Logging RC rock chips and mapping geological structures
- Assisting the mining team in ore/waste block mark-ups
- Assist the mining contractors in implementing mining methodology that minimizes dilution and maximizes the recovery of ore
- ROM, stockpiles, and ore blending management
- Contribute to short- and medium-term mining schedules and co-ordination of material movement and crusher feed with the Mining Alliance partners
- Assist in stockpile management, mine to mill and resource reconciliations
- Developing evaluation procedures and systems of on-reef raises, winzes, panels, and apparent strike gullies (ASG) for underground workings (new shaft)
- Developing procedures for exploratory underground diamond core drilling to investigate major geological structures such as faults, dykes, and fissures and detect possible water and flammable gas sources ahead of mining faces (New Shaft)
- Performing basic Datamine geological modelling and creating reef contours (UG2)
- Assisting the Technical Service Manager to compile the scope of work for drilling projects
- Ordering the department’s supplies, equipment and stationery
Geologist
Northam Platinum Ltd
07.2019 - 10.2022
- Company Overview: Eland Mine operation – Brits, ZA
- Planning underground channel sampling, supervising sampling team, Geo-observers and training Geology graduates
- Reporting monthly mineral resource (mined ore) evaluations, estimations and geological losses to the Chief Geologist (Competent person) to assist with ore grade/tonnage reconciliation and Mineral Resource model updates
- Underground inspections and validation of geological data
- Developing and updating panel and stope notes
- Daily maintenance of grade control data management and reporting
- Assist in regular geological reports in material movement reconciliations
- Detailed underground mapping of geological structures and lithological units of the targeted ore body
- Updating and signing-off underground geological plans to provide geological information for safe and productive mining practice
- Planning and coordinating underground diamond drilling activities for prospecting gas intersections, geological structures, and orebody delineation
- Diamond core logging and drilled borehole geological interpretations
- Provide support to the mining team to optimise the extraction of the Ore Reserves to meet production targets
- Actively participate with the mining team to develop daily and production weekly, monthly production plans and ensure that these plans are implemented and completed
- Compiling well-written technical geological and ore evaluation reports for use by mining personnel, rock engineering, and management
- Data management activities including QA/QC assessments and liaising with the laboratory for assays
- Handling and assisting with all onsite SABLE database administration needs for the Geology and Rock Engineering Departments with database
- Performing basic Geostatistics and Variography to quantify the spatial variability of Mineral Resources and estimate their grades and tonnages
Geologist
Collisen Engineering
03.2019 - 06.2019
- Company Overview: Eland Mine operation – Brits, ZA
- Plan and implement drilling programs to identify mineral distribution within the mine operation
- Supervising infill diamond core drilling and field prospect (trenching) outcrop
- Field Geological mapping
- Geological plan updating and interpretation of geological data
- Interpretation, validation and analysis of QAQC data relating to drilling, sampling and assaying
- Develop, maintain and validate geological databases
- Review and developing core sampling procedure
- Diamond core logging, core splitting, density measurements, core sampling for PGE analysis
- Core yard management
- Compiling weekly borehole meterage reports and GPS collar surveying completed boreholes and ore body intersections in dug trenches
- Providing Exploration data (borehole, Assay & geological mapping data) to the Chief Geologist (Competent person) to assist with mineral resource model updates, Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve reporting with reference to the SAMREC code
Geologist
Platmin limited
10.2011 - 05.2017
- Company Overview: Sedibelo Platinum Mines – Pilanesberg, ZA
- Pit grade control, including supervising grade control, sampling and RC drilling teams
- Scheduling and coordinating grade control drilling activities ensuring that all activities maintain a high level of safety and sample QAQC
- Collection and interpretation of geological data to ensure compliance with statutory requirements
- Liaison with pit mining contractors to ensure adherence to grade control procedures for minimal ore dilution and achieving ore tonnage targets
- Routine pit geological structural mapping, lithological mapping, and geological interpretations
- Updating geological plans
- RC rock chips sampling, RC chip logging, borehole cross-sections and borehole data capturing
- Collar surveying planned and completed RC boreholes with Trimble GPS
- Liaison with the laboratory team to ensure a smooth flow of sample submissions and assay results reporting
- Issuing RC drilling meter reports, RC sampling, and monthly production reports
- Conducting daily safety meetings (toolbox talks) to ensure that teams understand and complies with the mine’s SHE (Safety, Health, and Environment) standards
Junior Geologist
Assore Ltd
05.2008 - 09.2011
- Company Overview: RMDC - Pilanesberg, ZA
- Responsible for monitoring two decline shafts and three open-pit mine sites, inclusive of diamond exploration drilling project management
- Responsible for underground, open-pit geological mapping and monthly ore tonnage evaluation
- Updating underground plans, performing geological interpretations, compiling technical reports
- Underground and open pit monthly planning with the Mine Manager and Mining team
- Updating geological plans and geological interpretation
- Overseeing and anticipating geological disturbances to optimize mining and save unnecessary underground developments
- Supervising infill diamond core drilling and field prospect (trenching) outcrop
- Responsible for logging, sampling, data capture and creating cross-sections
- Adhering to all safety procedures, identifying hazards and reporting incidents, working in a safe manner at all times
Student Geologist
Lonmin Platinum Ltd
12.2006 - 01.2007
- This vocational role was offered after the completion of my university examinations
- Filing diamond drill borehole reports and logs
Assistant Geologist
University of Johannesburg
04.2005 - 12.2006
- Company Overview: Geology Department, SpecRAU -Johannesburg, ZA
- Part-time role based at the university’s geological department
- The role involved rock sample preparation for XRF and XRD analysis to determine mineralogical and elemental
- Preparation of rock glass sections for optical mineralogical studies in geology, georeferencing, and filing of geological journals
Student Geologist
Council for Geosciences
12.2005 - 01.2006
- A vocational role that involved rock sample geophysical property analysis and geochemical data capturing
Education
Short course - Programme in Financial Management
University of South Africa
Pretoria, ZA01.2012
BSc. Honours - Geology
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, ZA12.2008
Bachelor of Science - Geology & Geography (Environmental Management)
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, ZA12.2006
Matric - undefined
St. Brendan’s Catholic Secondary School
Capricorn North District, ZA11.2003
Skills
- Technical report writing
- Team management
- Geological mapping
- Laboratory assay analysis
- Drilling and sampling techniques
- Geological field surveys
- Geological interpretation
- Risk assessment
- Project management
- Exploration planning
- Surface mining
- Drilling operations
- Environmental monitoring
Languages
English
Affiliation
South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, 126247
Training
- Introductory Training for Micro station V8i
- Mining Geology & Grade Control short-course
- SABLE Database Training
- Mapping Fundamentals Geology course
- Legal Liability course
- Analysis and Interpretation of QA&QC Data Workshop
- Datamine StudioRM, Datamine Strat3D, Datamine Resource Estimation Training
Timeline
Mine Geologist
Pilanesberg Platinum Mine
11.2022 - 02.2024
Geologist
Northam Platinum Ltd
07.2019 - 10.2022
Geologist
Collisen Engineering
03.2019 - 06.2019
Geologist
Platmin limited
10.2011 - 05.2017
Junior Geologist
Assore Ltd
05.2008 - 09.2011
Student Geologist
Lonmin Platinum Ltd
12.2006 - 01.2007
Student Geologist
Council for Geosciences
12.2005 - 01.2006
Assistant Geologist
University of Johannesburg
04.2005 - 12.2006
BSc. Honours - Geology
University of Johannesburg
Bachelor of Science - Geology & Geography (Environmental Management)
University of Johannesburg
Matric - undefined
St. Brendan’s Catholic Secondary School
Short course - Programme in Financial Management
University of South Africa
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