Process Mineralogist
Resume:
To whom it may concern,
I have been in the very fortunate position to gain a wide range of exposure, both managerial and technical, throughout my twenty one years of working experience in three different companies.
I have worked as a process mineralogist, petrologist, mine geologist, and exploration geologist. I have therefore been involved in all aspects of the value chain from early phase exploration through feasibility studies to mining as well as ore processing. My technical exposure spans over a number of commodities. I have experience in a wide range of mineralogical techniques that include LA-ICP-MS, Electron Microprobe technology (EM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM, MLA and QEMSCAN), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Microscopy (XRM) as well as Optical Microscopy. I have also gained a good fundamental understanding of various metallurgical testing techniques through my involvement in managing such testing facilities.
Being responsible for compiling and controlling project budgets over a number of years gave me a thorough understanding on the financial aspects around running a mineralogical and/or metallurgical testing program.
I also have a very sound understanding of quality management, being involved with various aspects of ISO standards through most of my working life and successfully completed ISO9000 lead auditor training.
Having worked both as a mine geologist and an exploration geologist has provided me with valuable insights into other aspects of the mining industry outside the testing environment as well. I have been working with various teams during my career that comprised a wide range of skill sets and qualifications. I focus on delivering quality results at agreed cost and turnaround time and believe that a sound working relationship with customers is a key factor for success. Page 1 of 8
Curriculum Vitae – A. J. Smit.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
First names:
Abraham Johannes (Braam)
Surname:
Smit
Date and place of birth:
7 October 1968; Heilbron (RSA)
Identity number:
Marital status:
Married
Home language:
Afrikaans
Fully bilingual:
English
Afrikaans
Other languages:
German (read, write, speak limited)
Nationality:
South African
Driver's license:
Code 08
Criminal offences:
None
Health:
Excellent
CONTACT DETAILS
Telephone number:
+27-82-928**** (c)
e-mail:
**********@*****.***
Postal address:
P. O. Box 12124
Hatfield
0028
South Africa
Page 2 of 8
EDUCATION DETAILS
Higher education:
Institute attended:
University of Pretoria
Qualification Attained:
B.Sc. (Geology)
Year:
1992
Institute attended:
University of Pretoria
Qualification Attained:
B.Sc. (Honours) Geology
Year:
1993
Professional Qualifications:
Issued by:
Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria Certificate attained:
Programme for Management Excellence
Year:
2009
Professional memberships:
Registered Professional Scientist (SACNASP registration number 400059/05) Member of the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA) Member of the Mineralogical Society of South Africa (MINSA) Council member & National Secretary, South African Association for the Advancement of Science.
EMPLOYMENT DETAILS
Consultant
Period of employment:
July 2015 - present
Duties:
Interpretation and reporting of mineralogical data. Process mineralogy (mineral association and liberation studies). Mineralogical ore characterisation.
Material phase identification and association studies. Interpretation and reporting of geochemical data.
Oversee mineralogical and metallurgical testing programs. ISO9001, ISO17025 and laboratory management consultation. Page 3 of 8
Company:
Anglo American Operations Ltd.
Anglo Technical Solutions
Period of employment:
September 2012 – June 2015
Position:
Technical Specialist
Duties:
Interpretation and reporting of mineralogical data for ore characterisation and mineral process evaluation.
Oversee management of departmental facilities (mineralogical laboratory, metallurgical laboratory, flotation laboratory, bulk commodity laboratory, pilot plant). Actively promote a safe working environment.
Participate in the building of an effective team.
Ensure good stakeholder relations.
Facilitate monthly management reporting.
Facilitate well maintained equipment at optimal cost and utilisation of resources. Facilitate delivery on all projects with high quality of results and contained turnaround time. Promote the implementation of the latest technological developments where relevant. Negotiate annual maintenance and service agreements as well as software licence contracts. Compile annual budget.
Oversee departmental expenses and income.
Assist in maintenance of ISO9000, ISO14000 and OSHAS18000 systems. Period of employment:
January 2008 – August 2012
Position:
Senior Mineralogist
Duties:
Interpretation and reporting of mineralogical data for ore characterisation and mineral process evaluation.
Oversee management of a Mineralogical Laboratory (finance, staffing, scheduling, prioritisation, reporting and client liaison).
Ensure instrument availability through maintenance agreements (2x XRD systems, 5x QEMSCAN systems, 13x MLA systems, 3x FEG MLA systems, 1x XRM system). Coordinate process flow through multiple analyses stages (Sample preparation, XRD, QEMSCAN, and MLA).
Facilitate research requests to the laboratory.
Assist in maintenance of ISO9000, ISO14000 and OSHAS18000 systems. Reason for leaving: Retrenchment
Company:
De Beers Group Services Ltd.
Period of employment:
June 2006 – December 2007
Position:
Facility Manager
Page 4 of 8
Duties:
Managing an Indicator Mineral Sorting Laboratory (oversee finance, staffing, prioritisation, reporting, client liaison and site).
Facilitate research requests to the laboratory.
Implementation and maintenance of ISO17025, ISO14000 and OSHAS18000 systems. Form part of a quality auditing team for other laboratories within the De Beers group. Period of employment:
February 2005 – May 2006
Position:
Senior Petrologist
Duties:
Specialised Microprobe analyses and interpretation of major element geochemical data. Managing an Electron Microprobe Laboratory (oversee finance, staffing, prioritisation, reporting and client liaison).
Facilitate research requests to the laboratory.
Implementation and maintenance of ISO17025 quality management system. Form part of a quality auditing team for other laboratories within the De Beers group. Period of employment:
July 2001 – February 2005
Position:
Senior Petrologist
Duties:
Specialised LA-ICP-MS analyses and interpretation of trace element geochemical data Process, verify and transmit data generated by the laboratory. Responsible for integrity of data in the De Beers Geological database. Managing a LA-ICP-MS laboratory (oversee finance, staffing). Liasing with clients and handling all queries related to the laboratory. Prioritisation of samples.
Training of staff.
Development and implementation of an ISO17025 quality system for an Electron Microprobe Laboratory.
Period of employment:
August 2000 – June 2001
Position:
Petrologist
Duties:
Specialised Microprobe analyses and interpretation of major element geochemical data. Assisting management of an Electron Microprobe Laboratory. Verifying all geochemical results from the laboratory before transmission to clients. Responsible for integrity of data in the De Beers Geological database. Liasing with clients and handling of any queries with regards to results produced by the laboratory.
Monitoring the flow of high priority samples through various sections of the laboratory. Reason for wanting to leave: Career development opportunity Page 5 of 8
Company:
Anglo American Research Laboratories (AARL), secondment to De Beers Group Services Ltd. (1998)
Period of employment:
February 1997 – July 2000
Position:
Petrologist
Duties:
Managing an Asbestos Fibre Monitoring laboratory fully accredited to ISO GUIDE25/ SABS 0259 and EN45001.
Asbestos fibre sample analyses with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Liasing and reporting of results to various clients. Training of staff.
Coordinating international inter-laboratory exchange program. Period of employment:
June 1996 – January 1997
Position:
Petrologist
Duties:
Kimberlite Petrologist.
Petrographic and Geochemical interpretation of field samples. Evaluation and recommendation on diamond bearing potential of kimberlite field samples. Petrographic modelling of kimberlite deposits.
Monitoring the quality performance of South African sorting laboratories within the De Beers group.
Courses attended:
De Beers Achievers Course (Maccauvlei)
Time management (Maccauvlei)
Performance management (Maccauvlei)
Creativity and Innovation (Maccauvlei)
Digital Imaging (Rhodes University)
Energy Dispersive X-Ray Microanalyses (Deutsche Physikalische Gesellshaft) ISO Accreditation (Quality Advisory Group of South Africa) De Beers Leadership Development Programme. ((VHL Group) Targeted Selection. (FSA-Contact)
Management of change. (CTU)
Reason for wanting to leave: Secondment to De Beers Group Services Ltd. Company:
Kloof Gold Mining Company Ltd.
(Goldfields of South Africa)
Period of employment:
February 1995 – May 1996
Position:
Geologist
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Duties:
Recommendations on mining procedures to negotiate structural and depositionary complications of the Ventersdorp Contact Reef and the Kloof Reefs (Witwatersrand Supergroup).
Planning, layout, logging and sampling of prospect boreholes. Monitoring trends of reef variation in the Ventersdorp Contact Reef. Monitoring general mining conditions as part of an ongoing project to compare conventional mining with mechanised mining techniques.
Underground mapping.
Structural interpretations.
Reason for wanting to leave: Career development opportunity Company:
Goldfields Training Services Trust.
Period of employment:
February 1994 - January 1995
Position:
Assistant Geologist
Duties:
Bushveld complex exploration (platinum and base metals). On the site management of exploration drilling program. Field mapping and core logging.
Interpretation of geophysical data.
Gold mining geology.
Underground mapping.
Recommendations on mining procedures to negotiate structural and depositionary complications of the Ventersdorp Contact Reef (Witwatersrand Supergroup). Reason for wanting to leave: Company deployment
Company:
Geological Survey of South-Africa.
Period of employment:
February 1992 - December 1993
Position:
Contract worker
Duties:
Capturing of data at the Engineering Geology division: Dolomite section. Reason for wanting to leave: Permanent employment (bursary commitment) Page 7 of 8
REFERENCES.
1. Dr. R.P. Schouwstra
Tel. +277******** (w)
Minerals Consultant
2. Dr. R. Dobbe
Tel. +314******** (w)
Product Marketing Manager: Metals & Minerals SEM/SDB Segment, Materials Science Business, FEI
3. Mr. U. Burger
Tel. +272******** (w)
Section Geologist: De Beers Marine
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