What are your major responsibilities as Director, Exploration, at Falco?
I look after all of Falco’s mining titles — more than 2,000 — located within a radius of 25 kilometers around Rouyn-Noranda. We carry out work with the aim of finding the next deposit of gold or base metals, which are silver, copper and zinc. I joined the company in 2015, when we began further studies for our main $1 billion project, Horne 5, under the former Horne mine.
What led you to make this career choice and what is your education?
It was certain that I was going to go into science. I was thinking of going to physics first. But ultimately, it was my passion for volcanoes that led me to do a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi; I am originally from Chicoutimi-Nord. After my bachelor’s degree, I went to do my master’s degree at Western University in Ontario. My field of study was in Namibia, Africa, which is an ancient volcanic belt. Then I decided to do a PhD because I like teaching and sharing knowledge. But I didn’t finish it because I started working in exploration. Volcanoes were also found on the territory of Rouyn 2.7 billion years ago.
What motivates you on a daily basis?
You have to be passionate to do my job. Several geological engineers will spend their entire career without finding a deposit!
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CLAUDE PILOT
Claude Pilote
“But what I like is to put all my scientific knowledge together to find clues that will help find the best areas to drill. For example, we look at the weathering of rocks, their physical properties and their geochemistry to find places where there is a good chance of finding a deposit. »
This preparatory work is important, because each drill point is expensive. I also like taking the time to explain to people how exploration works. Because we need a large territory to find clues that will allow us to find the next deposit, but it’s really not because we have a mining title under your house that we will drill there and even less mine ! I am also involved with the Quebec Mining Exploration Association in public communications and to create Ecologo certification. There have been mistakes in mining in the past, but there has been a lot of progress in recent years. Many companies adopt a sustainable development approach that goes beyond the standards to be met. This certification is part of this perspective, particularly in terms of the environment, First Nations consultation and local purchasing.
How do you live with the fact that you work in a predominantly male field?
In exploration, there is still better female representation than in the mines. But I am still involved in promoting the place of women in the mining industry, particularly with Women in Mining Abitibi. I like to introduce my field to young people. It’s important to have female role models in the industry.