Description
Investigate the composition, properties, occurrence, and formation of natural and industrial minerals. Use crystallography, geochemistry, and microscopy to identify minerals, interpret paragenesis, and support mineral exploration, resource evaluation, processing, and environmental management.
- • Analyze and interpret mineralogical data using petrographic microscopy, XRD, SEM-EDS, and electron microprobe.
- • Plan and conduct field sampling of mineralized rocks, alteration zones, soils, and mine workings for mineralogical study.
- • Classify and identify minerals and mineral assemblages; determine crystal structures, compositions, and textures.
- • Prepare thin sections, polished mounts, and powder specimens for optical and instrumental analysis.
- • Map mineral distributions and alteration halos; prepare mineral maps, paragenetic diagrams, and cross sections.
- • Investigate ore genesis, metamorphic facies, and diagenetic processes using mineral indicators and thermobarometry.
- • Quantify mineral abundances with Rietveld refinement, QEMSCAN or MLA, and image analysis software.
- • Interpret geochemical and spectral datasets to infer mineralogy from drill cores, chips, and remote sensing.
- • Advise exploration teams on vector minerals, pathfinders, and targeting of ore bodies.
- • Estimate mineral resources and ore quality by integrating mineralogy with assays and lithology.
- • Evaluate mineral liberation, grain size, and associations to optimize crushing, grinding, and beneficiation.
- • Design and test processing flowsheets for flotation, leaching, or magnetic separation based on mineralogy.
- • Assess acid mine drainage potential and metal mobility from sulfide and secondary minerals.
- • Characterize hazardous minerals, such as asbestos, silica, and uranium phases, and recommend exposure controls.
- • Support environmental remediation by identifying contaminant-bearing minerals and stable end products.
- • Test industrial minerals, abrasives, clays, and cement raw materials for suitability and performance.
- • Develop and maintain mineral reference collections and spectral or chemical libraries.
- • Measure physical and optical properties, including hardness, refractive indices, birefringence, density, and cleavage.
- • Calibrate and maintain laboratory instruments; implement QA/QC and data traceability.
- • Model mineral stability and reactions using phase equilibria and thermodynamic databases.
- • Document results in technical reports, maps, datasets, and peer-reviewed publications; present at conferences.
- • Collaborate with geologists, metallurgists, environmental scientists, and mining engineers during projects.
- • Review and validate third-party mineralogical reports, core logs, and processing test results.
- • Train staff or students in mineral identification, sample preparation, and analytical techniques.
- • Evaluate carbon mineralization potential of ultramafic rocks or industrial residues for CO2 sequestration.
- • Identify and evaluate new sources of critical minerals and platinum group elements for industrial applications.
- • Inspect quarries and aggregate sources to verify mineralogy for concrete, asphalt, or ceramics.
- • Use GIS and 3D modeling tools to integrate mineralogical data with geology and drilling.
- • Develop scripts or software workflows for automated mineral identification and data processing.
- • Ensure compliance with safety, radiation, and hazardous material handling when working with mineral samples.
- • Provide mine-site ore control support through rapid mineralogical assays and on-line analyzers.
- • Participate in core logging, photographing, and hyperspectral scanning to document mineral variations.
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
