Randal Burns
Randal Burns - Randal is employed by Quadra FNX Limited, in Ruth, Nevada, located in White Pine County in northeastern Nevada. He works at the Robinson Mine, a major producer of copper with by-product gold and molybdenum. Through contacts of Dr. David Jessey, Randal landed a position as a Summer Intern at the Robinson Mine in 2004. He was hired full-time at the end of the internship and been there more than seven years (finishing uph is Geology BS in 2006 between work committments). In that time he has worked at multiple jobs and held various positions. As a Production Geologist he was tasked with blast hole logging, high wall mapping, sample collection, metallurgical sampling, tracking water in the pit and 3D computer modeling of structures, lithologies, alteration, and ore types. He has also worked in Ore Control and was instrumental in moving the Ore Control Department from Engineering to the Geology Department. With Ore Control Randal made decisions on which ore to send to the mill to optimize recovery and concentrate grade. He also set up new ore control parameters for fluctuating metal market prices and updated resource models. Currently Randal is working in the Exploration Department, managing three drilling rigs, as well as several contract geologists responsible for core and chip logging. He will shortly begin refining the 3D ore models with the new drill information.
Randal was generally into geology growing up, with camping trips to the desert and a small rock collection. However, the decision to major in geology in college was somewhat random. Randal says "I had two goals coming out of high school and going into college; one, I wanted to work outdoors and two, travel at someone else's expense. Going through the list of majors I was handed in my senior year of high school, biology and geology seemed most appropriate and I had more interest in geology." He chose the latter. "Now that I am out in the world, I can say it was the right decision. I work outside daily and have the opportunity to travel to our companies other holdings in Arizona and South America, as well as to any other mines of interests around the world. The work is challenging and the mine environment is ever changing to keep it perpetually interesting. Have I mentioned it pays quite well too?"
Randal states "I can say with certainty that the field oriented classes at Cal Poly were invaluable to my education and have directly lead to the success I've had. The broad spectrum of geology that was covered in the department's offerings perfectly compliment the broad spectrum of issues we encounter here at the mine." Problems like basic rock/alteration identification (economic geology, petrology, invertebrate paleontology) to issues like tracking water conduits, high wall stability (geo-engineering, geomorphology, and structural geology), solving metallurgical problems with various clay types and chalcocite rimmed pyrite (mineralogy, geochemistry, optical mineralogy), field mapping and computer database management, and digital mapping (GIS) are important skills acquired at Cal Poly. "From resumes we have received over the years while attempting to hire qualified geologists, it has become readily apparent I received a top level education from Cal Poly-Pomona. Many colleges across the country no longer offer such basic courses as mineralogy in their geology departments, or require any actual field experience outside field camp. These candidates are instantly at a disadvantage and are in no way prepared to work in the mining industry." Randal believes having a solid foundation of diverse knowledge is the only way to be prepared for the challenges in geology. He feels confident he could do well in any branch of geology with the education he received from the Geology Department at Cal Poly-Pomona.
We were pleased to visit with Randal at the past two Alumni Reunions (May 2011 and June 2012). Prior to the last event, Randal donated two new Brunton compasses to the Geology Department. His intent was to promote the Department's mission of providing a strong program in geological mapping, and to reward deserving students who show great proficiency in the field. This year's Brunton Compass award went to Anthony Mack.