Albert Workman

What has been the most memorable experience of your career?

Good Friday, 1984: Working alone for Camflo Mines (later to be merged with Barrick) on the Holt-McDermott exploration drilling project, I drove to the Camflo Mine at Malartic to pick up assay results from the mine's lab. The manager had arranged to meet me at the door with a sealed envelop for a deep hail-Mary drill hole that followed a string of poor results. He commented on "a few good value in there". I drove about a kilometre before curiosity got the better of me and I pulled over and opened the envelope. There were 3 good values, one of which exceeded 2 oz/ton in a 2-metre section that averaged around 0.7 opt. I knew there and then that management would not kill the project. Going home that weekend, my wife and I bought our first house.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering a career in the mineral industry?

Anyone entering exploration needs to understand that the work won't always be interesting, and you won't always be physically comfortable. You need to be flexible in the way you think and face challenges, and you will be challenged. Learn and develop a passion for detail. Broad brush approaches don't find mines. Don't be afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. Conventional thinking has probably missed more mines than it has found. A bit of mental toughness is needed, but the reward is the ability to work in the great outdoors without someone looking over your shoulder. I believe the freedom you will experience is unparalleled in any other profession.