Paul Chamois

How did you get your start in the mineral industry?

I actually stumbled into the mineral industry and, more specifically, exploration geology. I knew I didn't want a desk job and I had always enjoyed the outdoors (hunting and fishing with my Dad). Somehow, by the time Grade 13 rolled around, I figured being a mining engineer would be a good career choice. I wasn't the strongest math student however and only took two math courses in Grade 13 (in those days you could take three math courses in Grade 13, including calculus). When I applied to universities for engineering, I was told I would have to do a qualifying year (to get my math requisites). I didn't want to do that and my guidance counsellor suggested I take geology instead. I chose Carleton University for an undergraduate degree and fell in love with it. I had great professors like John Moore, George Skippen, Ken North and others. I followed that up with an Applied M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration at McGill. I worked in the bush during the summers and really enjoyed that. Ironically at Carleton, science majors had to take the same introductory calculus course as the engineering students and I passed with decent grades, although I really had to work at it.

What was the most fulfilling project you ever worked on, and why?

After working for major mining companies (Selco, BP-Selco, Phelps Dodge Canada) for most of my career, I ended up working as a contract geologist for a couple of years (2006-2008). One assignment I had was drilling the Brabant massive sulphide deposit in northern Saskatchewan for Manicouagan Minerals. While I was District Geologist for Phelps Dodge, we had optioned the property but had cancelled the option on it when Phelps Dodge's exploration strategy changed. I knew the deposit and jumped at the chance of working on it again. I co-authored a technical report on the property during the summer of 2006 then handled the drilling from November 2006 to March 2008. We only had one drill turning and had hired a local guy, Peter McKenzie, to split the core. The geology was really interesting with all sorts of high-strain textures. I couldn't wait to rip the tops off the boxes in the morning to see what the night shift had drilled. You could tell by lifting the boxes if you were in the mineralization because of the weight. It was great to see the deposit grow or change shape with every hole that we drilled.