Courtesy of Larry Clark
MINING MENTORS
Passion tempered with compassion leads to understanding Advice to young mining professionals from veteran mining executive Larry Clark By Tom DiNardo
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arry Clark began his career as an underground miner at the Henderson molybdenum mine in Colorado in 1978. He graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 1986 and, after stints working at a consultancy and a mining software company, Clark was hired by Newmont. He was there for 17 years, finishing as senior director of mining technology before moving on to Jolimont Global Mining Systems as the North American principal. From March 2018 to March 2020, he was COO of Newtrax Technologies. A lot has changed in the industry since Clark first went underground in the 1970s, particularly the technology used. Whereas electric equipment was once scarce, companies are now adopting battery-powered trucks – not to mention the use of smartphones at underground mines. But the challenge, said Clark, is that the industry is still risk averse. According to him, the next generation of miners will be the one to overcome the industry’s technology aversion and push it forward. 26 | CIM Magazine | Vol. 15, No. 3
CIM: What is the most important quality that you look for in a young professional? Clark: It’s the person’s drive, passion, energy and self-motivation. My view is that, from a technical perspective, [any] school is competent and can provide you with a technical background. What I’m looking for is work ethic. I’m looking for the person who’s eager to come in and solve problems. I’m looking for young people who, even without direction, will run out, gather some information, come back and say, “Here’s where I think we should go.” I guess it’s best captured as someone who’s eager to learn all the time.
CIM: What was the most difficult but worthwhile professional quality for you to cultivate? Clark: Developing the skill of active listening. I have been in so many meetings where some people take all the oxygen in the room and other people don’t get a chance to say a word. Develop
