/Q&A FROM THE EXPERTS
In conversation with FROM
THE EXPERTS
Dr Alan Wilson Director and Chief Geologist at GeoAqua Consultants Limited Timothy Strong: How did you decide to pursue a career in mineral exploration? Was it something that you had planned? Alan Wilson: I had an interest in the outdoors from an early age, mainly due to family hiking trips in the Scottish Highlands. It was a holiday to Italy, and a trip to the top of Vesuvius that sparked my interest in geology, which I followed up with my Geology degree at Edinburgh University. During those studies, I became interested in ore deposits, so that, combined with a love of travel and the outdoors, is how I ended up pursuing a career in mineral exploration. TS: Which country has left the strongest impression on you and why? AW: Without a doubt, Bolivia. Working and living there in the mid-1990s was fascinating on many levels. Not only was the geology varied, prospective and challenging, but the culture, history and geography of the country were captivating. Being able to travel the length and breadth of the country both for work and pleasure allowed me to appreciate its diverse nature, from Andean volcanos and salt flats in the west to the Amazonian jungles of the east. The people were (generally!) welcoming and the cultural history of the Drillers’ trusted publication
Dr Alan Wilson Dr Alan Wilson graduated from Edinburgh University (UK) with a Bachelor’s degree in Geological and Earth Sciences, immediately followed by a Master’s in Exploration and Mining Geology from the University of Leicester (UK) in 1991. Ten years later, he built upon that with a Doctoral degree in Economic Geology at the University of Tasmania (Australia), graduating in 2003. Between his Master’s and Doctorate, Alan worked mainly for Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, based in Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. Post PhD, Alan has held increasingly senior positions in companies such as Anglo American as Copper Commodity Leader, and with Antofagasta as International Exploration Manager. Alan is an experienced economic geologist having worked on grassroots to brownfields exploration projects in over 30 countries on five continents. Since leaving Antofagasta in 2019, Alan has resided in Anguilla, British West Indies where he and his wife run a private consultancy, GeoAqua Consultants, which provides expert technical and strategic consulting services to the mineral exploration and integrated water management sectors.
country, including the pre-Columbian archeological sites of Tiwanaku and Samaipata, the silver mines of Cerro Rico de Potosí, the Casa Nacional de la Moneda (National Mint) in Potosí and the Jesuit missions of Chiquitos are all sights that people need to see.
training and mentoring aspect of my consulting role, being able to help younger geologists develop the skills needed to be successful explorers and well-rounded applied economic geologists.
TS: What has been the most satisfying moment of your career to date?
TS: You have worked for some of the biggest mining and exploration houses in the world, how did that shape your career?
AW: There have been lots of highlights in my career so far, and hopefully more to come, but I think the most satisfying period has been since venturing out as an independent consultant. Being able to apply my experience to help clients understand the geology of their exploration targets and making recommendations that transform into ore grade drill intersections is very pleasing. I also enjoy the
AW: My experience working with the major mining companies early in my career was positive and provided a strong foundation on which to develop the skills needed to be successful. Lots of useful field time, practical mentoring by more experienced colleagues, and the opportunity to visit mines regionally were all essential components to my early career development. So too was 41
