In the stope
Mark Wanless —
a journey of exploration
Mark, where did your career as a
geologist begin?
After I graduated with a Bachelor of
Sciences (Honours) degree in geology
from the University of Cape Town in
1995, my first job was with JCI at their
Joel underground gold mine in the Free
State, on the south-western edge of the
Witwatersrand Basin. I began as a graduate
geologist for my first couple of years. Over
the next five years after that, I went on
to hold positions of mine geologist, mine
designer, and finally chief designer at Joel. I
then spent a year at Bambanani gold mine as
mining graphics systems coordinator.
This gave me the opportunity to cut my
teeth in geostatistical evaluation and resource
modelling for the mine, as well as to manage
drilling programmes and to conduct face
mapping and sampling. Another project
included the modelling of a paleo-erosional
feature, which turned out to eliminate the reef
over a substantial part of the mine. The work
as a mine designer involved long-term and
short-term planning, including the designing
With more than two
decades of experience
in geology, Mark Wanless
shares some of his
insights with Leon Louw.
Mark Wanless, director of SRK Global as well
as principal resource geologist and partner
in the SRK Johannesburg office.
[22] MINING MIRROR MARCH 2019
www.miningmirror.co.za