MYAGMARSUREN Sanjaa: is a native of Ulaanbaatar. Her father is a train driver and her mother worked for many years as a bookkeeper at the State Department Store. She says that her childhood was linked closely to the railroads. She graduated from the Mongolian University of Science and Technology in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in geological mapping and mineral exploration. As a student, she participated in the 1:200,000 geological mapping of the Nomgon and Khurment areas of Galbyn Gobi.
The newly graduated geologist began her career with 'Cascadia Mongolia' company exploring for gold and copper in the Yeroo and Bugant areas of Selenge aimag. She proudly says: “I worked on exploration with 30 or 40 of the best Mongolian geologists and gained significant experience in this area to become a real geologist.” Next she worked at 'Harrods minerals', where she explored for gold and copper in Shinejinst soum of Bayankhongor aimag. 'Harrods minerals' was founded by Egyptian billionaire Mohammed Al Fayeed. She recalls meeting him during his visit to Mongolia and says that he was an affable and approachable man.
In between her exploration work she also worked on her master’s degree “the petrology and geochemistry of effusive rocks of Mushgia khudag area in Umnugovi aimag.” Her dream was to become both an expert and researcher. She wrote many research articles which were published in Mongolian and international journals. In order to confirm the results of her research work, she participated in many joint projects implemented by Mongolian-Canadian team from world-renowned Erdenet Mining Corp and Ivanhoe Mines. S.Myagmarsuren also worked for three years as an advisory teacher at the Geology and Petroleum School of the Mongolian University of Science teaching young people foundations of geological science.
Her life was also linked to Japan and especially with Tohoku University. World famous Tohoku University is located in Sendai, Japan’s northern capital. She completed her masters thesis “Sulfide mineral paragenesis at the Hugo Dummett porphyry Cu-Au deposit, Oyu Tolgoi, South Mongolia” and expanding on this topic, her PhD thesis “Mineralogy and Fluid Inclusion study of Hugo Dummett porphyry Cu-Au deposit, South Mongolia.”
S.Myagmarsuren now works as Complaince and Data Officer at the Exploration & Resource Geology department of Oyu Tolgoi. She works on legal compliance issues related to geological exploration at the Oyu Tolgoi, Khokh khad and Manakhtyn license areas owned by Oyu Tolgoi LLC. “For a geologist, it is a source of pride to have seen Mongolia’s beautiful nature during exploration work,” she says. As a result, geologists gain knowledge of many aspects of science while learning to appreciate the environment. She says: “Oyu Tolgoi has successfully completed its construction phase and has become an operating mine. This is a crucial moment. This means that the future of the company now depends on the successful sales of copper concentrate. In five or ten years Oyu Tolgoi will become a huge industrial complex, assuming its rightful place and becoming main pillar of the Mongolian economy as Erdenet Mining Corp does today for the benefit of all Mongolians”.
OYUNCHIMEG Renchin is also a native of Ulaanbaatar. After graduating from the Mongolian University of Science and Technology as an exploration geologist, she worked in Central Geological Expedition and 'Almaz' LLC as a petrographer-engineer. R.Oyunchimeg worked as a mineralogist and senior mineralogist at Ivanhoe Mines and then Oyu Tolgoi from 2003. She participated in a study of the Oyu Tolgoi deposit mineralisation and detailed minerals and geo-metallurgical studies.
R.Oyunchimeg said: “I arrived at Oyu Tolgoi in October 2003, when drilling work was at its height and some 20 boreholes were being drilled at the same time. The decision to establish a mineralogical laboratory near the Oyu Tolgoi deposit proved to be crucial. Before that, we used to send samples to an Ulaanbaatar lab and had to wait for results, now we can conduct detailed mineralogical studies here at the site in a very short time. During the exploration phase, I received my degree based on results of my work studying the Oyu Tolgoi deposit mineralisation and alterations”.
She published her PhD thesis, "Sulfide paragenesis and gold mineralisation of Hugo Dummett, Oyu Tolgoi Copper gold porphyry" in 2008 and also published many articles in Mongolian and international journals. She presented on the Oyu Tolgoi deposit at a conference in Chile called 'Lets Talk Ore Deposits' /SGA, 2011/, 'Mongolia Mineral Exploration Round Up' /2012/,.
Many geological factors influence the enrichment of confirmed ore reserves. Recently, much attention has been paid internationally to studying the efficient and productive enrichment of ores and many mines are implementing geometallurgical research methods. She says that her department is also studying and implementing these methods.
R.Oyunchimeg recalls that some of the pioneering Oyu Tolgoi geologists who successfully completed the exploration phase were given the 'Best exploration team' award at the 2010 ‘Mongolian Minerals and Geology’ conference. She is very proud to be a part of that team.
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