Her name is Nalin Shah. We met on one of January`s coldest days in Ulaanbaatar. When I came down to meet her in the lobby, she waved at me with a big smile on her face, the medal for “Best Geologist” glittered proudly on her lapel. Nalin Shah, an exploration manager with Turquoise Hill Resources, had been honoured with the field`s highest award on the occasion of the 91st Anniversary Year of the Mining Industry. The award recognised a decade’s contribution to geological exploration in Mongolia. This was the first time since 1990 that an expat geologist had received such an award.
A big thank you to Nalin for sharing her story.
What brought you first to Mongolia?
I`m from India where I studied geology at Kumaon University Nainital, which is located in a small town in the Himalayas. This is my tenth year in Mongolia. I first arrived in 2004. Before that, I worked for one of the world’s largest mining company’s BHPBilliton in India. We had projects in India, Australia and Indonesia but things were getting slowed down because the Indian Government stopped providing large licenses for mineral exploration. And so, a lot of exploration companies closed. Luckily, at that time Mongolia was opening up and I had the opportunity to work for a subsidiary of Ivanhoe Mines called Asia Gold. It was a fascinating time in Mongolia. Geologists were thrilled at the opportunities the country offered – business was booming. I view the period between 2004 and 2006 as a golden era of Mongolian field exploration.
Why did you decide to become a geologist? What inspired you to pursue geology as a career?
Living in the high mountains, I was always intrigued by how the mountains were formed, how rivers carved out rocks, and why rocks and minerals are different. So taking up geology was a continuation of that curiosity. You not only study the earth as it is now, but what it was like in the past. Every time we had questions, our college professors would take us outside the classroom to see structures in the rocks to identify fossils and minerals. The earth becomes an open classroom. Geology is fascinating because it`s all outdoors. I encourage everybody to take at least a short course in geology. It really helps you appreciate the world around us.
Are there any other geologists in your family?
No, but my grandfather was a botanist and he spent a lot of time outdoors. He also loved to travel. That might have sparked my love for the outdoors. As a career, geology offers the chance to explore the world. It offers so many exciting aspects: science, nature, travel, culture, interacting with people, all experiences that enrich life.
What is the role of geologists in mining?
Basically, before you start any mine, you first need to explore whether there are any mineral treasures hidden in the earth. Sometimes they are exposed, but more often they are hidden. So you need a geologist to do mapping, identify, collect and analyse samples. Geologists are the first people to discover and recognise the minerals. You know, Oyu Tolgoi was first discovered by Russian and Mongolian geologists in the 1980s. Then BHPBilliton acquired the licenses and did some work. But it took the strong determination of Ivanhoe to expand the discoveries and continue exploring deeper to find the Hugo, Hugo North and Heruga deposits. To be a geologist, you need persistence, determination, and endless optimism.
As an internationally experienced geologist, what would you say about your experience in Mongolia and Mongolian geoscience?
Mongolia is a fascinating country with a mix of steppe, mountain and deserts. There is a lot of land under soil cover which makes it interesting for geoscientists. Huge discoveries such as Oyu Tolgoi are possible. There are good government geology maps, but no detailed Aeromag or EM or gravity data, only widely spaced ground data. This is a huge country and it`s not possible to cover it all through ground surveys. If Mongolia decided to fly such airborne surveys and make the data available like they do in Canada/Australia, then it would open up exploration and investment in this field.
You had some experience in diamond exploration too. Is it possible to find diamonds in Mongolia? Do we have any minerals which could be used in jewelry?
For diamonds, we need special rocks that are three to four billion years old. We don`t have such rocks in Mongolia. But for jewelry there is a very beautiful mineral called malachite. This mineral has been used for 5,000 years in jewelry and is very popular in India too.
In India, people, especially women, covet gold, don’t they?
Yes, that`s because traditionally gold is viewed as financial security. And on any happy occasion people buy gold and keep it.
Are there many women who work in geology, or are there a disproportionate number of men in the field?
There are fewer women in geology because it is physically challenging to survive in the deserts, forests, and high mountains. However, I`m impressed with the number of Mongolian women in this field. And they are equally hardworking and just as committed as men. Oyu Tolgoi employs many well-qualified women geologists.
What is most satisfying about being a geologist?
The most satisfaction comes from a job well done, any job. But with geology, you have the opportunity to be paid for having adventures and exploring remote places that others cannot reach. It is also satisfying to contribute to community development by creating jobs for local people and bringing technology and development to them. For example, Umnugovi has been benefitting from the world class Oyu Tolgoi mine. All this development in such a short period of time would not have been possible without Oyu Tolgoi.
What would your message be to young Mongolians aspiring to become geologists?
Geology is a great science because it helps you understand how precious our earth is and to appreciate life. It`s the only planet with life in the solar system and maybe in space. There could be other life forms out there, but we don`t know yet. If you can contribute to understanding something about Earth, you will serve mankind. What can be more exciting than discovering the hidden treasures of the earth? It is your duty to make life better for yourself, your family, and your country. If you love your work, then you will excel at it. Don`t be afraid of challenges.
It has been a long journey for Oyu Tolgoi, almost exactly 12 years since the first major discoveries were made. Also Mongolians are expecting a lot from the project. How do you see the future of the project from a geologist’s point of view?
Oyu Tolgoi is one of the world`s largest copper mines and its development is crucial to the mining sector, which is one of the major industries in Mongolia. The country needs capable management of the mineral wealth and sound governance to provide stable laws, especially related to land management and licenses. If no land is available for exploration, geologists cannot make new discoveries. The strongest economies of the world stand on a foundation of mineral resources and these resources were discovered by geologists.
Mongolia is a tough place to work because of its climate especially for a female geologist. Do you enjoy working in Mongolia?
In ten years Mongolia has changed before my eyes. And I enjoy living in Mongolia. It is challenging to face extreme temperatures and work in remote areas. It takes time to get used to working in cold weather but it`s not unbearable. Also mining camps are permanent and comfortable, but mobile exploration camps have their own challenges. Perhaps the biggest challenge was being vegetarian. Ten years ago there were hardly any fresh vegetables available, but things have improved vastly with imports and local greenhouses. A lot of things are changing so fast, mostly positively. So I feel comfortable working here.
Leave a Reply