By Khaliun
The annual two-day meeting of Mongolian geologists was held on March 24 and 25, under the appropriate name Mineral Exploration Round Up. This is because reports were submitted on all geological, geophysical, and geochemical projects undertaken in Mongolian territory in 2010. The participants included geologists who work for both the government and the private sector, and students.
Professor Ukhnaa said around 2,000 students are currently enrolled in mining-related courses at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology, the Mongolian National University, the Trade and Production Institute, and the Ulaanbaatar Institute, and 200 of them would graduate in the spring. It is no secret, he said, that today’s graduates are not adequately equipped with the skill sets required to work in the present-day environment. Both the curriculum and the practical training have to be brought in line with needs of the modern workplace. Those who have passed out also need to attend refresher courses. Unfortunately, there are no such opportunities. He urged the Government, particularly the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, to make regular arrangement for such training so that professionals are kept abreast of all improvements and developments in their field.
Some students shared their experience of summer jobs with students from other countries, thanks to the Keck Geology Consortium, which offers undergraduates experience of work overseas. It has run research and exploration projects in Mongolia since 2003, which allow Mongolian students to acquire a mix of field and laboratory research experiences. Some Mongolians also went to America to work in labs of such diverse and specialised disciplines of structural geology, paleontology, paleoecology, paleoclimatology, igneous and metamorphic petrology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, and hydrogeology. Altogether 6 projects were run in Mongolia, each with 50 American and Mongolian students working under and with expert teachers. Some of them were asked to present their results at the annual Keck Geology Consortium Undergraduate Research Symposium held at one of the member colleges of the consortium.
There was a call to stop all exploration by private entities, as they focus on finding minerals, failing to take a holistic approach. Proper exploration means all aspects of the territory surrounding deposits must be studied carefully -- its internal structure, composition and tectonics, the generation of magmas, volcanism and rock formation, and the hydrological cycle. Only such detailed work will help us to obtain accurate knowledge of what Mongolia has and which deposit can be used. This is possible only if the government funds all exploration work.
S.Ariunbilig, senior researcher at the Institute of Geology and Mineral Resource at the Mongolian Academy of Science, reported that Mongolia’s salt lakes contain high concentrations of lithium and uranium, which could be used to generate energy. Some of the other lakes contain lithium, brome, boron and uranium. A team from the Institute tested samples from some 60 lakes, and then sent some of them to Russian laboratories for further tests. Some underwent 300 chemical tests to reveal the presence of carbonate ion, uranium and lithium. The climate change in recent years has led to considerable evaporation, raising the percentage of the lithium and uranium in the water.
Another team from the Institute of Geology and Minerals spoke about their work to collect geochronological, geochemical and petrological data in the Sulinheer region in southern Mongolia.
Mining companies were also there. Micromine, explained the advantages of JORC Compliant estimates and GEMCOM demonstrated how modern software helps estimate the reserve of a deposit.
Such gatherings are very necessary not merely to exchange information but also to raise the self-confidence of those who have taken up the job to make Mongolia rich with the help of its rich mineral resources.