Bethany is a Mineral Surveyor at Wardell Armstrong, she is a chartered member of RICS after passing her APC in December 2023. Let's meet Bethany
The role of a mineral surveyor is relatively unknown to the outside world but within the minerals industry we play a vital and well-known role. Mineral surveyors have been integral to the quarrying and mining sector for as long as we have been commercially extracting minerals from the Earth.
Surveying presents an intriguing and varied career journey, so what led you to focus on mineral surveying?
There are so many interesting career paths within the world of surveying. My journey started from a young age when I witnessed an erupting volcano whilst on holiday, from that moment I knew I was interested in the world of rocks and minerals. This led me to study geology at university, but as a student I was unaware of the role of a mineral surveyor and it wasn’t until I researched the role that I knew it was a career I wanted to pursue. Being a mineral surveyor combines my interest in geology with the knowledge of the property industry. It’s such an interesting and varied career path and I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.
What are some of the most interesting projects you've worked on as a mineral surveyor?
The role of a mineral surveyor is so varied and consequently we get involved in lots of incredible projects. One day I could be out on site auditing a sand and gravel operation and the next in the office reading through options and leases – no two days are the same. This is one of the things I enjoy most about being a mineral surveyor. I have had some amazing opportunities and enjoy being part of so many different and fascinating projects. One of the most interesting projects, I’ve been involved with was the investigation of a mineral reservation in the West Midlands. My objective was to uncover who the mineral owner was, which was no easy task given that the reservation was over two hundred years old. The mineral reservation related to manorial interests and ultimately an inclosure award dating to the early 1800’s. I ultimately obtained a copy of the award from the local archives, which meant I could establish the identity of the mineral owner. It was fascinating delving into history and rewarding to ensure that the client had the required information to progress with their development.
One of my favourite parts of the job is being out on site, usually in a quarry or mine, but sometimes simply looking at the opportunities a brand-new greenfield site presents. One of the recent projects I’ve worked on, has involved a sand and gravel prospect and its subsequent tender. It’s been great to be involved from the outset of the project and to see the site progress through negotiations to, what will hopefully, be a signed option and lease. I’ve enjoyed being able to work with a wide range of people on this project from operators to solicitors and I can’t wait to see the site operational one day.
Mineral surveying is one of the lesser known career paths in surveying; how can we encourage more young surveyors to consider this as a career?
I believe the way to encourage young surveyors into this field starts in the education sector. This is something I’m passionate about and it’s why I volunteer as an Inspire Ambassador with RICS. In this role I visit schools and colleges to raise awareness of the role of mineral surveyors and the minerals industry as a whole. The students love getting involved and getting to hold the rock samples I take to in and they make my presentations more interactive for a younger audience. The students have been really engaged, and I think it helps to bring the role to life. The students have often never heard of mineral surveyors and consequently have not considered it as a career path. I’m also a Minerals Matter and STEM Ambassador, which are two amazing organisations to be involved with. They do a great job at facilitating links between schools and ambassadors. I hope to do more of this as I progress through my career and would like to get more early career professionals interested in becoming an ambassador and sharing their experiences with students.
What do most people not quite understand about the role of a mineral surveyor?
Most people do not understand that the role a mineral surveyor plays is key to accessing the building blocks (quite literally!) for our modern society. We play a vital role in the minerals industry and facilitate the working of minerals UK wide. We enable the excavation of minerals such as sand and gravel, but also precious metals such as gold. It’s not well known that these raw materials and minerals are then used in our everyday lives to build homes and roads, and that they create important products such as concrete, mortar and coated roadstone. I hope that if anyone takes something away from this spotlight, that it would be the importance of the minerals industry and how integral it is to our everyday lives.
How you see the future of mineral surveying evolving?
The whole world is currently trying to evolve in light of climate change and the green revolution, and as a result the minerals industry and the role a mineral surveyor plays in it is evolving. There is an increased focus on the importance of sustainability including new and exciting projects such as zero carbon cement and carbon capture and storage schemes. We have seen so much about Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in the mainstream media and in order to facilitate the green revolution there will be an increased demand for these minerals. The push for electric vehicles is already driving an increased demand for lithium and cobalt. The use of REEs in smart phones such as praseodymium, lanthanum and europium. The increase in the production of wind turbines and the use of Critical Minerals including iron and zinc. Consequently, the future of mineral surveying must evolve and look for ways to facilitate the green revolution in the most sustainable way possible. It's an incredibly interesting time to be a mineral surveyor.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in this field?
My main piece of advice to anyone considering a career as a mineral surveyor or any surveyor, would be to gain as much work experience as possible. Get out there and get involved! There's no such thing as too much work experience. There are so many incredible companies, including Wardell Armstrong, that offer work experience and industry placements. If it’s a career path they’re interested in, I would always encourage them to reach out. There are also some great CPD opportunities for those who aren’t sure if it’s the career for them. I’m a committee member for the IOM3 Western Institute of Minerals and Mining, which is hosted at Keele University and we host monthly lectures on minerals related topics. It’s a great way for individuals to come and get a feel for the industry and see if it’s something they might be interested in.
And finally in what ways can myRICS community assist and help promote mineral surveyors?
myRICS community is a really useful tool for networking and sharing industry specific knowledge. It’s a great place to meet others in the industry and RICS wide. It’s also a really important place for those who don’t have a local Matrics. Whilst I was undertaking my Assessment of Professional Competency, I didn’t have a local Matrics for support, so instead I used myRICS community and it was a great way to keep up to date with the latest publications and guidance. Being a small part of RICS, the community presents an opportunity for mineral surveyors to meet one and other virtually. In order to assist mineral surveyors, it would be useful to have a dedicated area in the community where mineral surveyors, could meet and share industry specific knowledge.