Computational Geophysicist (Critical Minerals)

Role Overview

We are building an integrated earth science team to locate the next generation of critical mineral deposits, spanning magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide to granite-hosted Li-F systems. This role sits between petrogenetic/geochemical modelling and subsurface geophysical targeting; you will translate deposit-fertility hypotheses (mineralogical, geochemical and structural) into clean 3D, spatially continuous, data-informed prospectivity models that can eventually guide field programs and drill targeting.

You will collaborate directly with petrologists, geochemists, structural geologists and remote-sensing specialists. Your fundamental job is to answer one question: given this ore-forming process, what should it look like in the hidden subsurface, and how do we find it before anyone drills a hole

Responsibilities

• Survey Design Interpretation: Design and interpret (sometimes only interpret) multi-method geophysical surveys gravity, magnetics, EM, IP/resistivity linked to specific ore-genesis hypotheses and known processes, rather than to anomaly detection alone.
• 3D Geological Modelling: Build 3D implicit geological models using existing computational tools, integrating drillhole, geochemical, structural and geophysical datasets into a single coherent volume.
• Process Physical Property Translation: Translate petrological and mineralogical fertility criteria (e.g. degree of magmatic fractionation, sulfide-conduit geometry, biotite-fluorine content) into expected physical property contrasts (e.g. density, susceptibility, conductivity, chargeability).
• Prospectivity Mapping: Develop data-driven and ML-based prospectivity mapping (e.g. random forest, Bayesian networks, weights of evidence) that integrates geophysical layers with geochemical and spectral/remotely-sensed fertility indicators. Distinguish economic from non-economic geophysical responses separating fertile granite pegmatites from barren fractionated phases, or economically viable conductive sulfide bodies from barren pyrrhotites.
• Cross-Disciplinary Iteration: Work closely with petrologists, structural geologists and computer scientists to iterate survey design against evolving genetic models, rather than working from data alone.

What We're Looking For

• Experience: MSc/PhD in a quantitative earth science field, with prior research experience.
• Post-graduate degree (MSc/PhD) in Geophysics, Exploration Geophysics, or a closely related quantitative earth science field. Prior research experience.
• Demonstrated experience with potential-field methods (gravity, magnetics) and at least one of: electromagnetic methods, induced polarization/resistivity, or magnetotellurics.
• Practical experience with 3D geological/geophysical modelling and inversion software (e.g. Geosoft/Oasis Montaj, Leapfrog, GOCAD, ModEM, SimPEG, or equivalent).
• Working proficiency in Python or similar for data integration, inversion workflows, and applied machine learning relevant to the earth sciences.
• Comfort working with sparse, heterogeneous, multi-scale datasets drillhole assays, regional and local surveys, whole-rock and mineral-scale geochemistry, spectral data.
• Ability to brainstorm around and translate mineralogical/petrological reasoning into physical-property expectations. This is a highly collaborative role that deals constantly in hypothesis testing.

Nice to Haves

• Prior exploration experience with at least one of: magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide systems, layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions, or intrusion-driven rare metal granite systems (Sn-W-Li-Ta).
• Familiarity with hyperspectral or multispectral remote sensing as a complementary fertility-mapping tool.
• Experience co-designing survey programs directly with petrologists and geochemists.
• Understanding of sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) architecture and its implications for large-scale ore genesis.
• Publication record and applied project experience in mineral prospectivity modelling.

What Success Looks Like

You are someone who can sit with a petrologist's process model whether that's a melt fractionation pathway for a Li-F granite or a sulfide-conduit model for a Ni-Cu-PGE system and ask the right next question: what would this look like in gravity, in EM, in magnetics, and how do we test it in 3D

You are equally comfortable running an inversion and challenging the geological model that motivated it. You cross-collaborate with earth scientists and engineers to locate the next critical metal deposits with very high accuracy.

Disclaimer: This job posting and Location has been aggregated from external source. Role details, content, and availability are subject to change. Applicants are advised to confirm the latest information directly on the company website before applying.