Mintah Erskine
Perth,WA
Summary
Experienced engineering professional with more than seventeen years of industry expertise in open pit geotechnical engineering, tailings management and geology. Strong problem-solving skills applied to geotechnical hazard mitigation and ground improvement techniques in previous roles in Australia and Africa. Proficient in various aspects of tailings management, including regulatory requirements, various tailing guidelines, review of tailings dam designs, management and surveillance systems, soil, and rock mechanics. Skilled in project management, data analysis, report writing, and stakeholder engagements.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Geotechnical Engineer
BHP Nickel West- Mt Keith Operation
, WA
09.2023 - Current
- Contribute to mine plans and designs to ensure maximum ore recovery with continued compliance with ground management plans
- Developed new fall of ground and geotechnical incident reporting processes to improve and simplify communication of fall of ground incidents
- Provide regular reports on the geotechnical performance to ensure management, and other key stakeholders are informed on the site geotechnical risk
- Conduct reviews of geotechnical monitoring systems to ensure effective geotechnical risk management
- Conducts critical control verifications, plan tasked observations and field leaderships interactions ensuring real-time understanding of ground control hazards and safety protocols by operational personnel
- Support the day-to-day operations through inspections and providing technical guidance to manage ground control hazards and risk
- Provide support to the geotechnical superintendent and steps up in his absence to lead the team and manage the geotechnical deliverables
- Provide leadership through coaching, mentoring and support for the junior geotechnical engineers and technicians to effectively communicate geotechnical risk to operational teams.
- Facilitate ground awareness training sessions to enhance the identification and reporting of ground hazards
- Performed instrumentation monitoring programs for large-scale open pit slopes.
- Developed numerical models using finite element software packages to simulate complex 3D stress fields generated due to excavation works.
- Analyzed existing structures for structural adequacy and retrofit design recommendations.
- Recommended appropriate mitigation measures when potential problems were identified in the course of a mining or project developments.
- Participated in meetings with clients to discuss project requirements, scope changes and progress updates
- Attended conferences and seminars related to advances in geotechnical engineering practices.
Senior Geotechnical Engineer - Operational Assurance
Fortescue Metal Group Ltd
, WA 6112
08.2022 - 08.2023
- Provided technical guidance to mine operations and developed geotechnical guidelines to improve safety and production efficiency
- Led the implementation of geotechnical monitoring programs across different Fortescue sites for open pits and tailing storage facilities
- Coordinated internal and external geotechnical peer review processes for all Fortescue Metal Group operating mines, ensuring there was a rigorous scrutiny and adherence to industry best practices
- Collaborated with other departments to ensure the timely completion of geotechnical projects
- Assessed emerging technologies in ground control management, making sure value for money for the systems acquired
- Prepared technical reports, presentations, and proposals for clients and regulatory agencies
- Mentored junior engineers, fostering their professional development and knowledge transfer within the team
- Assisted the tailings team with dam slope assessments and performed engineering calculations including bearing capacity of soils and inspections of embankments to support their work.
- Participated in meetings with clients to discuss project requirements, scope changes and progress updates.
- Assessed instrumentation monitoring programs for large-scale civil works projects such as dams or embankment slopes.
- Devised and initiated engineering solutions to variety of project and design issues.
Senior Geotechnical Design Engineer
Fortescue Metal Group Ltd
08.2021 - 08.2022
- Conducted geotechnical investigations and assessments for open pit mines, including drilling, sampling, and laboratory testing
- Managed external consultants to deliver geotechnical studies and slope designs
- Developed and implemented engineering strategies to improve production efficiency.
- Coordinated activities with suppliers, contractors or other departments.
- Created accurate project specifications, documenting in technical manuals.
- Mentored/trained geotechnical loggers and completed quality assurance on geotechnical data
- Planned and supervised geotechnical drilling programs, in-situ testing such as Parker testing schedules and analysis
- Worked with data management team to ensured accurate and reliable geotechnical data management systems
- Analyzed and interpreted geotechnical data and communicated outcomes to operational teams
- Developed slope stability models using numerical analysis and empirical methods, and recommended design modifications to mitigate risks
- Communicated design requirements to operational teams
- Supported and mentored operational geotechnical engineers to communicate operational geotechnical risk
- Worked collaboratively with other departments to manage surface water around the pit slopes including designs and construction of diversion drains
Site Geotechnical Engineer
FMG-Eliwana Site
11.2020 - 08.2021
- Designed, built, and commissioned geotechnical slope monitoring programs including geotechnical radar and automated prism monitoring systems
- Collaborated with multi-disciplinary teams, including geologists, mining engineers, and environmental specialists, to optimize mine design and production
- Coordinated with other departments to ensure the timely completion of geotechnical projects
- Provided technical guidance to mine operations and developed geotechnical guidelines to improve safety and production efficiency
- Reviewed and implemented the site ground control management plan, enhancing safety protocols and risk mitigation strategies for open pits
- Managed the day-to-day geotechnical risk
- Led the geotechnical team to identify and managed geotechnical risks including development of processes and guidelines to monitor the risks, and ensuring the site aligns with the ground control management plan, regulations, and the company internal standards
- Supervised and mentored junior engineers
- Managed team rosters and completed performance reviews
- Conducted regular field inspections to monitor geotechnical issues and identify potential hazards
- Mentored, coached, and provided technical guidance and support to junior engineers to manage geotechnical risk across multiple operational sites
- Prepared and managed the geotechnical team’s budget
Geotechnical/Tailing Engineer
FMG Chichester Operations
05.2015 - 11.2020
- Provided technical advice for the day-to-day management of several above ground and in-pit tailing storage facilities
- Management of smaller water dams (Turkey nest) across the FMG Chichester operations
- Supported tailings investigations, reviews of new and existing tailings dam designs to enhance overall structural integrity
- Completed regular dam inspections and provided guidance for ongoing maintenance work on the facilities
- Led and participated in team meetings to discuss project progress updates.
- Organized annual reviews and collaborated with engineers of records, ensuring the facilities were operated per their design intents
- Completed inspections after major events such as rainfall, earthquakes and provide facility performance report to management
- Provided monthly monitoring reports and ongoing updates on the tailing performance
- Conducted regular water balance analyses and advised on deposition patterns, optimizing dam capacities, and ensuring a consistent water return to the ore processing facility
- Worked in a multi-discipline team to address tailings dam-related issues
- Provided support during the installation, maintenance, repair, and calibration of equipment.
- Reviewed and implemented the site ground control management plan, enhancing safety protocols and risk mitigation strategies for open pits
- Developed processes and procedures to manage geotechnical risk across operational sites
- Conducted regular pit inspections to monitor geotechnical issues and identify potential hazards in open pit mine slopes and the tailing storage facilities
- Collaborated with other departments to address geotechnical risks, including supporting the construction of diversion drains to manage surface water runoffs and creeks around open pits and other operational areas
- Designed and implemented geotechnical monitoring programs to manage slope risk effectively
- Coordinated with external consultants to provide annual operational reviews, ensuring alignment with industry best practices
- Prepared and managed the geotechnical team’s budget
- Mentored junior engineers, ensuring their professional development and knowledge transfer within the Geotechnical team
- Coordinated activities with suppliers, contractors or other departments.
Mine Geologist
FMG Christmas Creek Operations
01.2012 - 05.2015
- Supervised the extraction of iron ore from the pit by ensuring contractors adhered to strict quality control requirements
- Preparation of monthly reconciliation reports for the material moved from the pit and ensuring the volumes from the geology database reconciled with survey volumes
- Supported the senior mine geologist in technical reporting and preparation of SOPs and SWIs relating to the geology section
- Trained and mentored junior geologists
- Achievements
- Supported the senior geologist to set up all the systems needed to support the geology section and ensured training of junior geologist
Senior Mine Geologist
Gold Fields Mining Company Ltd
Tarkwa, Ghana
06.2008 - 01.2012
- Led the delivery of all grade control drilling programmes and manage the safety on drill rigs
- Managed the delivery of grade control block models and flitch plans for mining
- Supported the geology superintend with budgeting and managed the sections deliverables
- Provided technical support to mine planning and mine production team through proactive management of ore conditions and reporting of ore production risk and ensured a cost-effective support system
- Supervised and mentored mine geologists and pit technicians
- Managed staff rosters and involved in performance reviews
- Reconciliation reporting to management
- Supported the senior mine geologist in technical reporting, provision of standard work producers and guidelines required by the geology section
- Training and mentoring geologists
Mine Geologist
Gold Fields Mining Company Ltd
Tarkwa, Ghana
01.2008 - 06.2008
- Supervised grade control drilling and logging of RC programs
- Supervised the extraction of ore and other mine geology responsibilities
- Conducted geological mapping and sampling of drill core to identify and interpret lithological, alteration, mineralogy and structural features in the mine.
- Communicated effectively with contractors regarding project timelines, cost estimates and quality control measures.
Geologist
Golden Star Exploration
, Ghana
07.2006 - 12.2007
- Planning of geochemical sampling programs for exploration using ArcGIS
- Geochemical sampling and testing for Greenfield exploration projects
Education
Post GradDip - Geotechnical engineering and engineering geology
University of New South Whales
Sydney08.2021
Post Graduate Certificate - Geostatistics (Geological block modelling)
Edith Cowan University
Perth06.2015
Bachelor of Science - Geological Engineering
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
06.2006
Skills
- Tailing Dam management
- Geotechnical investigation and assessment
- Slope risk managements
- Slope performance monitoring – radars, InSAR, prisms, VWPs
- Stability analysis and slope stabilization processes
- 2D and 3D modeling
- Project management
- Mining Software Competencies (including MS suites): Slide 2D, Slide 3D, RS2, RS3, Rocfall 2 & 3, Rocplane and Swedge, Deswilk, Vulcan, Minesite and acQuire
- Professional Training: Rocscience software, Fracman – for DFN modelling, Slope performance monitoring, Radar monitoring, Structural geology course - ongoing, Hydrogeology related to slope stability and management, Experienced drone pilot and CASA license, 4WD driving ability (High level training), Knowledge and training in work health and safety regulations (WHS)
- Non-Technical Skills: Proactive team member, Leadership capabilities, and ability to innovate to improve systems
Affiliations
- AuSIMM – member
- African mining professionals’ association of Australia – Treasury
Softwarecompetencies
- Slide 2D
- Slide 3D
- RS2
- RS3
- Rocfall 2 & 3
- Rocplane
- Swedge
- Deswilk
- Vulcan
- Minesite
- AcQuire
Personal Information
Title: Geotechnical Professional
Hobbies and Interests
- Reading
- Dart
- Gardening
Training
- Rocscience software
- Fracman – for DFN modelling
- Slope performance monitoring
- Radar monitoring
- Structural geology course - ongoing
- Hydrogeology related to slope stability and management.
- Experienced drone pilot and CASA licence
- 4WD driving ability (High level training)
- Knowledge and training in work health and safety regulations (WHS)
References
To be provided on request
Certification
- Slope performance monitoring
- Radar monitoring
- Drone pilot license
Languages
English
Professional
References
References available upon request.
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Senior Geotechnical Engineer
BHP Nickel West- Mt Keith Operation
09.2023 - Current
Senior Geotechnical Engineer - Operational Assurance
Fortescue Metal Group Ltd
08.2022 - 08.2023
Senior Geotechnical Design Engineer
Fortescue Metal Group Ltd
08.2021 - 08.2022
Site Geotechnical Engineer
FMG-Eliwana Site
11.2020 - 08.2021
Geotechnical/Tailing Engineer
FMG Chichester Operations
05.2015 - 11.2020
Mine Geologist
FMG Christmas Creek Operations
01.2012 - 05.2015
Senior Mine Geologist
Gold Fields Mining Company Ltd
06.2008 - 01.2012
Mine Geologist
Gold Fields Mining Company Ltd
01.2008 - 06.2008
Geologist
Golden Star Exploration
07.2006 - 12.2007
Post GradDip - Geotechnical engineering and engineering geology
University of New South Whales
Post Graduate Certificate - Geostatistics (Geological block modelling)
Edith Cowan University
Bachelor of Science - Geological Engineering
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
- Slope performance monitoring
- Radar monitoring
- Drone pilot license
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