How to Become a Mineralogist: Career Guide, Courses, After 12th, Jobs, Scope, Salary

What Does a Mineralogist do?

They are employed or hired by consultancy companies or oil companies to give advice to their clients who require assistance on geophysical information for the development of processes for the extraction of fossil fuel and energy production. Mineralogists are also hired by the civil construction companies where they postulate on the chemical composition of the soil and determine which would be conducive for the construction of structures.

The following are some of the job responsibilities of a Mineralogists are as follows:

• Geochemical surveys and fieldwork are planned and conducted by geologists.
• They are responsible for collecting samples of natural materials and analyzing them to get knowledge on the history of Earth and trends in specific places.
• They are responsible for handling specialized equipment like mass spectrometers and micro-samples.
• One of the main responsibilities of Mineralogists is interpretation of survey results and reporting tests.
• The Mineralogists act as connections between engineers, managers, and geologists and help them in execution of the projects.
• They have to conduct tests and controls including gas chromatography, carbon and isotope data, viscosity, and extraction of solvents.
• Keeping in touch with all the new developments related to the new exploration related to extraction from oil wells.
• They are responsible for writing technical reports for journals and creating databases
• Helping and assisting mainstream Mineralogists.
• They are responsible for thoroughly examining chemical components in stones and rocks and finding the chemical distribution in them.
• They also deal with the study of different chemical components that lead to the formation of different soils, rocks, and water. They also prevent the release of toxic wastes into water bodies .

How to become a Mineralogist: Steps to follow 

There are a few simple steps that candidates can follow to become successful Mineralogist:

Decision making

• Before prepping up to start your career in Mineralogistry you should know what your interests are and draw a number of career options to choose from..
• Be sure to know what kind of subjects after your 12th will land you into this field, after graduation you will have various types of fields to choose from under this career.
• Mineralogists are supposed to work on the field even in harsh conditions and sometimes they have to stay away from their families which can be a hurdle for many candidates preparing to go into this field. .

Subject choices

• A candidate must have the knowledge of which subjects to choose which will land them up in this field.
• In order to become a Mineralogist, a candidate needs to have Physics, Chemistry, Maths as their main subjects in 10+2 to be eligible for a graduate degree and a similar subject discipline if they want to pursue their post graduation.

Entrance exam preparation

• There are many entrances that are conducted by national, state or universities that can help the candidates to get an entry into the relevant courses.
• Some of them are JEE MAIN, BITSAT, SRMJEE, VITEEE, JEE Advanced.
• In order to prepare for such exams, one needs to have a thorough knowledge of your 12th subjects that is physics, chemistry, and maths since all the questions are asked from this class only, one can refer to NCERT books to strengthen their preparation.
• Apart from the NCERT books the candidates should start preparing from reference books of popular publishing houses such as SChand, Arihant publications

Selecting correct colleges

• After the individual has taken the entrance exams, they should make sure that they clear off the required cut-off or the rank needed to get into the desired college of their choice.
• A good college is one which has good faculty, good college facilities like classrooms, canteen area, hostel, and a good infrastructure.
• In order to select a good college the candidates can go through the rankings released by various authorities such as the NIRF, India Today, or Outlook.

After qualifying exams

• After the individual has qualified the entrance exams they can get admission into the college of their desired interest and then get their counseling done and submit the required documents
• But getting a graduate degree is the beginning of the career, one must complete their masters too to get a good job into a good firm because the more educational qualification the more would be the chance of an individual to get a good job.
• Also individuals after passing the course should start looking for job opportunities. It may be difficult for a fresher to land a job immediately, but the candidates should try to opt for an internship and gather important experience.

Types Of Mineralogist

A course in Mineralogistry opens up scope for various jobs in several industries. Each job is different but has overlapping aspects of job responsibilities.A brief description of all the job titles along with their job duties and responsibilities has been discussed as below.

Crystallographers 

• The molecular and atomic structure of material crystal forms including metals, gases, and biological materials such as proteins, nucleic acids, or viruses is studied by crystallographers.
• They use X-ray techniques to study the connection between the atomic structure of the material and their chemical and physical properties, amongst other methods (such as powder diffraction). This can lead to changes in the material's properties to make it compartmental to society's advantage.

• A crystallographer can work in areas such as biology, chemical studies, materials, physics, archaeology, and geology.

Environmental geologists

• Environmental geologists help prevent soil and groundwater contamination by defining geologically safe sites for new sites, coal ash disposal facilities, and nuclear power plants.
• They also help to plan the disposal of underground waste. For example, companies in some industries dispose of chemical-charged wastewater through deep underground pumping.
• Environmental geologists can help to locate "injection wells" for safe wastewater and supervise the process.
• They also support the planning of new mines to ensure that they are as environmentally safe as possible.
• They decide where to place the extraction waste, how to protect the water, and how to develop a monitoring plan for soil and water

Mineral geologist

• The relations between geology and ore formation and the identification of new mineral resources are studied by mine geologists.
• In order to advise on the short-term and long-term production plans, they are mainly responsible for assessing and analyzing geological data.
• A Mineral geologist gets the option to work mainly in the Private sector organizations.

Seismologists

• Seismologists are ones who study genesis and seismic wave propagation in a geological material. These geological materials can range from the entire surface of a laboratory sample to the entire Earth.
• Their study aims to interpret the Earth's structures and geological composition.
• Seismologists assess potential dangers in the event of earthquakes and strive to minimize their impact by improving building standards.
• Seismologists study seismic waves produced by powerful sources: natural or artificial, like underground nuclear tests, earthquakes etc..
• The seismologists are also involved in the exploration of the underground reservoirs of petroleum and fossil fuels and control the activities creation of seismic waves, controlled explosion and vibration.They work with the petroleum engineers and determine the various safety requirements needed during the exploration and production process
• A seismologist's fundamental work is to identify the source, nature, and size of the seismic events.

Stratigraphers

• Stratigraphy is the test of layers on Earth's physical places.
• It takes years, decades, and even millions of years to build deposits as the rock and soil of this world settles.
• The fundamental changes in the processes of Earth help us to recognize the layers, and the looks of life on the planet just some decades, centuries, or thousands of years ago. This type of science is used by three main disciplines.

How to become a Mineralogist in India?

Students who are interested in becoming Mineralogists must start preparing from 10th onward. The following are some of the simple steps that they must follow to pursue the career.

School Level Preparation 

• Every student who wishes to be a Mineralogist in the future should start preparing for it from the school level only and choose their subjects wisely.
• The student must have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) as their main subjects after 12th to pursue this field of study.
• Students must start preparing for the entrance as colleges conduct their admission through entrance exams for Undergraduate programs.
• The individual can apply for JEE Main, BITSAT, SRMJEEE, or an equivalent exam to get admission into the undergraduate course for Mineralogist.

How to become a Mineralogist after 12th

Once you have completed your 12th the candidate can take various exams to get into, undergraduate, or diploma courses and certificate courses to help them become a Mineralogist. Candidates often prefers to take up full time courses in order to become Mineralogist in India

Undergraduate Level Preparation

• After passing your 12th with PCM as your main subject you will have to appear for entrance exams for admission into undergraduate programs.
• After getting admission in any of the relevant degree programs such as B.Tech Geosciences, BTech Earth science, or BSc Geology, the candidates should look to complete their Graduation with at least 60% marks.
• After completing your undergraduate you can go for a master's.
• The candidates should start preparing for various PG entrance examinations such as GATE, BHU PET, etc.
• Many individuals opt for internships or training to gain more experience in the field,so that they land a decent job.

Post Graduate Preparation 

• After completing their Under Graduation the students can either go for Post graduation in the respective field without any academic gap.

OR

• After Graduation, the student can apply for some job or get into some industry and gain professional experience and then pursue their Post Graduation.
• Incase of studies the candidates should complete their course with at least 55% marks. This score is necessary if they want to pursue PhD or other research based Courses such as MPhil.

Courses to become a Mineralogist

The following are some of the courses that the candidates can take up after their 12th in order to become a successful Mineralogist in India.

M.Sc Applied Mineralogistry

MSc Applied Mineralogistry is a two-year full-time Postgraduate Master's Degree in Applied Mineralogistry, offered by Osmania University in Hyderabad. The candidates are given admission on the basis of an entrance exam, Common Post Graduate Entrance Tests (CPGET) which is entirely online computer-based examination.

M.Sc Applied Mineralogistry course highlights

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria Includes:

• Candidates must obtain B.Sc. graduation of 40% with an optional Geology subject. At least four papers of 100 marks each must be studied by the candidate in geology.
• The maximum number of seats are 18.
• There is no upper age limit for the exam

M.Tech in Geoinformatics

MTech in Geoinformatics involves interdisciplinary studies in the fields of science, technology, and social science and prepares students for work at both national and international organisations that expertises in the field of visualization management and storage of geological information. This course introduces students to new technologies in earth science, geo-informatics, and climatic change for advanced research. The career opportunities include GIS and remote sensing, analytics of big data and machine learning, adaptation and mitigation of climate change; urban and rural planning, intelligent city planning, and planning. It is a two-year program.

M.Tech Geoinformatics course highlights

Eligibility criteria 

• The candidate should have passed with 60% marks in B.E., B.Tech, M.Sc in engineering, or any relevant discipline.
• The candidates have to pass the entrance examination in order to study the M.Tech courses

Important Links

B.Tech in Geoscience Engineering 

B.Tech is a 4-year BSc in Geoscience Engineering, which studies hydrocarbon interpretation, analyses, excavating techniques, and mechanics for rock and soil petroleum extraction beneath the ground. The main technical information needed for petroleum extraction from the earth are provided from candidates who have completed B.Tech in Geoscience Engineering. The rocks and the soil that shape the surface of the ground are the most physical forms that play a role.The course is important to grasp the physical properties of the rocks and the land in order to ensure that the proper petroleum extraction mechanism is implemented.

B.Tech in Geoscience course highlights

Eligibility criteria

• A candidate should have PCM as their main subjects with a minimum of 50% from any recognized board of education.
• Candidates appearing in the 12th examinations are also eligible to sit for entrances
• There is no upper age limit for the entrances generally.

B.Sc Geology

BSc Geology is a 3-year undergraduate degree focused on earth science. BSc Geology is a bachelor of geology. This course consists of the study of rocks, minerals, other solids, their composition, history, and other processes.

B.Sc Geology course highlights (h4)

Eligibility criteria 

• Candidates must have completed their 10+2 with a minimum of 50% marks and should have completed 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as the main subjects with English as a language paper
• The lower age limit of the course is 17 years.

PhD in Geology 

Ph.D. in Geology is a 3-5 years doctoral program that prepares students for different geoscience careers. Geology includes mineralogical, paleontological, structural, and geological studies.

Ph.D. Geology course highlights

Eligibility criteria 

• The candidate must have a master’s degree in the same discipline with at least a minimum of 55% marks.
• The popular Entrance examination related to the course are UGC NET, GATE, BHU RET, etc

Admission process 

The admission process for all the courses are either based on the entrance examination or on the basis of merit list based on the previous qualifying examination. The general admission process has been described briefly.

• Candidates must first select the colleges where they want to study and look out for the eligibility criteria, the admission process and the qualifying entrance examination.
• If they meet the eligibility criteria then the candidates should register themselves and develop login ID. The candidates are required to save the ID and fill up the application form with required details.
• The candidates are required to upload the various documents in the correct format and size on the website and pay the application fees.
• After payment of the application fees they are required to check the declaration part and take out a copy of the application form for further detail.
• The candidates are then required to take up the exam and score well.
• If the candidates have cracked the entrance examination then they must visit the college website and check the cutoff scores which are generally uploaded on the college website.
• If the admission are based in merit list then the colleges will bring out a list of the qualified candidates
• The qualified candidates are then allowed to take admission by paying the required admission fees either for the first year or semester. .

How to prepare for the exam

The following are the general preparation tips that the candidates can follow for the entrance examination

• Download the syllabus from the official website.
• Make a timetable for The entrance exam and follow it strictly. Cover every topic in each subject and assign them a particular slot in the timetable. This will ensure that the entire syllabus is covered at least once
• The candidate must have a thorough knowledge and must brush up their skills by taking up as many mock tests as possible.
• Try to use different books that are specifically designed for these exams and are easily available online.
• Try to complete the preparation at least one week before the final examination and keep the last week entirely for revision.
• During the final examination try to attempt the questions in three parts. First attempt the easier questions and gain confidence. Then attempt the questions that are somewhat tough. Keep the extremely difficult questions for the final attempt

How to become a Mineralogist Aboard

Candidates often prefer to pursue courses related to Mineralogistry from the foreign universities. The reason behind this is that the foreign universities provide the candidates with better infrastructural support along with research facilities and of course a better payment.

Let us see the various courses that the students can pursue in different foreign nation to become a successful Mineralogist

Canada 

The candidates who wish to study in Canada should keep the following things in mind before applying for courses related to Mineralogistry.

Requirements 

• To be eligible for admission at the graduate level the candidate needs to have a degree in related disciplines like Physics, Chemistry, Geology with a minimum of B+ average.
• In case of admission to the undergraduate courses most of the universities and college in Canada prefer candidates who has completed their 12th or equivalent examination with 60% marks from a recognised board or has General education certificate (GEC)
• In case of PG admission the candidates must have an aggregate score of 55% or more in relevant streams from a recognized university.
• Candidates must also submit the english proficiency test score. The two common tests are TOEFL and IELTS. In case of IELTS the minimum score is 6.5 and in the case of IELTS it is generally around 85.
• Some form of industry training in the field or additional studies can be helpful for the admission process
• The candidates have to sit for entrance examinations such as GRE, GMAT etc as required by the university.

Top Colleges/Universities

UK 

Candidates who want to study in UK must keep the following things in mind before they take up courses relevant in becoming a Mineralogist in UK

• In the case of undergraduate admission the candidates must have passed their 12th or equivalent examination with a minimum of 70% marks. In the case of admission to top colleges the candidates must score 80% with a minimum score of 75% in 3 subjects.
• In the case of post graduate admission the candidate needs to have a 2.1 honors undergraduate degree in a subject-related area.
• A candidate needs to have an IELTS score to be eligible for admission into a graduate or a postgraduate course. The TOEFL score is also expected as proof of english proficiency.
• The candidates are needed to submit letter(s) of recommendation as well as list of references to the individual colleges

Top Colleges/Universities 

USA 

Candidates who want to study in the USA should keep the following things in Mind before seeking admission in top universities

Requirements 

• In the case of admission to the undergraduate programs the candidates must have passed their 12th or equivalent examination from a recognised board . The minimum marks required is 75-80%. The candidates are required to have mathematics, physics and chemistry in their 12th.
• To be eligible for a degree in post program the candidate must have a Bachelor's degree in a field related to a subject like natural science or engineering. Most programs ask for a requirement of a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (83-86%).
• GRE scores are required in most cases.
• Candidates must pass the english proficiency test such as IELTS or TOEFL

Top Colleges/Universities 

Australia 

Candidates who want is study in Australia should keep the following things in mind before speaking admission to courses in Mineralogistry Courses

• Australia offers full-time undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs.
• At the UG level, applicants must have studied Mathematics, Physics as their main subjects. A candidate must also have either of the two subject’s i.e. English, mathematics, chemistry. while for PG a bachelor's degree in the same specialisation is required.
• Similar to other countries, international applicants must possess an English proficiency test score like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE etc.
• And the admission is done on the basis of ATAR.

Top Colleges/Universities 

Benefits of Careers as a Mineralogist

The following are some of the Benefits of careers as a Mineralogists

• Travel Opportunities The one thing that benefits from being a Mineralogist is that you get to travel a lot to different cities, explore different climates, soils. The Mineralogists are required to visit the various exploration sites for oil and natural gas which may be offshore, adding a bit of adventure to the career.
• High Salary The added benefit is the lucrative salary that it offers with other added benefits that makes the students want to go more and more for it. The starting salary of a Mineralogist is very decent with around INR 354,000 per annum. The Mineralogist earns around INR 500,000 after gaining 2-3 years of experience.
• It also provides the chance to work with experts and professionals from different fields.
• Diverse work programs.
• Job Security is also one of the benefits for people as it provides security of a job to the people working in this field. The Mineralogist would be mainly involved either with the construction or the petroleum industry in the coming years. Both of which will register strong growth in the coming years. Thus adding to the job security.
• Positive Impact Since Mineralogists have a lot of knowledge about the different things happening in our environment people respect them highly and this, in turn, gives a positive impact and vibe to people working as Mineralogists. They also predict the safety of the structures as well as geological exploration, thus have some parts in protecting the environment as well as human life hence cheating a positive impact.

How to Become a Mineralogist: Top Recruiters

• Geological Survey of India
• Tmi Ikiloop
• WAPCOS

Skills Required to become a Mineralogist

• They should have strong research skills, as they have to work in a laboratory with various equipment.
• They should have good communication skills as they have to communicate with each other on a daily basis.
• Strong Mathematical skills are also what is required for good Mineralogists as they have to continuously work with numerals.
• They should also know how to work in a team and effectively coordinate with each other so teamwork is an important skill required.

Salary of a Mineralogist in India

The salary of Mineralogist depends on several factors like the number of years of experience of the candidate, specialisation etc. All available salaries of Mineralogists in India are as below.

Organization Wise Salary

Specialization Wise

Gender Wise Salary

Experience Wise 

After Passing Mineralogistry course

Students who have completed their courses in Mineralogist have the following options to choose from them have been described below:

Higher Education

For students who have completed their under-graduation can take up some diploma courses or go for some certificate courses, students who have completed their masters can directly go for jobs in the same field, the more the student has educational qualification the more it is helpful for grabbing good opportunities.

Start Job

After completing your masters the student can look up jobs or go for certain internship training. As such, training is crucial for the job of a Mineralogist. The candidates after completing their course can opt for entry level jobs that pays less but provides them with relevant courses. The candidates should look to pick up internships that offer them valuable experience.