Women geologists have arrived in Yukon

The face of the geology profession is changing and no where is the trend more evident than in the Yukon Territory, where a mini-boom in exploration brought scores of women rock hounds trooping to mining camps across the northern wilderness this summer.

"We've had women geologists in the industry all along, but nothing like the numbers we've been seeing lately," said Mike Burke, a senior geologist with the Yukon Geological Survey.

Women are increasingly populating mining teams as high mineral prices has spurred exploration and created a shortage of skilled geologists in the mining industry.

At 10 camps ranging from early stage exploration projects to Yukon's one producing mine Mining News observed significant numbers of women working in vital roles. In addition to traditional jobs such as camp cook and safety officer, women also joined the ranks of geologists, geotechnical specialists and geology students at the camps. From Overland Resources Inc.'s Andrew Project in eastern Yukon to Underworld Resources Inc.'s White River and Black Fox gold projects in the west, women professionals were present in significant numbers.

Taking the lead

Most impressive were women geologists filling pivotal roles at Yukon Nevada Corp.'s Ketza River Project, Northern Freegold Resources Ltd.'s Freegold Mountain Project and at White River and Black Fox.

At Ketza River, mining veteran Erika J. Shepard was hired in April as chief geologist to help transition the gold project from exploration to production.

Northern Freegold has several women geologists, including President Sue Craig, who is one of the most accomplished women geologists in the Yukon with a history of outstanding service at the Brewery Creek Mine and the Galore Creek Project in British Columbia. Craig is also the wife of prospector and Northern Freegold CEO Bill Harris.

Debbie James is one of several staff geologists at Northern Freegold. A 1988 graduate of the University of British Columbia, James said female enrollment among geology majors in Canadian colleges recently has climbed as high as 60 percent.

The influx of female professionals, mostly Canadians, into the Yukon bush this summer included women from New Zealand and Alaska.

At Underworld's early stage White River and Black Fox projects, Hanne Paulsen, a young woman from New Zealand, served as project geologist. Paulsen worked with local prospector Shawn Ryan whose wife and business partner Cathy, is also a geologist.

Stephanie Mrozek, a student pursuing a master's degree in geology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and planning her thesis, worked as a geologist's assistant at the Mike Lake Project this summer where Katrina Jessen served as project geologist and manager.

Mrozek, who has spent previous summers working at the Fort Knox gold mine in Interior Alaska, said she came to Canada to broaden her exposure to the industry. She described the UAF geology program as being "top-notch" and its leader, Professor Rainer Newberry, as being an expert in skarn geology.

The program currently has 40-50 women students enrolled, who are pursuing either a master's or a doctorate degree in geology.

Originally from Toronto, Mrozek said she expects to graduate in 2010. She completed undergraduate study in Nevada.