This post is part of the GeoConnect³d blog.
Russell Rogers is a Geologist, part of the Geological Mapping Programme at the Geological Survey Ireland (GSI). He has an Undergraduate degree from University of Leicester, followed by an MSc in mineral exploration from INRS, Université du Québec. Before securing a role as a bedrock geologist at the GSI in 2016, he worked for one year in a quality control lab for ball clay in the UK, then for 4 years on mineral exploration projects in Spain and all over Ireland at Aurum Exploration Services as an exploration geologist.
You can find him on LinkedIn.
Geo-interests
Russell was really interested in Geography, but when choosing his A-level courses at the age of 16 he saw a course listed called “Geology” that he thought would be interesting. And he was right! Russell: “We had a field trip in the first year you to look at the geology of South Wales and I never wanted to do anything else ever again.”.
Russell has also been extremely interested in maps of all types since he can remember. And working as an exploration geologist reinforced to him the fundamental importance of a geological map. Russell: “I love the look of a geological map, and I love all of the work that goes into producing a geological map, fieldwork, drilling and spending hours studying work that others have done trying to tease out an interpretation of the geology and find the best way to put it on paper. If the geology map is inaccurate or incomplete, any work you try do with the geology is going to be so much more difficult.”.
The favourite rock
Every geologist has a favourite rock, and Russell’s are pyroclastic rocks. Russell: “I think the reason they are my favourite is because I associate them with a wonderful field trip I took to Tenerife. Although they are generally fascinating in structure and emplacement mechanism.”.
Structural framework: explaining geology to non-experts
From the two pillars of the GeoConnect³d project, Russell’s prefers the structural framework because it is a nice complement to a geology map. Russell: “The flexibility and variety of features that can be displayed on the structural framework can be used to provide a “pre-interpreted” geology map to non-experts.”.
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