If you are anticipating or currently undergoing a mining project, you will likely require the help of a mining consulting services company at some point. The quality of this company can help to make, break, accelerate, or slow your progress on the project.
4 QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN A MINING CONSULTING SERVICES COMPANY
In the article below, we draw from decades of mining expertise to advise the qualities that are most beneficial to look for when selecting a mining consulting services company.
1. CLEAR AND EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION
One of the most important things to look for in a mining services company is quality communication. There are typically a lot of moving pieces when it comes to mining projects. It can be frustrating if one of your service providers stops communicating or is slow to respond to inquiries, as it can slow other aspects of your project.
If a mining consulting services provider is slow or inconsistent in communication during the initial partnership stages, it likely won’t get better as the project progresses. Before choosing your services provider, take time to talk to previous and current clients about their experience with the company. Ask about the quality of communication as well as the company’s performance and expertise.
2. LOCATION EXPERTISE
Laws and regulations pertaining to mining can vary from state to state. It can be beneficial to ensure your mining services company has specific expertise in your target region. This helps to ensure they have a clear understanding of the protocols involved in processes such as claim staking and technical services. Vetting your mining services company upfront can save having to redo work or face delays in the long run.
3. HIGH-QUALITY FIELD CREW
You may be confident that the corporate team at your mining consulting services company is high quality, but it’s their field crew that will support any of the boots-on-the-ground needs your project may have. This means the quality of many of your reports, surveys, samples, and evaluations may rely on individuals you may not have the opportunity to speak with directly.
Ask questions about the experts that will be working on your project and speak with previous and current clients about their experience with the company. This will help you get a good idea of the quality of the crew that will be manning in-the-field work.
Tip: Choosing a mining services company that also specializes in mining and geology staffing means they typically have the top pick of field crew contractors. It also means they won’t have to take as much time trying to find individuals to perform on-site services as a company that doesn’t have as comprehensive an employee network.
4. BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE
When searching for a mining consulting services company, it can be helpful to look into their breadth of expertise. Mining projects typically need support in several different areas—claim staking, geophysical services, technical service, field crew services, labor/staffing, and more. Having to vet new companies each time you reach a new stage of your project can be unnecessarily time consuming and frustrating.
It is more efficient to find a high-quality company that you can trust and develop a relationship with to perform your mining service needs. Not only does this save you time in researching a new company for each stage of your project, but it can also mean you save time and resources throughout the life of your project.
For instance, a company you have previously worked with is better equipped to hit the ground running since they’re already up to speed on your project. They have relationships within your company, which can improve communication and effectiveness. It may also provide cost benefits for additional services compared to the cost of a one-off project.
However, it’s also wise to ensure that the mining services you need are within the company’s breadth of expertise. You don’t want to risk a company that says “yes” to every project, even if it’s not something they regularly do.
How Can We Help?
Rangefront Mining Services is proud to offer comprehensive mining services for projects across the United States. For more information about our company or the services we provide, reach out today by giving us a call or clicking “Contact Us” below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BRIAN GOSS
President, Rangefront Mining Services
Brian Goss brings over 20 years of experience in gold and mineral exploration. He is the founder and President of Rangefront, a premier geological services and mining consulting company that caters to a large spectrum of clients in the mining and minerals exploration industries. Brian is also a director of Lithium Corp. (OTCQB: LTUM), an exploration stage company specializing in energy storage minerals and from 2014 to 2017, he fulfilled the role of President and Director of Graphite Corp. (OTCQB: GRPH), an exploration stage that specialized in the development of graphite properties. Prior to founding Rangefront, Brian worked as a staff geologist for Centerra Gold on the REN project, as well as various exploration and development projects in the Western United States and Michigan. Brian Goss holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Geology from Wayne State University in Michigan.
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