EurGeol of the month: Dominique Fournier & Béatrice Fournier-Angot

“European Geologist of the month” is a new category of EFG’s monthly newsletter GeoNews. Each month we ask one of the European Geologist title holders to tell us about his professional experiences and which role the title has played for his career.

In October we interviewed a couple of French European Geologists: Dominique Fournier and Béatrice Fournier–Angot. Dominique Fournier is currently consulting geologist. He served before as exploration manager of Asarco in French Guiana and Alamos Gold in Turkey and vice president exploration for Canadian junior companies working in Africa. His wife Béatrice Fournier-Angot has been an independent consulting geologist for over 20 years working in mineral exploration for North-American clients such as Cominco, Placer Dome, Asarco, Alamos Gold, Western Prospector, MDN or Midlands Minerals.

Name: Dominique Fournier / Béatrice Fournier-Angot
EurGeol title number: 533 / 782
Country: France
In which country do you currently work? We are currently consulting geologists working internationally from France.
In which field of geology do you work? Mineral exploration

Could you give us your opinion on the advisability of being member of a professional association? – It is important to be a member of a professional association as through the peer review it represents recognition of your training, ethic and experience as well as a proof that you are continuously improving your professional development.

Could you explain why you applied for the European Geologist title? – In mineral exploration, holding a professional title has progressively become mandatory. The European Geologist title being recognized worldwide, it is the obvious choice for a European geologist.

Do you consider that these titles represent an added value for finding a job? – Yes, definitely. Actually most of the advertised jobs in mineral exploration or mining require the applicants to hold a professional title.

What does this title allow you to do? – The title allows the holder to sign off for the technical content of public reports, presentations posters, company web sites or press releases as a large number of jurisdictions require these documents to be endorsed by holders of professional titles.

Currently a demand of geologists exists abroad. Would you advise unemployed geologists to look for a job outside (your country)? – Mineral exploration is too limited in France and French geologists in this field have almost no other choice than looking for a job abroad. This applies to a number of other European countries as well. However, it is also a chance as it exposes them to a number of geological environments, metal and minerals, deposit types, exploration approaches and jurisdictions. This is a benefit to the geologists at it enlarges their experience.

Did you already work abroad? If yes, could you tell us more about your international experiences? – Yes. We were based out of France for quite a number of years but even now, we are working in foreign countries, mostly in North and South America and in Africa. Oftentimes, we are staying for weeks or months in field camps in the most incredible locations such as in the middle of a pristine jungle, in a desert, in mountains or below northern lights in the arctic. And these camps are sometimes pretty comfortable… we meet, work with and get to know people with very different culture and lifestyle that we would have had no chance to meet otherwise.

Are professional titles useful abroad? – More and more professional titles are mandatory to work as a geologist abroad. Through the agreements between the European Federation of Geologists and other associations, the European Geologist title is recognized almost everywhere.

More information on the EurGeol title: https://eurogeologists.eu/eurgeol-title