The No. 1 shaft at Vaal Reefs circa 2007. Photo by Ralph Rushton.
Earth scientists are a well-educated bunch, although we don’t always come across as clever when we’re five beers into our cups. Most geologists other than self-taught prospectors have some form of university degree. Many of my colleagues were so enamored with the University study-drink-drink-more-study-repeat routine that they did what I did, and went back to university to earn a master’s degree or doctorate on top of their undergraduate degrees. Clever bunch, geologists. But eventually, assuming you have no wish to be an academic geologist or a waiter, reality bites and some sort of salaried earth science career is needed to fund the pub breaks.