The M&E Dispatch // 092

Hello Everyone,

As I pack up our lives to move across the country, again, I’ve been thinking a lot about the future of work. Not mine, but my kid’s. And not in some vague “what do you want to be when you grow up” kind of way. I mean actual course selection. The real-world stuff that sets them up for jobs that might not even exist yet.

And let me tell you: high school course selection isn’t what it used to be.

Back in the 90s, your plan for getting into mining was pretty straightforward:

• Grade 11 Mechanics? ✅

• Grade 12 Metal Work? ✅

• Uncle’s buddy at the mine who could “get you in”? ✅

Boom. Lifetime employment.

But those days are mostly gone. Mines don’t just need people who can turn a wrench, they need people who can talk to a robot about the wrench, email head office about why the robot’s wrong, and hop on a Zoom to fix it remotely.

As annoying as it may be to hear, soft skills and digital literacy now matter just as much as hands-on experience.

So, if your teenager is currently kicking and screaming about why they don’t need to take Computer Science or Drama to work in mining… here’s what they actually need to be taking if you want them to have a shot at the future.

1. Computer Science

Even a basic understanding of how machines think goes a long way. Autonomous haul trucks, AI-powered exploration, digital twins, these aren’t sci-fi anymore. They’re job requirements. If your kid can write a loop or troubleshoot an error, they’re miles ahead.

2. Drama or Public Speaking

Yes, really. The industry is becoming more collaborative, and people who can speak clearly, present ideas, and hold their own in a meeting will move up faster than those who can’t. Communication is a technical skill now, get them comfortable on stage, and meetings won’t scare them later.

3. Mechanics or Shop

We’re not throwing the trades out with the bathwater. Being able to weld, fix, and fabricate is still core, but it’s even more powerful when paired with data skills. The best workers tomorrow are going to be hybrid: part technician, part analyst.

4. Business or Entrepreneurship

Even if they don’t want to “run a business,” understanding cost, budgeting, and how decisions are made in operations is incredibly valuable. The days of “just do your job and don’t ask questions” are over. Mines need problem-solvers, not just task-doers.

5. Digital Media or Tech Ed

Can they make a presentation? A dashboard? A simple website? These things matter more than you think. The mining industry’s gone digital, and if your kid can communicate or compile findings with clarity (not a 37-page PDF with Comic Sans), they’ll stand out.

The hiring bar is shifting. Fast.

If you want your kid to have a real shot, not just at getting a job in mining, but thriving in it, they need more than just the classic “hands-on” skills. They need to be digitally fluent, adaptable, and able to work in hybrid teams where the drill operator might be 1000 km away, and the geologist is logged in from a hotel in Santiago.

We’ve been watching this unfold in real-time over at CoalJobs.ca. More and more listings are asking for skills that weren’t even teachable when we were in school.

So sure, let them take mechanics. Let them take metal work. But nudge them into Computer Science. Insist on Communication. And don’t panic if they want to take Drama, it might be the smartest move they make.

Because the mines of tomorrow are built with curiosity, collaboration, and code.

// The Dirt

North Arrow Receives Final $1M Payment for Naujaat Diamond Project
The final tranche from EHR Resources completes the divestment, with North Arrow retaining a royalty interest.
https://northarrowminerals.com/news-releases/north-arrow-receives-final-1-million-payment-from-ehr-resources/

Grid Battery Metals Expands Land Package at Texas Springs Lithium Project
The company has increased its lithium holdings with newly staked claims, bolstering future exploration potential.
https://gridbatterymetals.com/news-releases/grid-battery-metals-increases-land-holdings-in-nevada/

Recharge Resources Begins Permitting Drill Program at Georgia Lake Lithium Project
Recharge is preparing for a follow-up drill program to expand its lithium exploration in Ontario.
https://rechargeresources.com/news/recharge-begins-drill-permitting-for-georgia-lake-lithium-project/

Anfield Resources Completes Consolidation with Marquez-Juan Tafoya Uranium Project
Anfield closes on the final acquisition agreement to consolidate key assets in New Mexico.
https://www.anfieldenergy.com/news/anfield-completes-consolidation-of-marquez-juan-tafoya-project/

Benton Resources Commences Drilling at Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project
Initial drilling at the newly acquired Newfoundland property is targeting high-grade mineralization zones.
https://www.bentonresources.ca/news/benton-commences-drilling-at-great-burnt-copper-gold-project/

Gold Basin Resources Intersects 89m of 1.06 g/t Gold
Broad zones of mineralization encountered in step-out drilling at Cyclopic Deposit in Arizona.
https://goldbasincorp.com/news/gold-basin-intercepts-89m-of-1.06-gt-gold-at-cyclopic/

American Eagle Gold Identifies New Porphyry Centre at NAK Project
Recent geophysical and geochemical results point to a potential new porphyry target in British Columbia.
https://americaneaglegold.ca/news/american-eagle-discovers-new-porphyry-centre-at-nak/

Dolly Varden Silver Intersects 328 g/t AgEq Over 14.35m at Homestake Silver Deposit
Results from the Homestake Ridge project in BC continue to affirm high-grade silver mineralization.
https://dollyvardensilver.com/news/dolly-varden-intersects-328-gt-ageq-over-14.35m/

Appia Rare Earths Begins Sampling at PCH Ionic Clay Project in Brazil
The program is part of efforts to delineate and expand the high-potential rare earth zones.
https://appiareu.com/news/appia-begins-sampling-at-pch-project-brazil/

Snowline Gold Closes Strategic Investment with B2Gold
The $20M private placement gives B2Gold a 9.9% stake, signaling strong backing for Snowline’s Yukon projects.
https://snowlinegold.com/news/snowline-gold-closes-20m-strategic-investment-with-b2gold/

My brother’s using some of his vacation time to help me haul the big stuff into the seacan and generally lend a hand. True to form, just like when we were kids, he’s still asleep hours after the sun’s come up.

Time to go wake him up and get this day rolling. Enjoy the week, all.

- Lee