Name: Terry L. Jennings

Job Title and Employer: Retired Geologist 

Location: Sparks, NV  

For National Miners Day, we asked some of our Members a few questions. Here’s what they had to say:

Modern Mining isn’t what most people think of. What would you like people to know about the mining industry or your role in it that they might not know?

I worked in the mining industry for over 40 years, both in exploration and as a mine geologist.  The companies I worked for were very environmentally responsible and very safety conscious.   Working under the safety rules of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) created a safer environment than most other industries.  One thing that many people outside of the industry don’t know is that mining offers many different types of jobs and the pay and benefits are some of the best.  You don’t have to have a college degree to make a very good living.  You often have the opportunity to meet different cultures throughout the world.

As a part of the Mining Industry, what are you most proud of? 

I feel proud that I have had the opportunity to see all the good things mining has done for humanity, producing products that have helped better the lives of the human race. If it isn’t grown, it’s mined. Iron, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, and many other elements that mankind uses were produced through mining.  lithium is presently being mined for electric vehicle batteries to help address climate change.

Tell us a little about yourself and why you are sharing your “I am Mining” story! 

I am a retired geologist that enjoyed over 40 years of exploring and mining gold and silver throughout the Western United States, Lead South Dakota, and Canada.   The last 14 years of my career were at the Round Mountain Mine in central Nevada. I worked both as an exploration and mine geologist for many years and finally worked my way up to the position of Chief Geologist. Like many exploration geologists, I worked for many different companies prior to Round Mountain. I totally enjoyed my mining career and most of all the people I worked with.  One of the things that I especially enjoyed was being on the education committee of the Nevada Mining Association.  The focus of the committee was to help educate the public, especially teachers, about why mining is important.