Christopher Gates

I earned his M.S. in Geology from the University of Tennessee where my thesis focused on characterizing and predicting flow on rock fracture surfaces under the advisement of Edmund Perfect in 2018. I had previously attended James Madison University where I earned a B.S. in Geology where my senior research focused on determining pressure and temperature conditions of lower crustal xenoliths using ternary feldspars. During my time in undergraduate and graduate school I had a scholarly focus on engineering geology and hydrogeology. I conducted an internship with Nyrstar East Tennessee Mines in the summer of 2017.

Following the completion of my M.S. degree in 2018, I began working full time in the mining sector with Nyrstar East Tennessee Mines. I was initially hired as a Graduate Geologist to work in the exploration department, where I characterized diamond drill core, prepared samples, visited drill sites, and compiled reports on drilling progress. In early 2019 I was promoted to Project Geologist to work as a production geologist at Immel mine, where I learned grade control, face mapping and grading, stope development and mapping, planning and implementation of short range exploration, ore resource and reserve management, and mine planning using MinePlan 3D and AutoCAD. In early 2020 I was promoted to Mine Geologist which continued my development as a production geologist.

Outside of work I enjoy mountain biking and hiking through the trails of East Tennessee, cheering the Tennessee Vols Football Team, and playing with my dog Junior.

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Research Interests

Grade Control, Face Mapping and Grading, Stope Development and Mapping, Planning and Implementation of Short Range Exploration, Ore Resource and Reserve Management, and Mine Planning

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Education

M.S., Geology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 2018 B.S., Geology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, 2016