Gina K. Skipper
Drill and Blast Engineer, Precious metals mining
Elko, NV · (775) 555 0134 · name@example.com · linkedin.com/in/ginakskipper
Key Qualifications
EXPERIENCE
Seven years of open pit drill and blast engineering in gold and aggregate operations
INDUSTRIES
Precious metals mining, contract drilling and blasting, construction aggregate
SPECIALTIES
Pattern design, powder factor control, fragmentation analysis, presplit and wall control
SYSTEMS
Deswik, Vulcan, Leapfrog, Split Desktop fragmentation imaging, Power BI
CREDENTIALS
Nevada blaster certification, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responsible person, Mine Safety and Health Administration part 48 training
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in mining engineering, University of Nevada Reno
Results at a Glance
9%
Percent by timing
180
Production shots
11
Acres of restricted
22
Crew members
Executive Summary
Drill and blast engineer with seven years on Nevada open pit gold operations, owning pattern design, powder factor and fragmentation outcomes across three active pits. Cuts explosives cost per ton without giving up wall control. Certified blaster in Nevada and the named responsible person on the site explosives license.
Signature Achievements
- Dropped powder factor from 0.72 to 0.61 pounds per ton on the main pit pattern, saving 1.4 million dollars over two years.
- Cut oversize from 9 percent to 3 percent by timing initiation to the joint set, lifting crusher throughput by 340 tons per operating hour.
- Ran the site conversion to electronic detonators across 180 production shots with no misfires and no delay to mill feed.
- Closed a wall control program that ended two catch bench failures a year and released 11 acres of restricted ground.
- Trained 22 crew members to Nevada blaster certification standard and ended the pit reliance on contract shot firers.
Professional Experience
Drill and Blast Engineer
Ruby Range Gold Operations, Carlin, NV 2021 to present
Three open pits moving 42 million tons a year against an explosives budget of 19 million dollars
- Design daily production patterns and issue shot sheets for two production drills and one presplit rig.
- Report powder factor, fragmentation and wall condition against crusher throughput each week.
- Hold the magazine inventory and the federal explosives record keeping for the site.
- Chair the blast review with operations, geology and the mill to settle fragmentation disputes.
Blast Engineer
Sagebrush Drilling and Blasting Services, Winnemucca, NV 2019 to 2021
Contract crew serving four client mines and two quarries across northern Nevada
- Designed and supervised roughly 260 shots a year across five geologies.
- Set client fragmentation targets and reported against them monthly.
- Kept the crew clear of a single lost time incident across 24 months of field work.
Licensure and Certification
Nevada blaster certification
Responsible person on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives site license
Mine Safety and Health Administration part 48 surface training, current
Member, Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration
Education
Bachelor of Science in mining engineering, University of Nevada Reno, 2017
Core Skills
Blast pattern design · Powder factor optimization · Fragmentation analysis · Presplit blasting · Explosives inventory control · Drill and blast budgeting · Deswik · Vulcan · Split Desktop · Crew training and mentoring