Internship- Hydrogeologist-SLC

Resolution Copper | Superior, AZ

Summer 2024 Internship

Hydrogeologist

If you want to drive real change, we have just the place to do it. Our Internship Program is an opportunity for you to shape Rio Tinto from the inside out. We want you to be part of our team to help take us forward by solving the emerging challenges of our time. At Rio Tinto, we believe the best ideas come from bringing people together with different perspectives to work toward a common goal - to create a better tomorrow. 

About the role 

We are offering a 3-month internship opportunity in Hydrogeologyin Rio Tinto’s Resolution Copper site in Superior, Arizona.

This role is located within the Tailings & Hydrology team at Resolution and provides baseline monitoring data of groundwater levels, pore pressures, stream flows, dewatering data, and other hydrological/hydrogeological data. These data are critical for monitoring site water risks, potential impacts to surrounding receptors, design of water management systems, and ensuring operational efficiencies of water management systems.

Reporting to the Superintendent Hydrogeology and other members of the Tailings and Hydrology Team, your key responsibility will be to assist the team with the collection and processing of hydrological data to verify that the data is accurate and readily available to all stakeholders relying on hydrological/hydrogeological data.

Specific activities that may be performed include the following:

• Measurement of water levels in wells using manual reel-type sounders and by downloading water levels from data loggers
• Installation of new water level loggers in wells or streams
• Installation of telemetry systems
• Collection of groundwater samples from the underground mine
• Calibration of field water quality instruments
• Entry of hydrological data into the times-series database
• Processing and performing QA/QC of time-series data

• Hydrological and safety inspections of hydrological field activities performed by contractors

What you’ll bring 

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• Currently enrolled in a related field (hydrogeology, geology, hydrology, environmental sciences, civil engineering, geological/geotechnical/environmental engineering)
• Demonstrated academic excellence
• 0 to 2 years of relevant experience
• A desire to learn and apply hydrology principles and analysis
• Ability to work with supervision
• Attention to detail
• Ability to collaborate effectively and work in a team environment
• Physical ability to hike in and out of steep canyons with a backpack
• Physical ability to work 6,800 feet underground

*To be eligible, you must return to school the semester following the internship period and have the right to work full-time in the United States.

What we offer

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
• A competitive salary
• A relocation lump-sum offered for students (for eligible students)
• Reimburse 1-time travel to and from your work site (for eligible students)

• Ambitious, exciting and rewarding experience
• Opportunity to build relationships with the Rio Tinto team and community
• A great chance to prepare yourself to join our Graduate Development Program 

Where will you be working

The Resolution Copper project is a proposed underground mine 60 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona, near the town of Superior. Resolution Copper Mining LLC (RCML) is a limited liability Company owned by Rio Tinto (55%) and BHP (45%), with Rio Tinto (RT) as manager of the project. Resolution is located in an active mining district 100 kilometers east of Phoenix, Arizona, and is one of the best-undeveloped copper deposits in the world containing over 27 million tons of copper in high-grade indicated and inferred resources.

The ore deposit lies nearly 7,000 feet below the earth's surface. It represents one of the most significant untapped copper deposits today, with an estimated copper resource of 1.787 billion metric tonnes at an average grade of 1.5% copper. The mine has the potential to supply nearly 25% of US copper demand.

The mine will create several thousand direct and indirect jobs, with an economic value of several billion dollars over the estimated mine life. Resolution will also serve as an engine for economic growth, and use best practices to create a safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly operation. The copper from the mine will be used to produce vital products that modern society depends upon, such as electric vehicles, smartphones, and MRI scanners.Permitting is well-underway, and the public plays a significant role in planning and approving the project.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminum, critical minerals and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.

We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win and meet opportunities.

Every Voice Matters 

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from underrepresented groups such as Indigenous people, women, the LGBTI community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.

Next steps… 

There’s no better time to lead this change than the leaders of the future and that starts with a graduate or vacation role at Rio Tinto. Apply today.

Please note, in order to be considered for this role, you must complete all pre-screening questions.  

*Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove job postings as there is enough applicants, therefore, if you are interested in applying for this vacancy, please submit your application as soon as possible.

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

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