SME eNews - Most Recent Issue  

At the 2010 Foundation Silent Auction you will have the opportunity to bid on two fabulous trips:

The Pebble Project in Alaska and
The Carlin Trend Mine in Nevada.

Click here to view more auction items

Dear SME Member:
In 2010 the Annual Meeting of Members will be held immediately following the conclusion of the SME Board of Directors Meeting on Sunday, February 28, at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown in Phoenix, Arizona.

At this meeting, 2009 President, William H. Wilkinson, will report on the Society's activities, its state, its concerns, and its financial condition. Nikhil C. Trivedi will be installed as the 2010 President and, upon election by the membership entitled to vote. A proxy was mailed to you recently. You may submit your vote via mail or online at: http://www.smenet.org/proxy/

February 28, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. You can look forward to an evening filled with great food, a more casual theme: Boots ‘n’ Heels (no ties please), a live auction, live dance music and much more. The activities we have planned will provide you with an opportunity to relax and enjoy the evening while supporting our fund raising efforts and taking part in the vision for the SME Foundation’s future. Purchase your tickets on your SME Annual Meeting registration or by calling SME.

The Colorado Mining Association, Denver Gold Group, Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration & Consulate General of Canada in Denver Cordially invite you to a 2010 Welcome Reception for the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention. Sunday, March 7, 2010, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Tudors 7 & 8 Room at the Fairmont Royal York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. You must be an SME Member to attend. Please RSVP no later by February 28, 2010. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LVKQQ8Y

For the first time, SME will open a bookstore at this year's PDAC Conference. Choose from a selection of more than 70 mining and mineral processing titles. Come early in the week as supplies are limited. Located in the registration area on Level 600. http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/conv/index.html

In order to be matched with a Mentor or Student with similar interests it is imperative that applications are received by February 12, 2010!

Whether you are a seasoned SME Annual Meeting veteran or a first timer, you have the opportunity to affect the future of SME by participating as a mentor in this year's SME Annual Meeting Mentor Program. Mentors can be instrumental in helping students to begin developing a network in the industry by showing students the "ropes" and introducing them to colleagues. This is a marvelous opportunity to have a real impact in the society at a personal level. Students requesting mentors will be matched with mentor volunteers, based on information drawn from the Mentor Form. Both Mentors and Students will be notified before the 2010 Annual Meeting. Don't miss your chance to be a valuable resource to our student members - SME's future leaders.

To volunteer or request further information for the Mentor Program, contact Mona Vandervoort at vandervoort@smenet.org, or phone 303-948-4227. To sign up online go to: http://www.smenet.org/mentor or you can sign up when you pre-register for the annual meeting.

In order to be matched with a Mentor or Student with similar interests it is imperative that applications are received by February 12, 2010!

SME is looking forward to providing student members with mentors at the SME Annual Meeting in 2010. Given the favorable feedback from the students and veteran members alike, SME is once again making this mentoring program available to all students who wish to participate during the 2010 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. The programs' goals are to give students a deeper understanding of the activities, opportunities, and networking available at the Annual Meetings, and give veteran SME members a better perspective of the wants and needs of our younger membership. Students planning to attend the Annual Meeting who wish to take advantage of the mentoring program should complete the Student Interest form online at: http://www.smenet.org/mentor/Student Students will then be paired with member volunteers based on shared common interests and will be notified before the 2010 SME Annual Meeting.

Industrial Minerals Division Celebrates 75th Anniversary

The Industrial Minerals Division is celebrating their 75th Anniversary starting at the 2010 Annual Meeting in Phoenix and lasting throughout 2010, culminating with a Gala Celebration at the 2011 Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. Special programming and articles will highlight three-quarters of a century of industrial minerals exploration, mining and market growth and will feature comparisons between then and now for those everyday commodities and conveniences that shape our world.

The Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc., (SME) And EduMine Actively Explore Joint Online Learning Program

The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) has signed a letter of intent to move forward with a working relationship with EduMine of Vancouver, B.C. Canada (www.edumine.com). SME is the world’s premiere professional society for the worldwide mining and minerals community with more than 12,500 members. EduMine provides professional development and training for the global mining and mineral exploration industries in elearning and short course formats.

SME will launch the SME Tech Online Learning program of organic materials which will include an extensive library of online courses, web-cast presentations, and social media followings for information exchange.

The EduMine library provides a library of complimentary material to add to SME course catalog. SME Executive Director Dave Kanagy states; “We are very excited to have formed this alliance with EduMine. SME believes this is a strategic fit for both organizations and can be the basis for building a long term working relationship. With the resources of InfoMine/EduMine and the leveraging of SME global standing within the mining community, there is considerable opportunity to jointly serve the needs of the mining and mineral industry."

SME provides value for members and nonmembers, and seeks to improve the image of our industry by supporting industry professionals and students via technical and professional development of products and services, strengthening networks among global industry professionals, enabling the exchange of information and ideas for the advancement of the industry, engaging in proactive cooperation among all who have interest in the industry, promoting health, safety, environmental, and community responsibility within our industry.

Miners Give Back: Community Project in Conjunction with the 2010 SME Annual Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona

Miners are good neighbors! We work hard to leave the land better than we found it. Let’s be good visitors too and leave Phoenix a little better for our having been there.

Ready to get involved? Join your fellow colleagues on Friday, February 26 from 1:00 pm – 4:00pm as SME partners with Treasures 4 Teachers to help promote Earth-Friendly education and ensure that children and classrooms across Arizona have the tools necessary for learning.

Volunteers are needed to help separate incoming donations and assemble educational kits for teachers to use with their students. No special skills required. Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothing and closed toes shoes as you will be standing while volunteering. Those interested should mark the appropriate box on the Annual Meeting registration Form to indicate their interest.

Transportation will depart Sheraton Phoenix Downtown to the facility and will return to the hotel at the conclusion of the project at 4:00pm. Beverages and snacks will be provided.

Treasures 4 Teachers was created by merging two individual missions into a unique and creative organization that would have a much greater impact on the educational and environmental issues facing Arizona. RAFT of AZ, with its focus on ecological stewardship, joined forces with Treasures 4 Teachers and its school supply resources to address the needs of students, teachers, and the community.

Treasures 4 Teachers receives numerous donations from businesses, manufacturers and private parties each year. These donations are then used to create educational kits for teachers to use with their students.

For additional information or questions please contact SME Meetings at 303-948-4200 or meetings@smenet.org.
For more information on Treasures 4 Teachers, visit its Web site at www.treasures4teachers.org.

Minerals and Metallurgical Processing Journal

Minerals & Metallurgical Processing: your source for the latest research in flotation, leaching, extraction and other key metallurgical processes. 2010 is the year of the two-part Gold Issue, plus M&MP is more accessible than ever with its new online-only option (only $99 for members, vs. $119 for a print-and-online subscription). For more information visit the SME website: http://www.smenet.org/minerals-and-metallurgical-processing-journal/.

February 28-March 3, 2010
Phoenix, Arizona

Complete details NOW ONLINE and with your November issue of Mining Engineering. A few highlights include:

Specialty programming: 100 Years of Mining Research Symposium, Haydn Murray Symposium, Bulk Materials Symposium, Mineral appraisers sessions, Mineral Economics and Management Society sessions and much more...more than 100 sessions...literally something for everyone.

New: Freeport McMoRan Student Programs
New: SEG Short Course
New: Miners Give Back
New: Spouse/Guest Brunch
New Member Orientation
More information available here.

SME’s Mineral Resource Management Committee (MRMC) and the Mineral Economics and Management Society (MEMS) have teamed up to organize two sessions and a luncheon at the upcoming SME meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, February 28-March 3, 2010. Both sessions and the luncheon are on one day, Wednesday, March 3. The luncheon speaker is Tony Hodge, President of the London-based International Council on Mining and Metals. Plan on attending.

For more information about registration, hotels, and other aspects of the SME program, see: www.smenet.org The deadline for advance registration is January 29, after which registration fees increase.

June 19-23, 2010
Portland, Oregon

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS

More information available here.

2010 International Conference on Hoisting and Haulage
September 12-15, 2010
Mirage Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada

Complete details can be found by clicking here.

Theory and Practice of Sampling Particulate Materials
March 22-24, 2010, Part 1, Montreal
March 25-26, 2010, Part 2 (QA-QC, mine, and project audits), Montreal
Dominique François-Bongarçon, AGORATEK, USA

Develop an understanding of the theory of sampling particulate materials, its practice, scope, limitations and appropriate applications.

Strategic Risk Management in Mine Design: From life-of-mine to global optimization
June 1-4, 2010, Montreal
Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University; Gelson Batista, AMEC, Canada; and Gerald Whittle, Whittle Consulting PTY LTD., Australia

Learn how you can have a significant, positive impact on your company’s bottom line by utilizing strategic mine planning methodologies and software.
Optional ½ day Whittle refresher skills workshop.

An Introduction to Cutoff Grade Estimation: Theory and practice in open pit and underground mines
September 8-10, 2010, Montreal
Jean-Michel Rendu, Consultant, USA

Learn the relationship between cutoff grades and the design of pushbacks in open pit mines, the development of new stopes in underground selective mining, and the optimization of block sizes in caving methods.

Geostatistical Mineral Resource/Ore Reserve Estimation and Meeting the New Regulatory Environment: Step by step from sampling to grade control
September 13-17, 2010, Montreal
Michel Dagbert, Geostat Systems Int, Canada; Jean-Michel Rendu, Consultant, USA; and Roussos Dimitrakopoulos, McGill University, Canada

Learn about the latest regulations on public reporting of resources/reserves through state-of-the-art statistical and geostatistical techniques.

Mineral Project Evaluation Techniques and Applications: From conventional methods to real options
November 8-11, 2010, Montreal
Michel Bilodeau, McGill University, Canada

Learn the basics of economic/financial evaluation techniques, as well as the practical implementation of these techniques to mineral project assessments.

For complete details see: http://www.smenet.org/meetings/

For other sources of Mining Industry news along with other pertinent information available on the Web please check out the following websites.

The Industrial Minerals Association - North America (IMA-NA) has an Enews publication for the Industrial Minerals Industry: http://www.ima-na.org/IMA-NA-e-Newsletter-Archive

The Colorado Mining Association (CMA) has a newsletter called "Rock and Coal", you can find this along with other pertinent news at: http://www.coloradomining.org/p_archive.php

The American Geological Institute's (AGI) "Government Affairs Program" has pertinent information on the Federal Government as it pertains to the mining industry with a monthly review, special updates and a wealth of other current articles of interest. Please visit their website at: http://www.agiweb.org/gap/

The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) has a monthly Enews newsletter as well as other useful information for our industry, please check out their website at: http://www.tms.org/newsletter/newsletter-home.html

The National Mining Association (NMA) has a weekly bulletin it puts out on Fridays, please check out this bulletin on their website at: http://www.nma.org/newsroom/mining_week.asp

The International Tunneling Association (ITA) has a periodical newsletter pertaining to the Tunneling Industry. To view the most recent issue, past issues and sign up for their mailing list at, CLICK HERE

The links provided above will take you away from our website, SME has no control of these sites and SME cannot be held responsible for the content of these websites.

The Industrial Minerals Association
North America
(IMA-NA)

The Colorado Mining Association(CMA)

The American Geological Institute's(AGI)

The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society(TMS)

The National Mining Association (NMA)

The International Tunneling Association (ITA)