Mining & Exploration Division

As a member of the Mining & Exploration Division of SME, you have access to professional networking and leadership opportunities with peers who share your career objectives.

The Mining & Exploration Division provides a means for cooperation and communication among professionals engaged in the mining of metals, research, specialized aspects of mining, and exploration technologies.

The M&E Division advances these industry segments by:

  • Promoting and publishing papers,

  • Organizing meetings and programs, and

  • Encouraging education on subjects related to the mining and exploration of metals.

Mining & Exploration Division Annual Luncheon

This event is a fantastic opportunity for division members to network while supporting the Mining & Exploration Division scholarships.

Many thanks to our generous sponsors!

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Click here to view the photos on SME's Flickr page

Mining & Exploration Division Bylaws
Mining & Exploration Division Brochure
Mining & Exploration Division Handbook

Mining & Exploration Division Meeting Minutes

2020 Mining & Exploration Division Annual Meeting Minutes
2019 Mining & Exploration Division Annual Meeting Minutes
2018 Mining & Exploration Division Annual Meeting Minutes
2016 Mining & Exploration Division Annual Meeting Minutes
2015 Mining & Exploration Division Annual Meeting Minutes

Mining & Exploration Division Committees

The Howard L. Hartman Award, established in 1989, recognizes distinguished contributions in practice, teaching or research in the field of underground ventilation engineering.

Name Position Start End
Arash Habibi Co-Chair 03/01/2022 02/28/2025
Mr Craig Stewart, B.S.M.E Co-Chair 03/01/2022 02/28/2024
Heather N. Dougherty, PE, PHD Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2027
Mr J. Daniel Stinnette, PE Member 03/01/2021 02/28/2025
Dr. Karoly C. Kocsis, Ph.D. Member 03/01/2022 02/28/2026
Dr. Gerrit V. Goodman, PhD Member 03/01/2021 02/28/2024
Carol Kiser SME Staff 03/01/2021 02/28/2050

The Dickerson Award is administered by the Mining & Exploration Division (M&E Division) of the Society, under the direction of the SME Board of Directors.

Name Position Start End
Daniel B. Rosenbach Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Donald C. Dwyer Chair Elect 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Gregory F. Sutton Past Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Scott P. Lawson Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Ms. Jenessa L. Haarala Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Thomas L. Dyer Member 03/01/2022 02/28/2025
Lia Walker Member 03/01/2022 02/28/2025
Carol Kiser SME Staff 03/01/2021 02/28/2050

The Jackling Award is administered by the Mining & Exploration Division (M&E Division) of the Society, under the direction of the SME Board of Directors.

Name Position Start End
Bradley M. Dunn Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Ms. Jenessa L. Haarala Member 03/01/2020 02/28/2025
Donald C. Dwyer Member 03/01/2019 02/28/2025
Gregory F. Sutton Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Mrs Kathryn E. Marten Robertson Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2028
Lia Walker Member 03/01/2022 02/28/2027
Daniel B. Rosenbach Member 03/01/2021 02/28/2026
Carol Kiser SME Staff 03/01/2021 02/28/2050

The Award is administered by the Mining & Exploration Division (M&E Division) of the Society, under the direction of the SME Board of Directors

Name Position Start End
Bradley M. Dunn Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Gregory F. Sutton Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Lia Walker Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2028
Daniel B. Rosenbach Member 03/01/2022 02/28/2027
Donald C. Dwyer Member 03/01/2020 02/28/2025
Ms. Jenessa L. Haarala Member 03/01/2021 02/28/2026
Carol Kiser SME Staff 03/01/2021 02/28/2050

The Committee shall have oversight of all activities within the Mining & Exploration Division.

Name Position Start End
Bradley M. Dunn Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Donald C. Dwyer Chair Elect 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Gregory F. Sutton Past Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Mrs Kathryn E. Marten Robertson Secretary-Treasurer 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Ms. Jenessa L. Haarala Program Vice Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Daniel B. Rosenbach Program Planner Vice Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Lia Walker Program Planner Vice Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Emily Rose Editor, ex officio 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Kinsley Costner Representative 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
James E. Tabinski Representative 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Maureen Moore Liaison, ex officio 03/01/2022 02/28/2025
Tara K. Davis SME Staff 07/01/2021 02/28/2050
Name Position Start End
Bradley M. Dunn Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Donald C. Dwyer Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Lia Walker Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Brian D. Groff, PE, Qualified Person Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2025
Dr. Georges W. Verly Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Stella M. Searston Member 12/16/2020 02/28/2026
Carol Kiser SME Staff 03/01/2021 02/28/2050

The Award is administered by the Mining & Exploration Division (M&E Division) of the Society, under the direction of the SME Board of Directors.

Name Position Start End
Gregory F. Sutton Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Bradley M. Dunn Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Mrs Kathryn E. Marten Robertson Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2028
Daniel B. Rosenbach Member 03/01/2021 02/28/2026
Donald C. Dwyer Member 03/01/2020 02/28/2024
Lia Walker Member 03/01/2022 02/28/2027
Carol Kiser SME Staff 03/01/2021 02/28/2050
Name Position Start End
Bradley M. Dunn Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Donald C. Dwyer Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Mrs Kathryn E. Marten Robertson Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Lia Walker Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2028
Gregory F. Sutton Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Daniel B. Rosenbach Member 03/01/2021 02/28/2025
Ms. Jenessa L. Haarala Member 03/01/2020 02/28/2024
Tara K. Davis SME Staff 03/01/2021 02/28/2050

The Award is administered by the Mining & Exploration Division (M&E Division) of the Society, under the direction of the SME Board of Directors.

Name Position Start End
Donald C. Dwyer Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Lia Walker Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Mrs Kathryn E. Marten Robertson Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2025
Jason Sexauer Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2026
Rosa M. Rojas Espinoza, BS/MS Member 03/01/2021 02/28/2024
Jeff R. Mattern Member 03/01/2022 02/28/2025
Kathleen M. Tew Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Carol Kiser SME Staff 03/01/2021 02/28/2050

There are currently no members to display for this committee.

The Award Committee is to consist of the members of the M&E Division Program Planning Committee.

Name Position Start End
Lia Walker Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Donald C. Dwyer Vice Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Russell J. Sheets, PE Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Abhishekh Ashok Parmar Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Dr Thomas W. Camm, PE Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Ms. Chelsea A. Gilbert Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Mr Muthu Vinayak Thyagarajan Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Carol Kiser SME Staff 03/01/2021 02/28/2050

The Committee shall review the applications submitted and select the recipients of the M&E Division Scholarship and the AIME Henry De Witt Smith Graduate Scholarship.

Name Position Start End
Gregory F. Sutton Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Bradley M. Dunn Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Mrs Kathryn E. Marten Robertson Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Carol Kiser SME Staff 03/01/2021 02/28/2050

The William Lawrence Saunders Award Committee is responsible for reviewing the nominations for the William Lawrence Saunders Award and selecting the recipient. The Saunders Award recognizes distinguished achievement in mining other than coal (including the production of nonmetallic minerals).

Name Position Start End
Matt Blattman Chair 03/01/2023 02/28/2024
Marc LeVier President 03/01/2023 02/29/2024
Ruby Barickman Member 03/01/2021 02/28/2025
Peter M. Haarala, PE Member 03/01/2021 02/28/2025
Jess L. Kindler Member 03/01/2020 02/28/2024
Bradley M. Dunn Member 03/01/2020 02/28/2024
Mr. Shaun P. Graber Member 03/01/2023 02/28/2025
Dr. Abani R. Samal, PhD Member 03/01/2022 02/28/2026
Russell J. Sheets, PE Member 03/01/2022 02/28/2026
Carol Kiser SME Staff 03/01/2021 02/28/2050

Mining & Exploration Division Awards

Ben F. Dickerson III Award

Ben F. Dickerson III was a member of AIME from 1962 until his death in 1987. He served on the Board of Directors and was Chair of the M&E Division. He will be remembered for his numerous "ROCK IN THE BOX" columns which he began writing in 1980, and also for the humor, wit and satire of his "News and Rumor from the Bush" articles featured in Skillings Magazine. He believed in professionalism and encouraged his employees to participate in professional societies in order to grow in their profession. Besides AIME, he was a member of SEG, GSA (Society of Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits), SIMM, AIPG, Colorado Mining Association, Northwest Mining Association, Mining Club of the Southwest, Mining Club of New York, and the Arizona Geological Society, to name just a few. He abhorred ignorance and apathy. His curiosity was boundless; he never stopped asking "Why?"

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Daniel C. Jackling Award

The Daniel C. Jackling Award was instituted by the Mining, Geology and Geophysics of AIME in 1953. Daniel C. Jackling, for whom the Award is named, was an Honorary Member of AIME and President in 1938. The Jackling Award is presented for significant contributions to technical progress in the fields of mining, geology and geophysics or other applicable fields as determined by the Mining & Exploration Division.

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Mining & Exploration Distinguished Service Award

The Mining & Exploration Division Service Award, established in 1985, honors members of SME (with the exception of all M&E Division Officers at the time they hold office) who have made outstanding contributions to the M&E Division in its programs or other activities. The award consists of an engraved plaque to be presented at the annual M&E Division luncheon. Election to this honor is by the M&E Division Executive Committee with notification to the SME Executive Committee.

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Outstanding Young Professional Award

The M&E Outstanding Young Professional Award, established in 1996, recognizes the meritorious accomplishments of a young individual working in the mining and exploration industry (including related academic and governmental careers). The award shall consist of a plaque appropriately engraved with the name of the award and the name of the recipient. The nominee must be 35 years of age or less at time award is to be presented.

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Miner of the Year Award

The Miner of the Year Award was established by the Mining & Exploration (M&E) Division in 2012 and was first awarded in 2013. It is presented to a person in recognition for getting “Rock in the Box.” This award is designed to recognize mine-site leaders who are able to manage production, people, community, safety and be good stewards of the environment and is funded by Epiroc (previously Atlas Copco, Inc.)

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Harry M. Parker Excellence Award

The award recognizes individuals who most exemplifies the effort and insight Harry Parker has brought to improve the mining industry. His work in resource/feasibility reporting and geostatistics has improved the investment community’s perception of mining ventures.

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Robert Peele Memorial Award

The Robert Peele Memorial Award, established in 1953, is funded by AIME. The paper under consideration must have been published in an SME publication within a two-year period ending December 31. Only the first author of a paper must be an SME member not over 35 years of age at the time the paper is submitted. The award is limited to authors of M&E Division papers. Nominations cannot be accepted, view the guidelines for the procedure.

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William L. Saunders Gold Medal Award

William Lawrence Saunders was born in 1856 in Columbus, GA, the son of Episcopal minister William Trebell Saunders and Eliza Morton of Virginia. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. As a young man, Saunders invented the apparatus for underwater drilling and became wealthy as a result of his equipment being used in the Russian oil fields. He was the founding editor of Compressed Air magazine and published two textbooks on compressed air. In 1904, he became president of the Ingersoll Sergeant Drill Co. after the death of William Russell Grace. He became the first president of the now combined Ingersoll Rand in 1906. As the twice-elected mayor of North Planfield, New Jersey, he campaigned for woman's right to vote.

During World War I, Saunders was chair of the Naval Consulting Board, which collected inventions and ideas from engineers and inventors to be used in the war effort. He also served as the 1915 president of AIME and deputy chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He died in 1931.

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Mining & Exploration Division Scholarships

M&E & Eugene P Pfleider Memorial Scholarship

The Eugene P. Pfleider Memorial Scholarship is administered by the Mining & Exploration Division and is awarded on an annual basis to students pursuing careers in mining engineering. To submit an anonymous recommendation letter for a student, please email it to scholarships@smenet.org with the student's first and last name and the scholarship name as the file name.

Applications for this scholarship are currently closed.

Steven C. Potter Scholarship

Steven C. Potter was a well-respected, well-liked, and highly successful economic geologist who worked his entire career in pursuit of discoveries, largely across North and South America, for companies such as Ranchers Development, Homestake, Bear Creek Mining, Kennecott Exploration, and BHP Billiton, in addition to several successful junior exploration groups. The Steven C. Potter Scholarship (Potter Scholarship) is to be awarded annually to a graduate student who is an SME student member, and whose thesis is directed toward furthering the understanding of ore deposit systems and their formation, geologic mapping and analysis of an ore deposit or mining district, or developing concepts or tools that may be used in economic geology or exploration. To submit an anonymous recommendation letter for a student, please email it to scholarships@smenet.org with the student's first and last name and the scholarship name as the file name.

Applications for this scholarship are currently closed.

Henry DeWitt Smith Graduate Scholarship

The Henry DeWitt Smith Graduate Scholarship (Smith Scholarship) was established in 1967 to assist worthy students in the pursuit of their graduate education in the mining, metallurgical, materials, or petroleum departments of leading universities and colleges in the United States and Canada. To submit an anonymous recommendation letter for a student, please email it to scholarships@smenet.org with the student's first and last name and the scholarship name as the file name.

Applications for this scholarship are currently closed.

Stewart R. Wallace Memorial Scholarship

The Stewart R. Wallace Memorial Scholarship (Wallace Scholarship) was founded in 2011 through a generous contribution from the estate of Stewart R. Wallace. The Wallace Scholarship is awarded annually to a master’s degree candidate in geology or geological science who plans to pursue a career in the field of exploration geology. To submit an anonymous recommendation letter for a student, please email it to scholarships@smenet.org with the student's first and last name and the scholarship name as the file name.

Applications for this scholarship are currently closed.