| Mineral Exploration Roundup 2011 - Roundup 2011 Keynote Speaker Line-up is Now Confirmed!
- Roundup 2011 - Register Now and Enter a Draw for Free Registration!
- Want to be a Roundup 2011 Blogger?
- Last Chance! Remaining Sponsorship Opportunities for Roundup 2011
Inside AME BC - Mark Your Calendar – Next AME BC Speaker Series Event Date and Speakers Confirmed
- Mineral Explorers Acknowledge Premier Campbell’s Contribution
- BC Mineral Explorers Respond to Canada’s Decision Not To Proceed with Prosperity Project
- AME BC’s Recommendations re. Proposed Changes to Mineral Tenure Act Regulation
- BC Mineral Exploration Sector Recommendations re. Atlin Taku Land Use Plan
- Meet the New Additions to the AME BC Staff Team!
- AME BC Congratulates 2010 Women In Natural Resources Honourees
- Follow AME BC on Twitter!
Health & Safety - Bloodmobile Comes to Mineral Exploration Roundup
Mineral Exploration News - Federal and Provincial Cabinet Updates
- Mineral Resources Education Program of BC Silent Auction
- Kitsault Mine Project: Public Consultation Period
- Mining Matters Column - October 20th Article
Geoscience BC News - Upcoming Talk - Dr. Dan Marshall
Regional Group Update - Boundary Mining Association
In Memoriam - Philip Osmond (Os) Hachey
Employment Opportunities
Courses & Education
Upcoming Events and Conferences
Sponsored By: 
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| Mineral Exploration Roundup 2011 |
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| Roundup 2011 Keynote Speaker Line-up is Now Confirmed! |
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| Jim O’Rourke, Chief Executive Officer, Copper Mountain Mining Corporation has confirmed as Roundup 2011’s CEO Breakfast speaker. This breakfast is taking place on Monday, January 24, 2011.
Donald R. Lindsay, President and Chief Executive Officer, Teck Resources Limited has confirmed as Roundup 2011’s AME BC Luncheon speaker. This luncheon is taking place on Monday, January 24, 2011. Gordon Keep, Executive Vice President, Fiore Financial has confirmed as Roundup 2011’s AME BC Finance Luncheon speaker. This luncheon is taking place on Tuesday, January 25, 2011. Paul Blythe, President, CEO and Director, Quadra FNX Mining Ltd. has confirmed as Roundup 2011’s AME BC-CIM-MEG Luncheon speaker. This luncheon is taking place on Thursday, January 27, 2011. Please note these events require a ticket. For more information, to register for Roundup, and to purchase your event tickets, visit www.amebc.ca/roundup. Questions? Phone the Roundup Hotline at 604.630.3930 or toll free at 1.877.689.5554, or email roundup@amebc.ca. |
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| Roundup 2011 - Register Now and Enter a Draw for Free Registration! |
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| For the third year, AME BC is pleased to present its Free Registration Draw. Register before December 10 and enter to win free registration to Mineral Exploration Roundup 2011. Simply register for Roundup and you will be automatically entered into the draw. To register now visit www.amebc.ca/roundup/overview-2011/roundupregistration.aspx. |
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| Want to be a Roundup 2011 Blogger? |
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| Each year the CORE, AME BC’s official blog, is packed with up-to-date information and articles during Mineral Exploration Roundup for media, delegates, and the general public. Want to see your name in the byline? AME BC is on the lookout for volunteer bloggers to share their experiences of Roundup 2011 and help us spread the buzz about all the different activities and events throughout the conference. Planning to attend a technical session? Have a ticket to one of the special event luncheons? Hoping to gain some insight from the presenters in the Core Shack and Map Tent? Be our eyes and ears and tell us about it – or better yet, tell everyone about it! No professional experience necessary. Numerous articles are picked up by local and mainstream media daily. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Mary Hughes, Manager, New Media & Creative at mhughes@amebc.ca. |
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| Last Chance! Remaining Sponsorship Opportunities for Roundup 2011 |
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| Sponsorship of Mineral Exploration Roundup 2011 presents great opportunities to promote your company at the world’s premier technical mineral exploration conference – an audience of over 5,800 in 2010. See the few remaining opportunities below: - 2 Day Short Course: Exploration Targeting in a Business Context - $5,500
- AME BC Awards Night Entertainment - $5,000
- Roundup Hotline - $5,000
- Gold Panning with Yukon Dan – Wednesday - $5,000
- Gold Panning with Yukon Dan – Thursday - $5,000
- Rockhound Transportation - Roundup and Field Trips - $5,000
- 1 Day Short Course: So you want to be a Director - $3,500
- 1 Day Short Course: Drill Safety and Drill Mechanics - $3,500
- Rockhound Lunch Bags - $3,500
- BC Night Entertainment 2 of 2 - $2,750
- BC Night Contribution, 9 of 10 - $2,500
- BC Night Contribution, 10 of 10 - $2,500
For more information and to view our confirmed 2011 sponsors, sponsorship brochure, application form visit www.amebc.ca/roundup/overview-2011/roundupsponsorship.aspx. Questions? Contact: Shannon Norris
Director, Member Relations and Events
AME BC
Ph: 604.630.3921
Email: snorris@amebc.ca |
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| Inside AME BC |
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| Mark Your Calendar – Next AME BC Speaker Series Event Date and Speakers Confirmed |
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| The first installment of the 2010/2011 AME BC Speaker Series will be a luncheon event on Thursday, December 9, 2010 at the Marriott Pinnacle Vancouver (1128 West Hastings St., Vancouver), from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Our guest speakers will include the Honourable Randy Hawes, BC Minister of State for Mining; and the Honourable Pat Bell, BC Minister of Forests, Mines and Lands.
Further event details, including the registration form, will be posted to the Speaker Series page of our website shortly. AME BC would sincerely like to thank the premier sponsors of the 2010/2011 Series, Rescan: Engineers and Scientists, The TMX Group, Wardrop: a Tetra Tech Company and PwC, as well as partner sponsor, KPMG LLP. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Simone Hill at shill@amebc.ca. |
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| Mineral Explorers Acknowledge Premier Campbell’s Contribution |
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AME BC responded on November 3 to Gordon Campbell’s announcement to resign as Premier of British Columbia.
“Premier Campbell honourably announced his decision to resign as premier today in the interest of all British Columbians and for the greater good," said Gavin C. Dirom, President & CEO of AME BC. "BC mineral explorers and developers have not always been pleased with decisions taken by the Gordon Campbell-led government, but we certainly appreciate that many initiatives were very positive and emphasized the critical role that mineral exploration and mining will continue to play in this province. These initiatives include supporting geoscience, improving the tax structure, maintaining resource roads, building infrastructure, and reforming the federal-provincial environmental assessment process."
British Columbia’s safe, modern, mineral exploration and mining sector employs over 85,000 people and represents $7 billion in annual economic activity. There are 10 metal mines as well as 9 coal mines and 35 industrial mineral quarries located throughout the province. In addition to three mines under construction at Mt. Milligan, New Afton, and Copper Mountain, there are currently 25 major mining projects seeking permitting or environmental approvals in BC.
Lena Brommeland, Chair of AME BC, stated, “Premier Gordon Campbell clearly understood that the best indicator of success for both mineral explorers and the province is the construction and development of new mines. His leadership in promoting efficient and effective project reviews and championing the concept of 'one project, one process' are positive legacies of his role as premier."
"Most indicators are pointing to 2010 as the turnaround year for BC mineral exploration and development," continued Dirom. Spending estimates for mineral exploration in BC for 2010 range from $250 to $300 million, compared to $154 million in 2009. The overall economy in British Columbia and Canada, however, is slowing from the strong growth we experienced in late 2009 and the first half of 2010. "Nonetheless, it is the mineral exploration and development sectors, buoyed by record commodity prices for gold at over $1300 per ounce and copper at over $3.50 per pound that are leading the economic recovery," said Dirom.
“We look forward to working with the BC government and a new premier to ensure that mineral exploration and mining benefit all citizens of the province through investments in geoscience; proper funding of government agencies to service the growing sector; and aboriginal capacity building," concluded Dirom.
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| BC Mineral Explorers Respond to Canada’s Decision Not To Proceed with Prosperity Project |
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| AME BC responded to Canada’s federal cabinet decision to not proceed with the Prosperity project copper-gold project by urging government to make a make strong commitment to truly reform the environmental assessment process so that there is increased certainty and clarity for mineral explorers and developers, Aboriginal peoples, communities, governments, and environmental groups. “The fundamentally flawed process undertaken to review the Prosperity mine project is a hard lesson that we all must urgently learn from if we hope to have a competitive and prosperous modern economy in this country,” declared Gavin C. Dirom, President & CEO of AME BC. “The protracted decision to not proceed to the permitting stage of the mine project is the end result of an inefficient and disconnected five year provincial and federal environmental review process. Such a process is wasteful of everyone’s resources and does not lead to better decisions, just lost opportunities for all. As such, AME BC will continue to advocate for true reform of the environmental assessment process in order to improve its effectiveness, reduce time and costs; and provide greater predictability,” stated Dirom. “Following the initial mineral discovery, the best indicator of success for both mineral explorers and the province is the construction and development of new mines. Responsible mineral explorers understand that there will always be impacts when developing such rare and valuable deposits and agree that these need to be soundly assessed and properly mitigated,” continued Dirom. With this decision, however, the federal government has essentially determined that the significant socio-economic benefits to all British Columbians were not sufficient enough to offset the overall impacts of the project.” This outcome for Prosperity represents yet another major lost economic opportunity for BC measured in the billions of dollars and is obviously very disappointing to Taseko and everyone in the mining and business communities. The decision is in sharp contrast to recent developments pointing to a positive path forward for other large mine projects in BC. For instance, the province recently signed economic and community development agreements with the Stk’emlupsemc of the Secwepemc Nation and McLeod Lake Indian Band that provide local First Nations with a share of BC government’s mineral tax revenues from the soon to be producing New Afton and Mt. Milligan mines respectively. Additionally, several companies have signed agreements with First Nations at varying stages of the exploration and mining process, while the newly created BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association is achieving early and notable success in employing Aboriginal people in mining. |
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| AME BC’s Recommendations re. Proposed Changes to Mineral Tenure Act Regulation |
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| Letter to: Hon. Pat Bell, Minister of Forests, Mines and Lands
Hon. Randy Hawes, Minister of State for Mining
Hon. Steve Thomson, Minister of Natural Resource Operations
November 12, 2010 On behalf of the 300 corporate and 4,000 individual members of the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC), I thank you for the opportunity to provide input into government’s proposed changes to the Mineral Tenure Act Regulation (MTAR). AME BC recognizes the need for timely reviews and revisions to the MTAR and we appreciate the consultation efforts and regional meetings that have been conducted by government staff over the last few months. AME BC has also been consulting with members and non-members about the proposed changes. The primary reason for holding a claim is to conduct exploration of the mineral resources. As such, the driving force behind AME BC’s approach to date has been to ensure that all explorers (prospectors, juniors and majors) in BC can successfully operate under the government’s proposed higher front‐end cost mineral tenure system. To support this AME BC is advocating for the re‐introduction of some form of a prospectors’ assistance program and possible tax credits or capital gains exemption for prospectors. As well, one of AME BC’s top priorities is to see Geoscience BC and the BC Geological Survey well funded in this province for the ongoing success of the BC mineral exploration and development sector. Continue reading+ |
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| BC Mineral Exploration Sector Recommendations re. Atlin Taku Land Use Plan |
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| Letter to Mr. Bryan Evans and Mr. James Cuell,
Technical Working Group, Integrated Land Management Bureau
November 5, 2010 On behalf of the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC), we again appreciate the opportunity to review the Atlin Taku Land Use Plan and thank the Province of British Columbia and Taku River Tlingit First Nation for engaging the mineral exploration and mining community. AME BC remains hopeful that the Atlin Taku Land Use Plan will achieve a fair balance between values and provide greater certainty to mineral explorers, developers and investors. As mineral exploration and mine development are a key component of the plan, we look forward to mine development activities that provide long-term economic and job opportunities for the Taku River Tlingit, community of Atlin, and all British Columbians. In this submission we highlight our remaining concerns with the plan as currently set out. These are centred on three key areas. One is access to land, specifically through protected areas and how the Land Use Plan aligns with both provincial and federal legislation as well as requirements for Park Use Permits in B.C. protected areas. A second main area of concern is that the Area Specific Resource Management Zones do not clearly align with the “Two-Zone” land use model. Our third area of concern is a general lack of clarity regarding how the land use plan will facilitate and clearly encourage mineral development. There are also very specific concerns contained in this submission that we would appreciate being addressed to provide more clarity and certainty for the BC mineral exploration and development sector. Continue reading+ |
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| Meet the New Additions to the AME BC Staff Team! |
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| We are pleased to introduce Simone Hill, AME BC’s new Manager, Special Events, and Helena Tse, AME BC’s new Administrative Assistant. Simone joined the AME BC team in November 2010 as Manager, Special Events. Simone is responsible for organizing all AME BC events including the Annual Open House, Golf Tournament, and Speaker’s Series. During Roundup, Simone works with various committees to coordinate the Core Shack, Prospector’s Tent, Map Tent and the Trade Show in addition to the various special events. For more information, or to contact Simone, visit www.amebc.ca/about-us/staff/simone-hill.aspx Helena joined the AME BC team in the fall 2010 as Administrative Assistant. She is responsible for greeting all members and visitors and directing them accordingly. Along with daily general office administrative tasks such as arranging couriers, transferring incoming calls, and ordering office supplies, Helena assists with special administrative projects from other departments. For more information, or to contact Helena, visit www.amebc.ca/about-us/staff/Helena_Tse.aspx. Please join us in welcoming Simone and Helena to the AME BC team! |
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| AME BC Congratulates 2010 Women in Natural Resources Honourees |
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| Congratulations to AME BC member & Ex Officio director ‘Lyn Anglin and longtime member and Eira Thomas, Executive Chairman of Stornoway Diamonds, on their achievement as recipients of the 2010 Community Leadership & Excellence award from the Minerva Foundation for BC Women. AME BC would also like to congratulate member Barbara Caelles, who worked to establish the Women in Mining Vancouver chapter, on being the recipient of the 2010 Philanthropy or Volunteerism award from the Minerva Foundation for BC Women. The Minerva Foundation for BC Women will be presenting these awards at the 2010 Women In Natural Resources Luncheon on December 1, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver. For more information, visit www.theminervafoundation.com. Again, congratulations ‘Lyn, Eira, and Barbara! |
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| Follow AME BC on Twitter! |
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| You can now follow AME BC on Twitter at @AME_BC. Our twitter feed features news, events, announcements, and is a great way of keeping up to date with our activities. AME BC’s twitter feed is another one of the many ways that AME BC is striving to keep members informed and engaged. |
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| Health & Safety |
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Bloodmobile Comes to Mineral Exploration Roundup
Thursday, January 27, 2011 |
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| It’s as simple as 1-2-3 to donate blood at Mineral Exploration Roundup 2011! - Visit www.blood.ca/eligibility to see if you’re eligible to give blood.
- Call 1 888 2 DONATE (1.888.236.6283) to book your appointment.
- On Thursday, January 27, simply visit the Bloodmobile parked in front of The Westin Bayshore.
The Bloodmobile is a mobile blood donor clinic with four donation beds on a 45-foot portable trailer and runs just like any other kind of clinic, with a registration area, screening rooms, donation beds, and the most important part – cookies and juice! The Bloodmobile is the first of its kind in BC and launched recently on October 8, 2010. The clinic, which runs at various locations throughout Metro Vancouver on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, will help Canadian Blood Services collect an extra 8,000 donations each year. The Roundup clinic will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 27. The Bloodmobile will be parked on Bayshore Drive, in front of The Westin Bayshore. Every minute of every day someone in Canada needs blood, and your one donation can help save the lives of up to three people. Please book your Bloodmobile appointment today! Is your company a Partner for Life? Check to find your Partner ID and join their team. If you wish to become a member of the AME BC Canadian Blood Services Partners for Life team, sign up with ID # ASSO008584 at www.blood.ca/joinpartnersforlife. |
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| Mineral Exploration News |
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| Federal and Provincial Cabinet Updates |
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| Recent federal and provincial Cabinet updates may be of interest to AME BC members. Federal Cabinet The Hon. John Baird has been appointed federal Minister of the Environment following the Hon. Jim Prentice’s decision to leave politics to become Vice Chairman of CIBC. Minister Baird had previously served as Minister of the Environment in 2007-2008. Provincial Update Hon. Steve Thomson, Minister of Natural Resource Operations has also assumed the role of Minister of Energy following the departure of East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett from the provincial Cabinet. Bennett had previously served as senior Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister prior to the October 25 cabinet shuffle (see www.amebc.ca/news-and-events/overview/amebc-news/ame-bc-news-oct28-2010.aspx#minex-news for further details). |
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| Mineral Resources Education Program of BC Silent Auction |
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| The Mineral Resources Education Program of BC (MREPBC) is holding its 7th annual silent auction during AME BC’s Awards Dinner on Wednesday, January 26 at Mineral Exploration Roundup 2011. The auction is held to raise essential support for MREPBC, our industry’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 school program. This program is dedicated to building understanding of geosciences, mineral resources and mining in school. The many educational programs offered to teachers and students at Mineral Exploration Roundup are just one example of MREPBC’s successes. We need you to help make our 2011 auction another successful fundraising event by donating a special item! Please take a look at the suggested items list below.
Items that have been popular in the past include: - original artwork or limited edition prints, custom-made jewellery;
- theme baskets (movie night, coffee and dessert, at the spa, in the garden);
- tickets to movies, theatre productions, musical events or sporting events – such as Hockey games, Ballet BC, Membership to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, etc.;
- certificates for culinary, art or dance lessons;
- weekend getaways, short tours by boat, helicopter, train, etc.;
- display - quality mineral specimens.
When donating, please keep in mind that: - Items of all values are appreciated.
- Smaller items will appeal to conference guests who may be traveling by plane.
We hope that you will consider donating an item for our 2011 Silent Auction to provide ongoing educational support for teachers and students across BC. If you would like to donate an item, please contact Laura Estrada, Program Coordinator, MREPBC, at 604.681.4321 ext. 108 or email lestrada@bcminerals.ca. Please note that items must be delivered to the MREPBC office by Friday, January 14, 2010. Thank you in advance for your support! |
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| Kitsault Mine Project: Public Consultation Period |
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| The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) invites the public to comment on the environmental assessment of the proposed Kitsault Mine Project, an open-pit molybdenum mine, located approximately 140 kilometres north of Prince Rupert, BC, and south of the head of Alice Arm, BC. The proposed annual ore production rate will be 40,000 tonnes per day over approximately a 15-year operation period. The Agency is currently identifying potential environmental effects of the project to be examined during the technical stages of the environmental assessment, which will be conducted as a comprehensive study. It is also seeking comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. Identified issues will be considered in the assessment. Public comments received by December 10, 2010 will be considered. All written submissions received will be considered public as part of the project file. Interested persons or groups are invited to send their comments in the official language of their choice to: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Sherwin Shih, Project Manager
Kitsault Mine Project
320 - 757 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 1A1
Tel.: 604-666-2431 / Fax: 604-666-6990
Email: Kitsault@ceaa-acee.gc.ca This is the first of several public comment periods that will occur during the environmental assessment of the project. Future public participation opportunities will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/document-eng.cfm?document=45992. |
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| Mining Matters Column - Joint Initiative between the Smithers Exploration Group and the Town of Smithers |
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| The first "Mining Matters" article was published on March 10, 2010. This is a bi-weekly column that is published in the Interior News, posted on the Town of Smithers website, the Smithers Exploration Group website, and the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako Mining Portal. These articles profile the importance of the mining industry to the community and is a result of the joint initiative between the Smithers Exploration Group and the Town of Smithers. Current Article: November 3, 2010 Article
(click here for back issues) |
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| Geoscience BC News |
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| Upcoming Talk - Dr. Dan Marshall (2009-10 GAC Howard Street Robinson Lecturer) |
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| Geoscience BC and the Mineral Deposit Research Unit are pleased to co-sponsor a talk by Dr. Dan Marshall, the 2009-10 GAC Howard Street Robinson Lecturer. Details Speaker: Dr. Dan Marshall
Title: Melt inclusions of native-silver and native-bismuth at Cobalt, Ontario: An example of native-metal enrichments in five-element deposits
Date: Thursday, November 25
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm
Location: Room 7000, SFU Harbour Center, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver Please RSVP to Angel Bouwsema at bouwsema@geosciencebc.com or 604.662.4147 to confirm attendance. |
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| Regional Group Update |
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Boundary Mining Association
by John Jewitt, P.Eng., President |
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| The October meeting of the Boundary Mining Association was a great success with 20 members and guests attending at the Regional District of Kootenay-Boundary office. Peter Cooper, District Chief Geologist for Kinross gave an excellent presentation on the Buckhorn Gold Project in Washington, south of Midway, BC. On November 18, Mike Dusfresne. P. Geol., of Apex Geoscience Ltd. was scheduled to give a talk on Grizzly Discoveries' BC Precious Metal Properties, especially the Greenwood Gold Project. Members of the Boundary Mining Group will be attending the Northwest Mining Association convention in Spokane, Washington the week of December 5. |
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| In Memoriam |
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| Philip Osmond (Os) Hachey passed away peacefully on October 20, 2010 in Tsawwassen, BC at the age of 79. Os was born in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, and while his life's journey took him all over the world, New Brunswick always held a special place in his heart. Os had a distinguished career as a Geologist spanning 40 plus years, during which he found several mines across the country while working for mining companies such as Noranda and Amoco. Os will always be remembered for his strength of character and staying true to his word as well as his matter of factness, his stories, and how you always learned something new. A small prayer service was held on October 25, 2010 at Sacred Heart Chapel in Delta, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on October 26, 2010. In lieu of flowers, donations are gratefully acknowledged to the Cancer Society of Canada. Messages for the family and stories about Osmond can be left at www.kearneyfs.com. |
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| Employment Opportunities |
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| Want to Post an Ad on the AME BC Job Board? If you are an employer and would like to post a job, use the post a job function here. The cost for each posting is $200, which will remain active for 45 days. AME BC corporate members receive one free posting with a yearly membership or renewal, with all subsequent postings at a 50% member discounted rate. To use your free posting, please email the complete job posting information to mhughes@amebc.ca. To use your subsequent 50% discount, simply make sure you are logged in and let the payment calculator do the rest. |
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| Courses & Education |
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| AME BC’s tradition of education for the mineral exploration sector dates back to 1918, when it held its first prospecting seminar. Since then, thousands of students have received training in prospecting, mineral exploration, health and safety, and aboriginal engagement through AME BC. Click here to view AME BC’s Education and Professional Development section. Other Professional Development Opportunities Several of AME BC’s Corporate Members have professional development programs geared toward our diverse membership. Current offerings are available here. |
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| Upcoming Events & Conferences |
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| AME BC Events Calendar
Mineral Exploration Roundup 2011 External Event Calendar AME BC helps to facilitate and promote external events that benefit our members. Use this calendar to see what events are on the horizon and get detailed information. |