Inside AME BC

• August 25 BC Liberal Government Throne Speech Highlights
• Reclamation Sympsosium: Selenium, Reclamation of Coal Mines
  and General Aspects of Mine Reclamation 
• Stepping Stone Readership Survey – Congratulations Ken Cooper! 
• Win $500 - AME BC Photo Contest Deadline is September 30!
• AME BC Awards Nominations Deadline is September 30!
• 2008 Award Winner Spotlight

Health & Safety

• Health & Safety Survey – Submit 2008 Stats by August 31

Geoscience BC News

• Upcoming Geoscience BC Data Release - Sept 16, 2009

BC Geological Survey News

• Late Triassic and Early Cretaceous Geology and Mineralization Field Trip

In Memoriam:

• Rick H. Russell
• Felix A. Reyes 

Employment Opportunities
Courses & Education
Upcoming Events and Conferences

The BC Liberal Government’s Throne Speech was read to the provincial legislature on August 25. The speech, read by Lt. Governor Steven L. Point, outlined the provincial government’s direction for the upcoming sitting of the legislature—the first sitting after the May 2009 election. A number of key elements of the throne speech are potentially relevant to AME BC members and will be followed by staff through the autumn sitting of the legislature. Highlights and matters of interest include:

• A strong focus on the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)
• A Species at Risk Task Force will be established to report out to the government with recommendations by June 2010. It will be based on the approach government took on climate change. “… it will be asked to suggest a new defining vision with an overarching measurable outcome that British Columbians can work together to achieve within the next decade.” AME BC will track the development of this task force carefully based on our experiences with the Mountain Cariboo issue in the Southeast of BC.
• A new comprehensive Asia Pacific Gateway Authority will be pursued with the federal government. The BC government will redouble its efforts to open up the Northern Corridor with its massive potential as a trade and transportation corridor.
• The electrification of Highway 37 (Northwest Power Line) was specifically mentioned in the Throne Speech, indicating this project is getting closer to fruition and possible Federal government support for the provincial financial commitment.

The full throne speech can be read at the following link: http://www.leg.bc.ca/39th1st/4-8-39-1.htm

AME BC staff will be in Victoria on September 1 for the updated provincial budget which should provide more insight into these and other government initiatives. 

Reclamation Sympsosium: Selenium, Reclamation of Coal Mines and General Aspects of Mine Reclamation 

Since 1977, the BC Technical & Research Committee on Reclamation has annually sponsored the British Columbia Mine Reclamation Symposium to foster the exchange of information and ideas on reclamation.  Proceedings, published concurrently with the symposium, are a valuable source for anyone interested in this field.

This year, the TRCR is holding its 33rd annual symposium, “Selenium, Reclamation of Coal Mines and General Aspects of Mine Reclamation”, from Monday, September 14 to 17, at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort, in Cranbrook.

The symposium is organized by the British Columbia Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation (TRCR) in cooperation with: B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, B.C. Ministry of Environment, Environmental Assessment Office, Natural Resources Canada, Mining Association of British Columbia, AME BC, Thompson Rivers University, and University of British Columbia.

Details
Date: Monday, September 14 to 17
Location: Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort, Cranbrook, BC
More information: http://www.trcr.bc.ca/events.htm

AME BC’s 6th Annual Photo Contest submission deadline is just around the corner! We are on the lookout for the best photographs depicting mineral exploration in B.C. and around the world.

Prizes
Best Photo:

• $500
• Appearance in the 2010 AME BC Photo Calendar
• Appearance on the cover of Mineral Exploration Magazine
   

We will also award a $100 prize for the best photo in each of the following categories:

• Scenery
• Health and Safety
• People
• Wildlife 
   

The following rules apply for all photos. Entries must:

• Include the photographer’s name and contact info, along with a brief description of the image, location and, if applicable, who is in the photograph.
• Be original and previously unpublished. Be digital with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (high resolution .jpeg is preferred).
• Clear 35-millimetre slides may also be submitted.
   

Note that photos submitted will not be returned. All photos submitted become the property of AME BC and may be used in future publications.

Please submit your photos to:
Mary Hughes
Communications Coordinator, AME BC
mhughes@amebc.ca

2008 Winners

Do you know someone that deserves recognition for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the industry? Nominate them for an award!

AME BC presents nine awards to recognize the remarkable achievements and contributions of individuals and teams in the mineral resource, investment, and mineral exploration industry.

Nominations are requested for the Association for Mineral Exploration BC Awards that are to be presented at Mineral Exploration Roundup. Nominations should be submitted by September 30, and letters should be addressed to:

Chairman, Awards Committee
Association for Mineral Exploration BC
800 – 889 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3B2

Nominations shall be made, in writing, to the Awards Committee. Each nomination shall clearly state the reason for the nomination and provide a brief synopsis of the nominee’s career. Unsuccessful nominations will be considered for up to three additional years beyond the original year of nomination. Supporting letters are required.

For more information on the awards and to fill out a nomination form, please click here.

Michael Savell has applied his dedication and geoscientific expertise to evaluate the exploration potential of the Mitchell zone on the Kerr Sulphurets property, potentially one of Canada’s largest gold deposits. Savell has shown a commitment to all stages of exploration and prospecting matched by few in his profession.

In 2001, when Noranda Inc. decided to return to western North America after a 10-year hiatus, the Kerr Sulphurets project was the number-two target on Savell’s list for the company after the Pebble project in Alaska. When Noranda was unsuccessful in acquiring Pebble, he quickly changed focus and began to research the Kerr Sulphurets property, flying in to examine old core samples. From the beginning he recognized the exploration potential of the Mitchell zone and, as was his nature, he quietly and diligently made the case to the company’s management. He and his team’s perseverance revealed gradual, but important increases in the deposit size.

+Read more in the spring 2009 issue of Mineral Exploration Magazine!

In bringing the MAX molybdenum mine to operation, the Roca team was persistent, open, focused and visionary. The MAX Mine, which opened for business in an environmentally and socially sensitive area south of Revelstoke in 2007, was the first new metal mine to open in B.C. in eight years.

The Roca team optioned key claims and bought remaining ones around the mine during a time when molybdenum prices were still low. An important step during this acquisition phase was purchasing the complete data set from past work. The team quickly determined the spatial occurrence of a higher-grade core on which to focus early mine development. They made a few wise decisions along the way – buying and retrofitting an old mill instead of building a new one and hiring skilled local contractors to get the job done right. Meanwhile, the Roca team started exploration activity to increase knowledge about the extent of the resource.

+Read more in the spring 2009 issue of Mineral Exploration Magazine!

For masterfully arranging and raising private and public financing to fund Silver Standard Resources Inc.’s exploration and development programs, Bob Quartermain walked away with the Murray Pezim Award. Quartermain’s association with Silver Standard dates back to 1985, when he became president after serving as a Teck geologist in charge of drilling at the David Bell gold mine at Hemlo, Ontario. Under his leadership in late 1993, Silver Standard implemented a corporate strategic plan to acquire bulk silver mineral properties and advance them with well-coordinated exploration programs. Since 1993, Silver Standard’s accumulation of reserves and resources in all categories has grown to over 1.6 billion ounces of silver and 5.6 million ounces of gold. Consequently, Silver Standard has the largest in-ground silver inventory of any publicly traded company in the world.

+Read more in the spring 2009 issue of Mineral Exploration Magazine!

AME BC thanks its members who have contributed to the 2008 AME BC/PDAC Canadian Mineral Exploration Health & Safety Survey. The objectives of the survey are to track health and safety trends and lay the foundation for increasing health and safety awareness and improving standards of practice in the mineral exploration sector.

If your company has not responded to the 2008 survey, there is still time. Please visit http://64.114.94.36/survey.aspx to complete the survey online by Monday, August 31, to be included in the annual report. The report will be released in the fall.

Rick H. Russell (1943-2009)

Rick H. Russell, a former member of AME BC, passed away suddenly on April 6, 2009, in Sandy, Utah. Rick was born on August 16, 1943 in Bremerton, Washington to Howard and Charlotte Russell. He married Kathleen Ann Whitworth on May 18, 1962. He is survived by wife Kathleen Whitworth Russell, daughters Mindy Gibbs (Jim) of Salem, Missouri, and Andrea Workman (Lance) Provo, Utah, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Felix Reyes, a former member of AME BC and regular participant at Roundup, passed away on August 1, 2009. Felix passed away at Royal Columbian Hospital after a valiant struggle to recover from a massive stroke that occurred on his birthday earlier this year. A viewing/memorial service was held at the Valley View Funeral Home on Sunday, August 9.

AME BC has launched its new Job Board, the best way to find a job in the mineral exploration industry. We aim to connect qualified personnel with companies seeking skilled employees.

If you are looking for work, use the view jobs function and browse all of the current postings.

If you are an employer and would like to post a job, use the post a job function. 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.

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.

AME BC News is a newsletter released twice monthly by the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia. Please send any suggestions, news, or ideas for articles to Mary Hughes, Communications Coordinator:

800-889 W. Pender St.
Vancouver, BC V6C 3B2
Tel. 604.630.3927 Fax: 604.681.2363
mhughes@amebc.ca