Advances in geological concepts and technology are the cornerstone of the competitiveness of the mining industry. Ensuring that technical knowledge and opportunity is optimised in mining and exploration has become a core priority in the current period of economic uncertainty.
The Seventh International Mining Geology Conference 2009 (MG09), jointly organised by The Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (The AusIMM) and Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG), will bring together technical experts and operational leaders from around the world to address key themes facing geologists in the minerals industry.
Dr Simon Dominy, Conference Chairman FAusIMM(CP), said "There are now immense corporate pressures to reduce costs and increase efficiencies, all within a framework of safe operations, with environmental and economic sustainability in an uncertain world,"
"The Conference will focus on themes ranging from technical aspects such as optimisation for ground control; to broader management issues such as thinking about how changes to the Australian mining industry have altered geology knowledge management."
There will also be a number of topical discussions on the future shape of the industry, with Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Chair, Peter Stoker, talking to planned revision of the JORC Code for reporting Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves.
Industry leaders from The AusIMM will be taking the opportunity to reinforce the importance of Government policy that facilitates exploration investment, such as fulfilling its promise to implement a flow-through shares scheme.
In addition to the main Conference, workshops both preceding and following MG09 are to take place, with concepts covering
- Resource estimation;
- Formation of gold deposits;
- Geological modelling;
Conference tours to Kalgoorlie have also been planned, and after MG09 those geoscientists interested in extending their professional development opportunities and experiences even further have the option of attending The AusIMM NZ Branch Annual Conference 2009, which is to be held from 26-28 August in Queenstown on the theme of "The NZ Minerals Industry – Meeting the Challenge."
"Delegates participating in MG09 are coming from all across the globe, which will only add to the knowledge exchange, thereby increasing the significance of professional development for all attendees," Dr Dominy continues.
MG09 promises to be a valuable and important conference for all geoscientists that are concerned about a viable future for geoscience in the scope of the mining industry.