Mineral Exploration

Chair's Message David McLelland Photograph : AME BC W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 7 Minerals are not becoming more readily discovered. Nor are they becoming more readily depleted. They are, however, deeper, more remote, less apparent and more challenging to find. This week, it was my pleasure to be involved in the selection of nominees for AME BC's 2015 Gold Pan Award. This award is given for exceptional meritorious service to the mineral exploration com- munity through AME BC. My pleasure in participating in this process lay in study- ing the biographies of several of our mem- bers, and reminded me of their abundant enthusiasm, dedication and optimism. It also served to remind me that among our members are volunteers who serve their families, professions and society. I believe that our common motive is that we know that mineral exploration and development can positively affect the society we work and live in. Most of us have seen it first-hand – minerals are essential to our world, and their avail- ability is critical to a healthy society and economy. The real impact of responsible mineral exploration is developing the local society's resources, paying infra- structure-building, region-stabilizing taxes, and making it possible for people to have family-supporting, health-care- providing, children-educating jobs. No culture or society can avoid con- suming. Societies that do not produce what they consume must buy the com- modities they need, and the transport or import of those commodities adds social, environmental and financial costs. By producing the materials or their equiva- lent values, regions can achieve socioeco- nomic balance. As explorers and develop- ers, we can tip these important scales by finding the minerals, fertilizers and fuels that change social circumstances. We know that the current state of the market, commodity prices and per- ceived antipathy toward development are strongly affecting our industry and our members. We also know that these are temporary issues that will be resolved. Consumption continues, and demand will follow, and to the extent that we are delayed in discovering new supply, commodity prices will increase. Indications are that the trend of rural-to- consumer conversion is continuing. Also, while the global population growth rate is slowing, population is still increasing by 75 million per year – and mostly in regions of rapid conversion from a rural- based to consumer-based society. Minerals are not becoming more readily discovered. Nor are they becom- ing more readily depleted. They are, however, deeper, more remote, less apparent and more challenging to find. The methodologies used to locate eco- nomic mineralization are also advancing. These new technologies are very depen- dent on high-quality regional geology maps and models. In B.C., these maps and models are generated by the expert geological mapping scientists of our Geological Survey Branch. On top of being essential to land planning, road building and good gover- nance, public geoscience is the infrastruc- ture of our mineral economy. At the heart of the search, prospectors and geoscien- tists need reliable information and good tools. A ME BC continues to advocate for public geoscience, acknowledging the real value of our geologists and their maps to our work and the economy. AME BC also showcases new tools, information and methodologies at our annual Mineral Exploration Roundup conference. A ME BC is a 103-year-old associa- tion of volunteers who advocate success- ful and responsible mineral exploration and development. We have attracted and grown an industrial cluster of geoscien- tists, prospectors, engineers, entrepre- neurs, exploration companies, suppliers and mineral producers to the province of B.C. We have become a global cen- tre of mineral exploration management. Roundup, our flagship annual confer- ence, has become the world's premier technical mineral exploration event. Public geoscience, new k nowledge and new technology come together at Roundup, making Vancouver a January destination for explorers. I am excited. I look forward to meet- ing old and new friends, learning new things and making new discoveries at Roundup, and I look forward to the contagious optimism embodied in the event. This year's conference, themed "Innovation in Exploration," features emerging trends in our sector presented by leaders from around the world. I hope to see you all there! ■ David McLelland is chair of the AME BC board of directors and operates Auracle Geospatial Science Inc.

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