Roundup: The New Era of Exploration

Last year, Mineral Exploration Roundup proudly celebrated its 25th silver anniversary, and commemorated a vast assortment of achievements. Now, as 2009 approaches, Roundup, the world’s premier technical mineral exploration conference, will delve more deeply into the “new era of exploration” by exploring new technologies and the modernization of the industry. As we move towards the future, the mineral exploration sector is propelled forward bringing with it an array of new and exciting additions to the scene. With the many new discoveries in BC and around the world, the demand for minerals remains strong. Roundup is committed to not only showcasing what’s new and relevant right now, but also the influential roots that have brought the conference to where it is today.

In 1984, the first conference, then called “The Cordilleran Geology and Exploration Roundup” was a combination of the Annual General Meeting of the Association for Mineral Exploration BC (AME BC), formerly the BC and Yukon Chamber of Mines, and the Open Houses of the Geological Survey Division of the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, now known as the Geological Survey Branch. A technical session program, along with numerous social and networking events were also included resulting in an attendance of over 700 delegates.

This new format was successful then and remains a blueprint for today as Roundup saw more than 7,000 participants last year. The name, Mineral Exploration Roundup was coined to better reflect the global interests of BC’s exploration and mining community and was officially trademarked in 2008.

Keeping the traditional focus still on the technical aspect of the conference, the 2009 organizing committee has put together an exceptional itinerary of short courses, technical sessions, keynote speakers, and field trips.

The Technical Sessions, which are held daily from Monday, January 26 to Thursday, January 29, cover a full spectrum of relevant and current topics. The program kicks off with the “Official Opening and 2008 British Columbia, Alaska & Yukon Exploration Reviews” and then moves on to such subjects throughout the week as sustainability, public geoscience, and BC and Canadian exploration highlights and successes. The program is then concluded on Thursday with “What is New in Exploration”, focusing on new exploration techniques, and the “Commodity Review: New Demands, Old Products”.

Other integral elements of Mineral Exploration Roundup include the Core Shack, Prospectors’ Tent, and Map Tent. Each supplies a unique and different perspective of the industry, giving Roundup delegates an exclusive opportunity to view the sector from many different angles.

The Core Shack was an original component of Roundup, making its debut in 1984 as the first time in North America to display such a variety of drill core from a variety of projects together. Core Shack provides an excellent cross-section of new developments in the exploration and mining sector. A new suite of the sector’s most compelling projects is displayed each day, with maps, cross-sections, and the project’s technical representative on hand to answer questions. Now, this cornerstone of Mineral Exploration Roundup, Core Shack, and the very idea around it, has inspired similar displays at other conferences around the globe.

Headed into its third year at Roundup, the Map Tent has also made a name for itself and created a permanent place on the agenda. The Map Tent provides Roundup participants with a first-hand opportunity to review working maps and sections, be they geology, geochemistry, or geophysics, spanning from generative exploration projects to mine development projects.

Roundup prides itself as being a source and wealth of knowledge for all those involved. Whether that be the delegates perusing the tradeshow aisles and technical sessions, the students who compete in the annual poster session, or the volunteers taking in all they can. Each fall, as early registration opens, the short courses on the Roundup menu get snapped up in what seems like record time. These courses, offered on schedules before and after the conference, are conducted by highly regarded instructors and industry leaders, and showcase a diverse selection of timely material.

Although, it is not only what you know, but who you know too. Throughout the conference, numerous social and networking events are in place to ensure there is something for everyone. Each day of the week has its own social calendar including luncheons featuring well known keynote speakers, daily exhibit hall receptions, and exciting evening events. The student-industry networking event, the hockey challenge, Old-Timers Luncheon, and the curling bonspiel are all eagerly anticipated annual events.

With the conference spanning just four days, and the whole experience, including all the short courses and fieldtrips, engulfing a total of nine days, it is astounding to think how much ground is covered in such a relatively small amount of time. Mineral Exploration Roundup 2009 will kick start the new year with a bang, and most certainly lead the industry into the “New Era of Exploration”.