Technical Session Preliminary Program (September 22, 2008)

Wednesday, Dec. 3 -Friday, Dec. 5, 2008

Wednesday, Dec. 3 and Thursday, Dec. 4 concurrent sessions run 8:00 am -5:00 pm Friday, Dec. 5 concurrent sessions run 8:00 am -noon

Wednesday Morning –8:00 am –11:30 am

STATE AND PROVINCE REPORTS -PART I

Interest Track: Mineral Deposits, Geology and Exploration

Chair: Alan Coyner, Administrator, Nevada Division of Minerals, Carson City, NV

Session Description: Get the very latest update on all mining, minerals, and energy activity in the key states and provinces. From gold to sand and gravel, from exploration to production, this is a “must session” for exploration, miners, and investors. Bring your notebook and find out what is really happening from the regional experts in our business. Today’s latest news is tomorrow’s golden opportunity.

NEVADA GEOLOGY -PART I

Interest Track: Mineral Deposits, Geology, and Exploration

Chair: Curt Everson, Senior Exploration Geologist, Sirius Exploration, LLC, Elko, NV

Session Description: As commodity prices reach 30 year highs, exploration in Nevada has heated up to levels not seen since the early 1980’s. The intention of this session is to explore new properties on old trends, old properties on new trends andreview, once again, why Nevada is one of the top areas in the world for mineral exploration.

SMELTER BUSINESS OR MINER BASHING? –DISPELLING THE MYTH

Interest Track: Business and Finance Chairs: Jennifer Leinart, President, Infomine USA, Inc., Spokane, WA; Hugh Hamilton, President, HM Hamilton & Associates, Rossland, BC, CANADA

Session Description: A potential miner’s initial calculation of the gross value of the full metal content of the forecast product is considerably diminished after the Smelter and/or Refining charges have been applied. This session will examine Smelting and Refining terms, the resultant costs, and how they play a major role in the evaluations and feasibility studies of possible base and precious metal properties.

UNDERGROUND MINING

Interest Track: Operations Chair: Ron Clayton, Senior Vice President Operations, Hecla Mining Company, Coeur d’Alene, ID Session Description: This session will explore new developments in underground mining. The rise in prices of all commodities and precious metals has driven existing operations to analyze the potential for improving operational performance. This session will review project expansions as well as innovations that are being employed to improve efficiencies in underground mining.

FACTORS THAT CONTROL THE GLOBAL TEMPERATURE

CYCLES AND THEIR RAMIFICATIONS

Interest Track: Environmental Chair: Dutch Van Blaricom, Chief Geophysicist, Van Blaricom Geophysical Services, Colbert, WA Session Description: The attributes that control changes in the Earth Surface Atmosphere Temperature will be presented in detail. The importance of the Sun involvement will be presented as well as the small effect that changes in levels of the Trace Atmospheric Gasses H20, CO2, and CH4, (Green House Gases) have. The ramification of individuals and countries “Trying to fix that which isn’t broken” could have catastrophic and long lasting consequences in the balance and distribution of existing Global, Political, Societal, and Economic power.

Wednesday Afternoon –2:00 –5:30 pm

FOCUS ON PRECIOUS METAL EXPLORATION IN MEXICO

Interest Track: Mineral Deposits, Geology and Exploration

Chairs: Dr. Dean McDonald, Vice President Exploration, Hecla Mining Company, Vancouver, BC, CANADA; Kurt Allen, Minera Hecla SA de CV, Durango, MEXICO Session Description: Mexico’s mining and exploration renaissance is in full swing as there are over 250 foreign publicly traded companies involved in precious metal exploration and mining activities in Mexico. Mexico is the world’s second largest silver producer and is a significant gold producer. Most of the historic and recent discoveries in Mexico have been found in the prolific Sierra Madre mineral belt, a geological structure straddling several states in central and western Mexico. This highly prospective yet under-explored belt contains classic low and high sulphidation epithermal deposits, precious-metal rich skarn and mantos deposits and silver-lead-zinc breccias and stock-works. This session will cover a number of outstanding exploration and mining projects occurring in Mexico and give an overview of the exploration potential in Mexico.

NEW PROJECTS IN ALASKA

Interest Track: Mineral Deposits, Geology, and Exploration

Chairs: Steve Borell, Executive Director, Alaska Miners Association, Anchorage, AK; Charlie Boddy, Vice President Government Relations, Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc., Fairbanks, AK Session Description: The mineral industry in Alaska continues to expand on all fronts. Existing large metal, coal, and industrial minerals mines continue to operate, and in some cases, expand. Two major mines are under construction and should be operating by the end of 2008. One new large coal project will complete its Supplemental EIS. More than 150 family placer mines operated in 2007, and more are permitted and expected to operate this year. In 2007, 30 exploration projects invested more than $1 million each with several dozen more being actively explored. In 2008, exploration will be even greater and will occur in nearly every part of the State.

GROWTH COMPANIES INTO 2008 -PART I

Interest Track: Business and Finance

Chairs: James D. Frank, Chairman, JDF Consulting LLC, Centennial, CO; James R. Maronick, Chief Financial Officer, Solitario Exploration & Royalty Corp., Wheat Ridge, CO

Session Description: The seventh installment of this very popular session continues to focus on companies that have experienced recent growth and success or plans for significant growth in the near future. By all accounts, these companies will continue to make new discoveries, develop new mines, and increase their production, thereby, returning real value to their shareholders in the coming years. Presentations will focus on each company’s management, corporate philosophy for growth, share performance, and a broad portfolio of exciting exploration and mining properties.

OPEN PIT MINES -THE ONES THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE

Interest Track: Operations Chair: R. Llee Chapman, Regional Vice President -Business Services,