SEG News

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Mineral Resources

July 16, 2020

Pandemics are one of the few events that are truly global and affect all of humanity. Even World Wars I and II, as terrible and far-reaching as they were, did not affect all corners of the globe, and certainly not equally. Pandemics are different, especially in light of modern transportation and the interconnectedness of global business, education, and supply chains. One does not have to be a major participant in the global economy or even be aware of the disease at all to be affected, infected, or possibly killed.

Although the long-term effects of COVID-19 are not yet known, there are few in the minerals sector who have not been affected, whether it be by the loss of a loved one or by the economic fallout of attempts to contain the disease. Many universities and mines are closed, research and exploration budgets curtailed, and most travel halted. At the time of writing, no one knows how the pandemic will evolve—are we past the worst of it or are there new waves coming?

Below are two rapid-response articles from SEG Discovery provided as open access to offer a preliminary assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on the minerals industry and all of us who are connected to it. The first article, by Hitzman et al., reports the results of a survey about the pandemic's effects on the lives, education, and business of people in the minerals industry. Although necessarily limited in scope, it provides a snapshot in time that sets the stage for the second article, by Simon Jowitt, that offers a preliminary economic analysis of possible effects on prices, stocks, and supply and demand within the minerals industry.

The phrase "the new normal" has been used frequently to describe the effects and after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following two studies are complementary and provide a framework for assessing where we are today and for beginning the process of planning for the future. Although it is likely that both articles would be written differently a year or two from now, they are presented here while the pandemic is still unfolding to provide the view from July 2020.

Jean Cline, President, Society of Economic Geologists
Lawrence D. Meinert, Editor, Economic Geology

Open Access Articles from SEG Discovery

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Minerals Sector: A Real Time Survey (Murray Hitzman et al.)

COVID-19 and the Global Mining Industry (Simon M. Jowitt)

Update on Printing and Mailing Economic Geology and SEG Discovery

June 10, 2020

As many of you are aware, the SEG had decided not to mail Economic Geology and SEG Discovery while there were mail delays caused by the COVID-19 global health crisis. On June 15, we will once again be preparing the journal for printing and mailing, starting with issue no. 115-3 (May 2020). For SEG Discovery, issue no. 121 (April 2020) will also be printed and mailed.

The online issues have been published and we stress that these are the official versions of record (VOR).

SEG thanks our members and subscribers for your patience, which may still be needed as the pandemic continues to cause a delay in mail services. Our first concern remains the health and well-being of the women and men working in the postal industry.

Upholding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

June 4, 2020

Inclusion and diversity are core values within the Society of Economic Geologists. As an organization of over 6000 members in 93 countries, we know that race and racism are real and must be acknowledged. Many of our members will be feeling pain and anger over the killing of George Floyd and other recent incidents of brutality both in the USA and other parts of the world.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that builds respect and strengthens the geoscience community and society in general. We realize that consistent, hard work is needed in every step of this endeavor. Our collective actions count, and we encourage everyone to consider their personal views and biases that anchor perceptions.  Together we can build a better, more equitable and just future.

Jean Cline
SEG President

Mentoring Program for Students and Early Career Professionals

May 20, 2020

SEG offers a mentoring program designed to support the needs of students and early career professionals (ECP). Given the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption it has caused to university courses and geoscience jobs alike, there is an opportunity for those in the early stages of their career to seek guidance from more experienced industry professionals during these difficult times! The SEG's Mentoring Program is underpinned by a large number of experienced economic geologists from a range of different backgrounds, with the ability to communicate not only in English but in several other languages as well.

Find out more about the SEG Mentoring Program if you are a student or an ECP looking for some guidance, or perhaps an experienced geologist who would like to volunteer your support to the younger generation.

SEG Launches New Podcast Series for Centenary

May 14, 2020

Bringing you stories of geoscience and technology from the world of ore deposits, the newest episode in the SEG podcast series – Discovery to Recovery – is available now. SEG partnered with Seequent to develop this series in celebration of the SEG Centenary. Each episode delves into stories relevant to economic geology, from the people involved, with topics including ore deposit models, data integration, technology, and more.

Conference Postponed to 2021

May 6, 2020

After careful consideration, the SEG 2020 Organizing Committee has decided to postpone the SEG 2020 Vision Conference in Whistler, Canada, until September 2021. The health and safety of attendees is our top priority, even as we recognize the importance of our annual meeting as an opportunity to gather, connect with others, and share ideas.

We are pleased with the nearly 400 abstract submissions and plan to preserve these on a confidential basis until abstract submission re-opens in early 2021. At that stage, attendees will have the option to resubmit, modify, or withdraw abstracts for the conference in 2021. We appreciate the support of our sponsors and exhibitors and are working on the logistics of the change. SEG will follow up shortly with all conference stakeholders, including presenters, workshop organizers, and field trip leaders, to ensure a smooth transition to the 2021 event.

Our Centenary is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration for our Society, and this postponement will allow us to come together safely to celebrate. We continue to work through these changes and the impacts on the initial plans already in place for future SEG conferences. We will update you as plans evolve.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding during these challenging times.

Delay in Printing and Mailing Economic Geology and SEG Discovery

April 8, 2020

We have been in communication with publishing vendors and sales agents who have asked us to hold up mailing Economic Geology and SEG Discovery because many businesses are closed at this time and will not take receipt of publications. In addition, postal facilities in some countries have determined that they cannot accept mail from the United States during the current health crisis. We have therefore decided not to mail the print versions of Economic Geology and SEG Discovery to subscribers and members as originally scheduled: for the journal, that is the May 2020, issue no. 115-3; for the newsletter, this is the April 2020, issue no. 121. The online issues will be published and we stress that these are the official versions of record (VOR). Plans are to mail these and future issues when the global situation makes it expedient to do so.

June 5, 2020 Update: Please review information from the United States Postal Service (USPS) at the following link, regarding countries for which shipping is problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic. The USPS is asking that we not attempt to post mail to these countries until we receive further notice. https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/welcome.htm

Shipping Delay of Print Orders During COVID-19

March 31, 2020

SEG is following the direction of public-health authorities to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The Society office in Littleton, CO, USA, is closed until further notice, and all staff are working from home. For this reason, we are currently unable to fulfill print publication sales. In the interim, we encourage users to browse available eDocs.

For updates on existing orders or general questions, contact Frances Kotze at franceskotze@segweb.org.

COVID-19 Update From SEG

March 19, 2020

Dear SEG Community:

Your safety and well-being are our highest priority. On behalf of the SEG Council and staff, we send our thoughts to all who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are following the precautionary safety measures provided by health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We want to update you on the steps we are taking and programmatic impacts.

Many of our planned activities during this anniversary year were focused around bringing our community together in field trips, workshops, and other meetings. In doing our part to "flatten the curve," we will need to make difficult decisions but base these on the best information at hand. Our goal is to deal with the challenges of COVID-19 proactively and thoughtfully. Given how quickly the global situation is evolving, we will continue to evaluate and adapt our programs as needed. Please note that updates will be shared on this webpage and by email.

The SEG office continues to operate on a regular schedule, 8:00am - 5:00pm MDT Monday through Friday, but most staff members are working remotely to comply with "social distancing" guidelines. Email will be the best means to reach staff, but we will be checking our phones and voicemail periodically. We are working to minimize disruptions for our members, volunteers, and partners and will update you on any changes as they occur.

We are meeting with committee members to review upcoming events and program dates. Any changes made will be communicated as quickly as possible. We hope to hold most of our planned anniversary events later in the year, but we recognize that this will ultimately depend on how the pandemic evolves.

We are working on ways to connect with our SEG community virtually. In the meantime, please support one another through this challenging time - give a colleague a call or set up a video meeting. Refer to the links below if you have any questions related specifically to COVID-19. Above all, wash your hands, stay safe, stay healthy, and stay distant.

Best regards,

Brian Hoal, SEG Executive Director

Related Links

WHO: www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Public Health Agency of Canada: www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html#a3

Next Steps for the SEG Newsletter

December 4, 2019

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Society and respond to the increasing demand for more industry-focused technical articles with modern digital content such as 3D models and videos, the SEG Publications Board is pleased to announce that beginning in early 2020, the successor to the SEG Newsletter, SEG Discovery, will be hosted electronically on GeoScienceWorld (which currently hosts Economic Geology), while continuing to publish in the traditional print format.

With this new format and additional content, the Publications Board recognizes the need to update the publication's name to reflect those innovations. As long-time members will recall, the quarterly SEG Newsletter was founded in 1990 as a much-needed solution for the expanding "Society Pages" that appeared in the back of Economic Geology. A stand-alone publication was the result—Society activities and short descriptive articles on ore deposits could readily be accommodated in the SEG Newsletter. SEG has evolved over the years, and the time has come, once again, to revamp this member benefit.

The SEG Publications Board is eager to share these changes with you in 2020. We look forward to providing more peer-reviewed, industry-focused articles while continuing to share member activities with the SEG community.

Countdown to Whistler

November 15, 2019

SEG 2020 will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Society, showcasing the scientific accomplishments and mineral discoveries that have defined the past 100 years and the new science, technology, and thinking that will guide us into the next century. The technical program is built around seven major themes:

• Game Changers — The First Hundred Years
• Lindgren's Legacy — Ore Deposits in Depth
• Gold 2020 — Golden Past, Precious Future
• Basins Through Time — Linking Process and Ore Systems
• Ore Deposit Structure — Processes, Patterns, and Innovations
• 2020 Vision — The Next Hundred Years
• Diversity in Ore Deposits

SEG invites the global minerals community, including industry, academia, and government, with special focus on early-career professionals and students, to a program of exceptional talks and posters, field trips, and workshops at this world-class resort in its spectacular mountain setting.

Please join us for the centenary celebrations in Whistler to forge the future as we build on past successes. The abstract submission site opens January 15, 2020. Details will be available in the coming weeks on the conference website.

Call for Papers: Special Publication in Memory of Professor Jeremy P. Richards (1960–2019)

November 14, 2019

SEG Fellow and Lindgren Awardee Jeremy P. Richards passed away on June 7, 2019. He was a professor at Laurentian University's Harquail School of Earth Sciences and led a large research program inspiring many younger researchers to pursue careers in economic geology.

In tribute to Jeremy, SEG will produce a Special Publication to recognize his wide contributions to the field of economic geology. This Call for Papers invites Jeremy's students, friends, and colleagues who wish to honor his legacy to submit proposals for research papers on topics that cover some of Jeremy's interests. The theme of the volume is tectonomagmatic evolution and metallogeny of porphyry-epithermal deposits. Submissions that present new results on topics such as field, petrological, geochemical, experimental, geophysical, or modeling studies are welcome; this includes papers on tectonomagmatic controls on mineralization of subduction, postsubduction and/or postcollisional porphyry deposits, alkalic porphyry and epithermal deposits, and influences on the regional fertility of magmatic arcs.

The proposal should include a tentative title, author name(s) and affiliation(s), and a 100-word synopsis. For further information, please contact Ali Sholeh (sholeha@gmail.com) or Rui Wang (ruiwang_geology@126.com).

Deadlines

Paper Proposal Submission: November 30, 2019  Extended to December 15, 2019
Initial Submission: End of August 2020
Submission of Paper with Revisions: End of February 2021
Submission to Managing Editor: March 2021

Regional Events in Celebration of the SEG Centenary

November 5, 2019

SEG will celebrate 100 years of being a community of geologists committed to advancing the science and discovery of minerals. In celebration, the Society will host a series of events in each of the eight SEG regions. Patrick Mercier-Langevin (Vice President for Regional Affairs) and the Regional Vice Presidents have played a vital role in organizing joint workshops and field trips in world-class districts from each region. These special events will be held between March and September 2020, leading to the culmination of the Centenary celebrations in Whistler, B.C., Canada, at the SEG 2020 Conference.

Detailed information about each event will be made available on the SEG website under Events. www.segweb.org/events.

Developing Effective Mineral Exploration Management Skills

August 26, 2019

Geologists and project managers transitioning into leadership roles in exploration management are not often prepared for the broad range of technical and business issues that they typically face. Standard geology courses and field-work do not include exposure to business skills such as effective people management, negotiation skills, nontechnical project risks, economics and the social licenses needed to operate exploration projects at a strategic scale.

Western Mining Services, in partnership with SEG, will host a 4-day training course that combines lecture and small team groups to stress interactive thinking and problem-solving needed for successful upper-level management. The small groups utilize the information presented during the lectures to design solutions for exploration challenges faced in the mineral industry. Each group then collaborates and provides a final presentation that is scored on key attributes, including the merits of the proposed solution, time management, and presentation quality.

Real-time feedback from instructors and networking events with fellow, future managers provide rare opportunities to build not only skills for advancement but also an expanded system of colleagues.

Regional and country exploration managers, senior project managers, and geoscientists looking to take the next step in their career will benefit from the course. Sign up by November 15 and receive a discounted rate for early registration.

Successful Course on the Geology of Mineral Deposits in Latin America

June 1, 2019

The 2019 SEG-SGA-UNESCO Latin American Course on Metallogeny was once again a success. Seventy enthusiastic participants from Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the USA attended the course May 23-29, 2019, in Lima, Peru, following the proEXPLO 2019.

Three days of theoretical-practical sessions covered fluids, porphyry systems, and the interconnected future of exploration, mining, and sustainability. Talks were followed by poster presentations. An optional four-day field trip followed, with visits to the ore deposits in Central Peru.

Travel costs for 23 students were subsidized directly through competitive scholarships, with many qualifying for a strongly subsidized registration fee. Through cost-effective management and dedicated leadership, this is one of many ways the Society supports individuals beginning a career in economic geology.