Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum serves its members, which total about 12,000, through Branch and Local activities, Field Conferences, Professional Development Courses, numerous national Society Meetings, University Lecture Series, and publications such as the CIM Bulletin and CIM Special Volumes. The CIM is actively involved in improving public awareness of the Mining and Petroleum Industries through such activities as education programs and support of Mining Weeks in the provinces. Environmental issues, as they impact on the Mining and Petroleum industries, are now an important component of the CIM activities.
The CIM Annual General meeting this year was held in Halifax. Besides relevant sessions on Mining Geology and Exploration, Coal and Petroleum Geosciences, Ore Reserve Estimations, and Environmental Issues, the CIM also sponsored a large mining trade exhibition (Tradex '95) and a one day workshop on Integration of Earth Resources and Remotely Sensed Data for Mineral Exploration.
The Geological Society in conjunction with the Yellowknife branch put on the Fifth Annual Field Conference in Yellowknife (September 6 to 8, 1995) entitled "Pushing Back Frontiers". Pre- and post field trips to mining camps in the Slave Province, Arctic Circle, and Yellowknife Greenstone Belt were held around two days of talks on "The Northwest Territories -- From the Shield to the Cordillera: A Wealth of Opportunities", "Gold and Banded Iron Formation", "Shear Zone-Hosted Gold", "Base Metals", and "Diamonds". In addition, two short courses on "GIS -- The Third Dimension" and "Sampling and Ore Reserves -- Gold and Diamonds" were given. The 1996 Field Conference is scheduled for Gander, Newfoundland.
In 1992 the Geological Society of the CIM launched The Journal of Exploration and Mining Geology which now has more than 1,200 subscribers. In 1995, the Society published CIM Special Volume #46 on Porphyry Deposits of the Northwest Cordillera of North America which has been well received by the geological community. The Society published the final group of abstracts of university theses related to mineral deposit studies and exploration for the period 1991-1993 in the January issue of CIM Bulletin.
The CIM Bulletin continues to be a strong drawing card for sustaining membership by presenting topical papers and keeping members informed of all the activities of the Institute through publication of Society Newsletters in each issue.
D.R. Boyle