Up & Coming Geoscientists - a sample of our AIG Honours Bursary Recipients

Queensland
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
has announced a 50% reduction over the
next two years in the expenditure that an
explorer is required to commit under their
Northern Territory
Creating Opportunities for Resource
Exploration (CORE): a $3.95 million
initiative which focusses on acquiring new
precompetitive geoscience information as
AIG has 6 members on the VALMIN
Committee. They have worked hard to
complete the VALMIN Code (2015 Edition)
which became effective on 30 January 2016
and becomes mandatory from 1 July 2016.
President’s Report
mineral exploration permit (excluding coal).
well as industry collaborative grants for 50%
To access the new Valmin Code go to
Also a dedicated Resources Investment
of costs (up to $100,000) for exploration in
http://www.valmin.org/docs/VALMIN_
Commissioner has been appointed to
unexplored/greenfields areas.
Code_2015_final.pdf
assist mineral explorers compete for
My final note, according to Wikipedia, 3 April
investment capital.
Tasmania
is Geologists Day “… a professional holiday
Western Tasmanian Geoscience Initiative:
of geologists, hydrogeologists, engineering
New South Wales
Mineral Resources Tasmania doesn’t have
geologists, geophysicists and geochemists. It
New Frontiers Cooperative Drilling:
the funds to co-fund drilling but is continuing
is traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday
encourages exploration drilling in greenfields
to collect precompetitive geoscientific
of April. … established by decree of the
areas that will test new geological ideas and
information, in order to enhance the
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on March 31,
models in regions covered by significant
prospectivity of under-explored areas primarily
1966 to commemorate the achievements of
cover. The program will fund 50% - 100% of
in Western Tasmania.
Soviet geologists after discovery of the West
drilling metre-rate costs, with a maximum
“I’m from government and I’m here to help
Siberian petroleum province.” Na zdorovie!
of $200,000 awarded per project. The
you” actually rings true for mineral explorers!
total government allocation for Round 2 of
I recently queried the WA Department
Cooperative Drilling will be $2 million in
of Mines and Petroleum about Annual
2016-2017.
Operations Reports – expenditure on mining
tenements (aka “Form 5”). I don’t know
Wayne Spilsbury
Victoria
the reporting requirements in other States
President
TARGET Minerals Exploration Initiative:
but here in WA anyone can author a Form
provides $11.7 million (over four years), to
5 report. It seems to me that a report to
companies for co-funded minerals exploration
government detailing exploration activity
programs. The TARGET Area for Round 1
should be authored by a professional
(2016) is the Stavely Province for base metals
geoscientist bound by an enforceable
and/or gold.
Code of Ethics (i.e. an AIG member). Such
a requirement could provide consulting
geoscientists with new clients amongst the
junior explorers who lack professional staff.
AIG NEWS Issue 123 · February 2016 5