Mining Foundation of the Southwest

The Mining Foundation of the Southwest (MFSW) and the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources (DMMR) jointly announce that MFSW will fund an Outreach Program for the Department’s Mining and Mineral Museum located in Phoenix. This grant will include funding for an Education Curator for a period of three years based on the assumption that DMMR will be able to secure funding from the State or other sources for that position before the end of that term. The MFSW Education Curator will conduct classes on minerals and mining in schools and community colleges throughout Arizona. The agency plans to enlist local volunteers in various parts of the State to help with this program.

The Mining Foundation of the Southwest, based in Tucson, is a non-profit organization, working to educate the public about the mineral industries, and reporting on outstanding accomplishments in the fields of Earth Science.

The statutory purpose of DMMR is to promote the development of Arizona’s mineral resources. Among its diverse duties is educating Arizona’s citizens about the State’s mining and mineral heritage and wealth and demonstrating that minerals are the cornerstone of our society; that minerals have aesthetic value; that minerals have functional value; and that mining at the present time is conducted in a responsible manner in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.

The Museum will also host a Hall of Fame, as an extension of the American Mining Hall of Fame located in Tucson, for the men and women who have made outstanding contributions to the minerals and mining industry. This will entail photographs of those honored by MFSW, with brief descriptions of their contributions to the industry.

In addition to the MFSW Outreach Program and Hall of Fame, a private philanthropic foundation has funded the Department to build a mine display in the Museum portraying current copper mining practices for the citizens and school children to see and comprehend the various processes involved.

Both of these grants and the Hall of Fame will be beneficial in educating the public about the role of minerals in Arizona.

The Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum is located at 1502 West Washington Street in Phoenix. It is open from 8 AM to 5 PM on weekdays and 11 AM to 4 PM on Saturdays. The Museum has over 3,000 specimens, fossils, and mining artifacts on display, and show cases Arizona’s minerals.

For more information on this program, please contact:

Ms. Jean Austin at the Mining Foundation of the Southwest at 520/577-7519 or admin@miningfoundationsw.org.

Ms. Diane Bain at the Department of Mines and Mineral Resources at 602/771-1605 or dianebain@hotmail.com.

2003 Mining Foundation News

Under the guidance of Director Gordon Wieduwilt, our collection of rock and mineral specimens was donated to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Other rock and mineral specimens, and old mining equipment, relics, and artifacts were donated to the ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center.

Books, manuscripts, and journals related to the mining industry were donated to the Arizona Geological Survey.

Southern Arizona Earth Science Education Council

SAESEC activities continue under the able leadership of Walter E. Heinrichs, assisted by Don Earnest.

Speakers and materials for guest lectures are available for schools and organizations. Assistance would be appreciated in making this service known in the community. If you know of a class or organization who would be interested in a presentation, please leave word at 520-577-5719.

Projects Funded by the Mining Foundation

In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, the foundation funded the design and erection of descriptive signs at San Pedro Vista and Aspen Vista, two overlooks of geologic interest on the Catalina Highway to Mount Lemmon.

Overlook at Aspen Vista

So far, we have contributed $3,300 to this effort. The work at San Pedro Vista is a joint venture with the Arizona Geological Society and the Tucson Section SME.

Other projects funded by the Foundation include:

Development of a new program at New Mexico Tech - Masters Degree in Geology with specialization in Ore Deposit Exploration
Computer equipment for the University of Sonora Geology and Mining Engineering Department
Associacion de Mineros de Sonora to help sponsor the First Gems and Minerals International Exhibition in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
Computers for use by students in the Department of Mining and Geological Engineering at the University of Arizona.
A new sound system for the mining exhibits at the Arizona Historical Society Museum's Mining Hall in Tucson.
The purchase of books and publications for the libraries at the Colorado School of Mines, Mackay School of Mines, and New Mexico Tech.
Donations to the University of Arizona's Mining and Geological Engineering Departments for recruiting posters, and SME "Careers in Mineral Industry" booklets.
Funds to help provide transportation of school children to ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center.
Publication of three volumes of History of Mining in Arizona.

Mining Foundation of the Southwest
P.O. Box 42317
Tucson, Arizona 85733
Tel: 520-577-7519
Fax: 520-577-7073
E-mail: admin@miningfoundationsw.org