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Mining Foundation News
2009 PRESS RELEASE
Mining Foundation of the Southwest
Funds New Curator Position
The Mining Foundation of the Southwest is funding an Education Curator position at the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources. Pamela A. K. Wilkinson was selected for this position and began work on March 30.
Pam came to the Department from the Arizona Geological Survey where she was employed as a geologist and worked on the geology of Southern Arizona basins. She received her B.S. in geology, and became a certified teacher, at the College of William and Mary, in Virginia, then received her M. S. degree in geology from Eastern Kentucky University. After completing her education Pam worked as an exploration geologist for Duval Corporation and U.S. Borax and Chemical Corporation. Her exploration experience is in borates, sulfur, potash, and a variety of other industrial minerals. More recently Pam has worked as a volunteer and scientist-in-residence for grades K-6. She taught, developed lesson plans, and led field trips on a variety of geology and mining related subjects.
The education curator is tasked with developing and implementing educational programs that cover the methods of modern mining, from exploration through development and production to reclamation. The purpose of the Mining Foundation of the Southwest, a non-profit organization, is to promote public understanding and education related to the mining industry. They have chosen to fund the position at the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources as the best place to position one person to reach out to a large segment of the population in Arizona. “This position is an exciting opportunity to generate public understanding of how important mining is to our economy, our lifestyle, and our quality of life,” Pam says.
Pam is planning on using the inquiry method of teaching when making her presentations to schools and is now researching material to be incorporated in the presentations. She has located an interactive program which has an animation on the rock cycle which she plans to modify and add minerals/ore deposits to it. She has also found a website which shows mineral photographs on which when the cursor is placed changes to the product in which it is used. She is considering using such a scheme for Arizona
Pam has applied to join the AIMS (Arizona’s Instrument for Measuring Standards) committee that develops the tests, used as a requirement for graduation from high school in Arizona and will attempt to have the test include questions related to minerals and mining, which may encourage teachers to pay more attention to the subject. She has joined the Arizona Science Coordinators Association to help her make contacts there.
Pam has located a Classroom Response System (CRS) to ensure all students respond to questions
Pam is a member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Geological Society of America, National Earth Science Teachers Association, National Association of Geoscience Teachers, Arizona Geological Society and the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society.
Dr. Madan M. Singh, Department Director, stated, “Pam’s background in education, geology, and mining make her exceptionally suited for this job. Her enthusiasm for teaching and for mining should serve her well in this position.”
2008 PRESS RELEASE
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 520-577-7519.
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.
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