Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits

Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits
Name	Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits
Formation	1962
Type	Learned society
Headquarters	Lausanne, Switzerland
Region served	International
Languages	English, French
Leader title	President

Contents

Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits is an international learned society focused on the study of mineral deposits, economic geology, and ore genesis that engages with researchers, industry, and policy-makers. The organization connects members from institutions such as University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Imperial College London, and University of Queensland while collaborating with bodies like United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, International Union of Geological Sciences, European Commission, World Bank, and International Council on Mining and Metals.

History

The society was founded in the context of postwar developments linking practitioners from United States Geological Survey, British Geological Survey, Geological Survey of Canada, Conseil supérieur de l'Ordre des géologues and universities including University of Melbourne and University of São Paulo to respond to demand seen during projects like Kennecott Copper Corporation exploration and initiatives linked to OEEC and NATO research funding. Early milestones included symposia echoing themes from the First International Congress on the History of Geology and field trips that paralleled studies at Broken Hill, El Teniente, Grassberg mine, and Carajás Mine, while key figures from Eduard Suess-influenced circles and scholars associated with Royal Society and Académie des sciences helped shape initial statutes. Over decades the society expanded its scope through cooperation with Society of Economic Geologists, Council for Geoscience (South Africa), Geological Society of America, and national bodies such as Geological Survey of Finland and Geological Survey of India.

The society's mission emphasizes bridging research and application by promoting studies in ore formation influenced by paradigms from Plate tectonics, Continental drift proponents linked to Alfred Wegener-inspired debates, and models developed by researchers at Stanford University, University of Cambridge, Monash University, and University of Arizona. Objectives include fostering collaboration among members affiliated with International Mineralogical Association, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Australian Academy of Science, National Academy of Sciences (United States), and Chinese Academy of Sciences; advancing best practice standards referenced by International Organization for Standardization and World Health Organization-related environmental guidelines; and promoting outreach consistent with programs run by Smithsonian Institution, Natural History Museum, London, and Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle.

Membership comprises academics from University of Edinburgh, University of Toronto, Peking University, Seoul National University, and industry professionals from Rio Tinto, BHP, Vale, Anglo American, and Glencore. Governance is overseen by an executive council mirroring committees in European Geosciences Union, American Geophysical Union, and International Association of Geochemistry with elected officers including presidents who have held positions at University of Leicester, University of Bern, and Université de Genève. Regional sections collaborate with national societies such as Society of Economic Geologists, Geological Society of London, Australian Institute of Geoscientists, and Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum to manage local programs, student chapters, and liaison with funding agencies like National Science Foundation (United States), Natural Environment Research Council, and Horizon Europe.

The society organizes quadrennial international congresses and specialized symposia held in partnership with hosts such as Vienna, Perth, Vancouver, Marrakech, and Beijing and co-sponsors meetings with International Mineralogical Association, Mineralogical Society of America, Società Geologica Italiana, and Geological Society of India. Regular publications include a peer-reviewed journal and conference proceedings that attract submissions referencing work at Lamproite Localities, Sudbury Basin, Norilsk-Talnakh, Voisey's Bay, and research conducted by teams at Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The society's editorial practices align with standards used by Nature Geoscience, Economic Geology (journal), Journal of Geochemical Exploration, Ore Geology Reviews, and indexing bodies such as Web of Science and Scopus.

The society confers medals and prizes honoring contributions comparable to awards bestowed by Royal Society, Geological Society of London, National Academy of Sciences (United States), and European Federation of Geologists, with named lectureships celebrating figures associated with Victor Goldschmidt, Julius von Haast, and Peter H. Greenwood. Recipients often include researchers from Cornell University, University of Wyoming, University of Cape Town, University of Chile, and industrial leaders from Freeport-McMoRan and Teck Resources, and awardees are sometimes later recognized by bodies like American Association for the Advancement of Science and Royal Geographical Society.

The society supports research networks that intersect projects at International Ocean Discovery Program, Deep Carbon Observatory, Global Ocean Observing System, and regional mineral resource assessments such as those led by European Commission and United States Geological Survey. Educational initiatives include summer schools and short courses run in cooperation with Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Colorado School of Mines, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and Technical University of Munich aimed at postgraduate training in ore deposit geology, geometallurgy, mineral economics, and environmental mitigation aligned with guidance from International Finance Corporation and United Nations Environment Programme. Collaborative grants and scholarships link trainees to field projects at sites like Kennecott Utah Copper, Chuquicamata, Olympias mine, and research facilities such as GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and CSIRO.

Category:Geology organizations Category:Scientific societies