GSN Regular Membership Meeting – Friday, March 20, 2026

Description

Contact: gsn@gsnv.org

GSN REGULAR MEMBERSHIP MEETING – Friday, March 20, 2026

TIME: Drinks @ 6 pm, Dinner @ 6:30 pm, Talk @ 7:15 pm

WHERE: ATLANTIS CASINO RESORT, RENO, NV, Grand Ballroom 5-7

DINNER COST:  $60 per person

ONLINE RESERVATIONS CAN BE MADE BELOW.

PLEASE RSVP FOR DINNER NO LATER THAN MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2026.

MEETING SPONSOR:  To Be Announced

CREG GUEST SPEAKER: Dr. John F.H. Thompson, PetraScience Consultants

TITLE: “Demand for metal – addressing the challenges”

ABSTRACT: Surging demand for metals has been highlighted by many over the last couple of years, both in terms of new technologies and markets, and the geographic distribution and complexity of supply chains.  The resulting concept of “critical minerals” is used as a rallying call for the development of new resources.  While robust demand is clear, the story varies by metal, is more complex than generally appreciated, and encompasses considerable volatility.  

Future demand requires new resources, both conventional and unconventional. Given volatility, the industry needs to target the discovery and development of high-quality deposits, where quality includes the normal metrics of size and grade, as well as numerous other technical, infrastructure, social and political factors.  The identification of new targets relies on geoscience data, both public and acquired in the exploration process, and the interpretation of these data using a range of techniques.  Once discovered, profound ore body knowledge provides the best way to derisk development and ensure quality production, whether employing standard or new technologies.  

Alternative sources of metals and approaches to extraction, such as reprocessing of mining waste, in-situ recovery and sea-floor mining, will continue to be evaluated and will require ongoing innovation and effective testing for success.  These options all have implications for waste, either through better management or elimination, which is appropriate given that waste-related issues still haunt the mining industry.

BIO: Since 2012, John has partnered in a consulting business based in Vancouver, BC, focused on exploration, mining, innovation and sustainability. He is the Honorary Professor of Responsible Resources, and previously Aegis Professor, at the University of Bristol, UK, and holds Adjunct Professor positions at Cornell University and the University of British Columbia. Before 2012, he was Chief Geoscientist and subsequently Vice President Technology and Development at Teck Resources with strategic roles in exploration, innovation, research, and technology-related transactions. Prior to Teck, John directed the Mineral Deposit Research Unit (MDRU) at the University of British Columbia.

John has held diverse leadership roles in many organizations including the Society of Economic Geologists, Genome BC, the World Economic Forum, and Resources for Future Generations 2018. He was a co-founder and Board Chair of both Geoscience BC and the Canada Mining Innovation Council. He is a director of KoBold Metals, MineSense Technologies, and Regeneration Enterprises, and has advisory roles for several exploration, technology, venture capital, and research organizations.

Please contact Laura Ruud or Lauren Sankovitch at the GSN office for more information:  gsn@gsnv.org