ARIZONA EXPLORATION AND MINING OUTLOOK
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2025
8:00AM – 5:00PM
Join leading geologists and industry innovators for a dynamic one-day symposium exploring the past, present, and future of mining in Arizona. From historic copper veins to current projects, we’ll be diggin’ into exploration, sustainability, and much more.
WHERE: HEXAGON 40 E Congress St. Tucson, AZ
COST: $50/person | $10 for students*
*students must be registered members of AGS to get this rate
includes networking breakfast from 8am-9am
coffee breaks
lunch not included
We have fifteen short talks covering topics from discovery to closure, new innovations, and the impact of current regulations on mining and exploration in Arizona, including updates on projects and major mines in a jam-packed day of information exchange and networking.
Schedule and Titles
(subject to change)
8:00AM – 9:00AM - Check-in and “Nibble and Network” Breakfast
9:00AM -9:20AM - Opening remarks
9:20AM – 10:40AM - Session I
Kray Luxbacher, PhD (University of Arizona): “MiningWerx: A vision for a national resource and a global destination”
J. D. Mizer, PhD (University of Arizona): “Lowell Program in Economic Geology: An Overview of Industry-based Education and Research Opportunities”
Carson Richardson, PhD (AZGS): “Mineral Resource Activities and Projects at the Arizona Geological Survey”
Liz Bennet Ruedig, PhD (BHP): “Closure Practices at BHP's North America Legacy Assets”
10:40AM – 11:10AM - Networking Coffee Break
11:10AM – 12:30PM - Session II
Tim Marsh, PhD (Bell Copper): “Drilling at Bell Copper's Big Sandy Porphyry Copper Discovery, Mojave Co., AZ”
Matt Wetzel (Freeport MacMoRan): “Updates to Safford District Geologic Understanding Through Holistic Exploration”
Robert Wilson (South 32 Hermosa, Inc.): “Hermosa Project Update and Exploration Successes”
Joey Wilkins (Bradda Head Lithium): “The Panorama of Lithium in Arizona and the USA”
12:30PM – 1:30PM - No host lunch
1:30PM – 2:50PM - Session III
Sam Ybarra, (Bronco Creek Exploration): “Copper Springs Porphyry Project, Globe-Miami District: Geology and Exploration Progress”
Jacob West (Arizona Sonoran): “Mineralization Profile of the Parks/Salyer Deposit at the Cactus Mine, Casa Grande, Arizona”
Benedek Gál, Thomas Bissig, and Dante Padilla (Faraday Copper): “Copper Creek, Arizona: Laramide Porphyry and Breccia hosted Cu-Ag-Mo Mineralization”
Grace Bombulum (BHP): “Legacy Assets | Globe-Miami Sites and Water Management”
2:50PM – 3:20PM - Networking Coffee Break
3:20PM - 4:40PM - Session IV
Jeff Cornoyer (ASARCO): TBA
Michaela Young-Mitchell (Freeport MacMoRan): “Technological Innovations in Exploration and Mining--Success Stories from a Copper Miner”
Adam Hawkins (Global External): “The U.S. Regulatory Landscape: A View from Washington DC and Beyond” (40 minutes)
4:40PM- 5:00PM - Closing remarks
Symposium Committee
Co-Chairs: J. D. Mizer, PhD: Manager, Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources; Grace Bombulum: Specialist Field Engineer, BHP
Committee Members: Lawrence Dykers: President, Tri Minerals Operations, LLC; Ann D. Pattison: President, Arizona Geological Society; JP Rosso: President, Skyline Laboratories
For additional information or questions, please email:
Info@arizonageologicalsoc.org
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
