---
title: "Conference Circuit: Mining Minds"
id: "44881"
type: "post"
slug: "conference-circuit-mining-minds"
published_at: "2018-11-29T21:44:23+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-16T23:12:59+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/11/29/conference-circuit-mining-minds/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/11/29/conference-circuit-mining-minds.md"
excerpt: "The American Exploration and Mining Association’s 124th Annual Meeting begins next week in Spokane, Washington. Attendance is expected to top 2,000."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Meetings / Events"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "data mining"
  - "industry events"
  - "Meetings"
  - "Mining Conference"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Director"
  - "Manager"
  - "VP"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Industry Professionals"
---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
 » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/)
 » Conference Circuit: Mining Minds

More than 2,000 miners, exploration geologists, and industry experts, manufacturers, and suppliers are headed to Spokane, Washington, to hear from informative speakers, participate in technical programs and short courses, and network with other professionals.

**Organization:** American Exploration and Mining Association

**Conference:**124th Annual Meeting

**Venue:** Spokane Convention Center

**City:**Spokane, Washington

Following a board meeting on Tuesday afternoon, [AEMA 2018 (opens in a new tab)](https://www.miningamerica.org/2018-annual-meeting/)
 starts on Wednesday with technical sessions and keynote speaker Arshad Sayed. The chief development officer for partnerships and joint ventures in copper and diamonds for Rio Tinto will discuss where the industry is headed. Also on the agenda:

**Student spotlight.**The meeting’s student poster contest gives young men and women the opportunity to present papers to attendees. It is structured to simulate a presentation to management by an engineer, geologist, or metallurgist. Participants, who will be judged on their ability to persuasively argue that the work will benefit the minerals industry, will vie for the grand prize: $350.

**Legislative update.**During a technical session on the final day, experts and congressional staff will offer their insights on key legislative, regulatory, and judicial issues facing the industry, as well as the impact of the midterm elections.

**Site visit.**Attendees can sign up for a field trip to Coeur d’Alene, one of the world’s greatest mining districts. While there, participants will learn about the 130-year history of the mines and see firsthand how silver, lead, and zinc are still mined there today.

Head to [Twitter (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/miningamerica)
 ([#AEMA18 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&q=%23AEMA18&src=typd)
) and [Facebook (opens in a new tab)](https://www.facebook.com/American-Exploration-Mining-Association-530012813756662/)
 for more details.

(andresr/E+/Getty Images Plus)

[Samantha Whitehorne](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/)

Samantha Whitehorne is a former editorial director of Associations Now in Washington, DC.

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/)

Tags: [#data mining](https://associationsnow.com/tag/data-mining/)
 [#industry events](https://associationsnow.com/tag/industry-events/)
 [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/)
 [#Mining Conference](https://associationsnow.com/tag/mining-conference/)

**Stay Informed**

[Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/)
, *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day.

## You Might Like

- [VideoTony Clark Shares His Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 11, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/11/tony-clark-shares-his-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/)
- [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: All for the Love of Chicago: Rethinking the Destination ExperienceSeptember 10, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/10/associations-now-presents-all-for-the-love-of-chicago-rethinking-the-destination-experience/)
- [VideoCharlene Lopez Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/charlene-lopez-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/)
- [VideoBrien Arone Shares His Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/brien-arone-shares-his-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/)

## Comments

**Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/)

[Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2018%2F11%2F29%2Fconference-circuit-mining-minds%2F%23comments)
 to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/)
!