Mineral Resource Estimation Conference
The AusIMM Adelaide Student Chapter was represented at the inaugural Mineral Resources Estimation Conference 2023, by Oliver Mowbray (President) and Renzo Ocampo (Vice-President).
The event provided an enriching forum for the critical evaluation of practices in mineral resource estimation. Candid presentations and discussions occurred throughout the event and the novelty of the conference culminated in the innovative 'Parker Challenge', a resource estimation competition.
Reflecting on last week's inaugural Mineral Resources Estimation Conference 2023, its influence on my career towards mineral estimation cannot be overstated, and many of the 500+ delegates have likely derived similar value. The following is a quick rundown of my experience.
The Introduction to Resource Estimation pre-conference workshop, hosted by Seequent, provided a rapid foundation into the workflow of conditional simulations for resource estimation. The workshop was a fantastic reference point before listening to the conference’s presentations over the following days.
The conference's finale, The Parker Challenge, facilitated by AusIMM and sponsored by Rio Tinto, marked a first-of-its-kind approach to resource estimation. It offered a unique opportunity for diverse groups of professionals to provide estimation models and documentation on Rio Tinto’s Hugo South deposit in Mongolia, aiming to quantify the 'between-person variance' in resource estimation. Rio Tinto provided the base dataset and cash prize. This type of company engagement stimulates and encourages self-awareness across the field. I am keen to partake in the next Parker Challenge, apply some of the ideas presented at this conference and thoroughly test myself.
Further, the conference was only possible with the support of BHP, the Major Conference Sponsor. Their backing enabled a platform that catalysed significant professional development in resource estimation for many individuals.
Armed with the insights from the workshop, presentations and discussions with many brilliant people, I'm eager to incorporate these learnings over the coming years.