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Virginia T. McLemore

potash mine
V.T. McLemore underground, potash mine,
Eddy Co, NM.
Principal Senior Economic Geologist 
Minerals Outreach Liaison

New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources 
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
801 Leroy Place
Socorro NM 87801-4796
(575) 835-5521

Certified Professional Geologist #CPG-7438 (AIPG)

I am the Principal Senior Economic Geologist and Minerals Outreach Liaison for the Bureau. An economic geologist is a scientist who studies earth materials or minerals that can be used for economic and/or industrial purposes. Some of the topics an economic geologist examines are: how these minerals form, where are these natural resources found (i.e. inventory of these minerals, completing mineral-resource assessments), studies the history of mining, explores for new economic localities of these minerals, how to mine these resources, and how to reclaim these sites after mining. It is my job to provide mining and minerals-related information concerning New Mexico to decision makers, general public, scientists, environmental groups, and the mining industry (including consulting firms).

Other functions of my job include:

Education

Professional Experience

(also see Awards & Service)

  • Employed at NMBMMR since June 1980, tenured 1986
  • Appointed Senior Economic Geologist 1993, Principal Senior Economic Geologist 2017
  • Adjunct faculty appointment Earth and Environmental Science Department and Minerals Engineering Department, 1996-present
  • May 1979 to September 1979 Urangesellschaft, USA, Inc., Denver, CO 80222, Position: Assistant field geologist
  • July 1976 to May 1977 Tax Mapping Supervisor, Battaan Memorial Building, Santa Fe, NM (office in Socorro) Position: Draftsman - plotted tax properties for Socorro County Assessor's Office
  • From January 1976 to May 1976 Employer: NMIMT, Socorro, NM 87801 Position:Teaching assistant (taught surveying lab)
  • From July 1975 to September 1975 Employer: Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, Houston, TX 77001, Position: Exploration geologist

Current projects

(also see full CV for completed projects)

Outreach Activities

NMT Student Outreach

  • Faculty sponsor New Mexico Tech Shooting Sports Club
    • Coach New Mexico Tech Rifle Team
  • Faculty sponsor student chapter American Institute of Professional Geologists

Courses Taught

Publications

(see separate page, list by category, and full CV)

Membership in Professional Societies and Commissions

(also see Awards & Service)

  • American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG)—CPG #7438 (AIPG)
  • Mineralogical Society of America (MSA)
  • Geological Society of America, Fellow (GSA)
  • Association of Applied Geochemistry, Fellow (AAG)
  • Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME)
    • Editor-in-Chief (Exploration)—Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (MME) Journal
  • American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation (ASSMR)
  • Society of Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA)
  • Society of Economic Geologists, Fellow (SEG)
  • American Exploration and Mining Association (AEMA, formerly Northwest Mining Association)
  • New Mexico Geological Society, Life member (NMGS)
  • Member of the New Mexico Mining Commission—2015-present
  • Acid Drainage Technology Inititive—Metal Mining Sector (ADTI—MMS)—1998-present)

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6501-3457

Scopus Author

Research Gate Author

Updated February 22, 2024