Dr. Virginia McLemore

Certified Professional Geologist #CPG-7438 (AIPG)

I am the Lead Research Scientist in Economic Geology for the Bureau. An economic geologist is a scientist who studies earth materials and 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. My job is 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:

• I am responsible for summarizing the economic impact of the mining industry to New Mexico.
• I attend and present papers on research or updates of NM mineral resources at professional meetings and to the general public (SME, SEG, GSA, AEMA, AIPG, NMGS, Industrial Minerals Forum, National Mining History Association).
• I assist state and federal agencies on mining issues as required.
  • For example, I served on the NM Copper Mining Rules committees
  • I worked with the NM Environment Department on the Gold King spill and its effects on the Animas River
• I sit on the New Mexico Mining Commission as the designee for the Director of NMBGMR.
• I teach one 3-credit graduate-level class a year for New Mexico Tech. I alternate between: Geology of Uranium Deposits, Geology and Economics of Industrial Minerals, Geology and Economics of Critical and Strategic Minerals, Databases, REE in coal deposits, Mineral Deposits in New Mexico, and Exploration Geochemistry.
• Create accurate, up-to-date maps of the state's mineral resources and mineral-resources potential.
• Conduct research on the state's mineral resources.
• Provide timely information on potential mine-related hazards, including subsidence, cave-ins, dangerous openings, unstable highwalls, environmental (acid drainage, release of toxic elements), and flooding.
• Understand the distribution and economics of strategic and critical minerals, including rare earth elements (REE), tellurium (Te), copper (Cu), gold (Au), and uranium (U) in New Mexico.
• Compilation of minerals production and resource/reserve statistics in New Mexico.
• Maintain the NURE data and Uranium Archives.
• Maintain the New Mexico Mines Database.
• I manage:
  • The Economic Geology Group of NMBGMR (students and staff conducting research on minerals in NM)
  • Our Economic Geology Laboratory (formerly Clay Lab)
  • Several Databases and Archives:
    • Uranium library/archives and NURE data
    • NEW MEXICO MINES DATABASE
    • GEOCHEMISTRY OF MINING DISTRICTS IN NEW MEXICO
    • COLLECTION AND CATALOG OF ROCKS AND ORES FROM NEW MEXICO MINING DISTRICTS
    • PRODUCTION STATISTICS

• Woodlawn Senior High School, Baltimore, MD—1973
• New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM — B.S. 1977 (B.S. Geology and B.S. Geophysics), M.S. 1980 (M.S. geology)
• University of Texas at El Paso — Ph.D. 1993 (geoscience)
• Numerous short courses and other advanced training classes

(also see Awards & Service)

• Employed at NMBMMR since June 1980, tenured 1986
• Appointed Senior Economic Geologist 1993, Principal Senior Economic Geologist 2017, Lead Research Scientist 2025
• 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

• Mining history Association
  • Video Magdalena field trip
• Introduction to the Mineral Enginering STEM: Critical Minerals in New Mexico
• Socorro Perlite mine
  • video
• The case of the scarlet mineral: mineral identification
• The importance of minerals to New Mexico: where they are found and how they are used
• Gold in New Mexico
• Edible rocks: rock identificationMineral resources in New Mexico
• Salt and turquoise, how ancient cultures were affected by geology
• Mining and mineral resources in New Mexico (see current projects)
  • Industrial minerals
• Critical minerals (Rockin' Around NM 2022)
  • Critical minerals in preventing hazards
  • Activities
• Mining in New Mexico (Rockin' Around NM 2020)
  • Summary 2020
  • Mining Issues Facing NM 2020
  • Overview of the mining industry in NM, with emphasis on critical minerals
  • Copper Flat mine
  • St. Cloud Zeolite mine
  • Socorro Perlite mine
    • video
  • Cookie mining lesson plan
  • Gold panning lesson plan
    • video
  • Mining activities
    • NM metals production

• SME Fellow 2025
• SME 2024 Environmental Diviision Outstanding Paper Award
• New Mexico Mining Association Hall of Fame 2023
• SME/AIME Environmental Distinquished Service Award 2020
• GSA fellow 2019

• SME/AIME Environmental Stewardship Distinguished Service Award 2018

• Association of American State Geologists (AASG) Charles J. Mankin Memorial Award 2018 for McLemore, V.T., Timmons, S., and Wilks, M., eds., 2017, Energy and Mineral deposits in New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Memoir 50 and New Mexico Geological Society, Special Publication 13

• NMGS Life Member Award 2016

• NMT Physical Recreation Department “Honor and Appreciation presented to Ginger and Jim McLemore for your decades of Outstanding Service and Mentorship to NMT Shooting Sports; presented by New Mexico Tech Sports Club Program April 23, 2015”

• SME (Society Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration) Environmental Division 2014-2015 Chair Award

• American Institute of Professional Geologists—Recognition Award for service to AIPG Annual Meeting 2008

• New Mexico Mining Association, Appreciation Award for Teacher Mentor for the NM Mining Assocaition Teachers Workshop Dig It, 2007
• New Mexico Mining Association, Appreciation Award for Teacher Mentor for the NM Mining Assocaition Teachers Workshop Dig It, 2006
• Geological Society of America, Certificate of appreciation for mentor for the Roy Shlemon mentors in applied geology April 1, 2005
• New Mexico Mining Association, Appreciation Award for Teacher Mentor for the NM Mining Assocaition Teachers Workshop Dig It, 2005
• Utah Engineering Experiment Station, Team of Excellence Award for contributions to the Molycorp project, 2004
• New Mexico Mining Association, Appreciation Award for service and participation at the 65th annual meeting, 2004
• American Institute of Professional Geologists—Presidential Certificate of Merit, 2003 (dedication above and beyond the call of duty as AIPG Editor-for-Life, and for motivational efforts leading to the revitalization of the New Mexico Section)
• American Institute of Professional Geologists, Appreciation award for Editor in 2002
• Best Guidebook Award—Geoscience Information Society (GIS) for 2001
• Lawton, T. F., McMillan, N. J., McLemore, V. T., Austin, G., and Barker, J. M. eds., 2001, Southwest Passage, A Trip through the Phanerozoic: New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 51
• Best Student Paper—New Mexico Mining Association , October 1990
• Mineralization and alterations of the Center-Carlisle mine area, Steeple Rock district, Grant County, New Mexico: Preliminary observations
• Best Student Paper—New Mexico Mining Association , September 1992
• Alteration and mineralization of the Steeple Rock district, New Mexico
• Best Student Paper—New Mexico Mining Association ,October 1993
• Geology and Geochemistry of the Mineralization and Alteration in the Steeple Rock district, New Mexico and Arizona
• International Mining Days Scholarship—University of Texas at El Paso, 1990-1992

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE (current in bold)

• New Mexico Geological Society
  • Secretary 2011, Treasurer 2012, Vice-president 2013, President 2014 , Past President 2015
  • Fall Field Conference Committee 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016
  • Field trip leader NMGS Fall meeting 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2012, 2020
  • Registration chairman NMGS Spring Meeting April 1989, 1990, Co-chairman 1999, 2000, 2017
• Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration
  • SME Publications Committee (now Information Publishing Comittee-1989-1993, 2010-2015)
  • Research Committee (vice chairman, 2018-2020)
  • Education Committee (vice chairman 1993-1994, chairman 1994-1997, past-chairman 1998-2000)
  • Central New Mexico Section, Program chair and Vice-president, 2002-2003; President 2003-2004
  • Environmental Division—program committee, 2002-2019, 2023-2024
  • Environmental Division Program Chairman, 2012
  • Environmental Division—Chairman 2014
  • Section editor SME journal-Mining, Mettalurgy, and Exploration, Inc. 2019-present
• American Institute of Professional Geologists
  • New Mexico AIPG Section—executive committee, 2001-2013
  • AIPG Editor, 2001-2003, 2012-2013
  • AIPG Vice-president, 2007
  • AIPG Annual Meeting Committee, 2008
• Society for Applied Geochemistry
  • Coming Events Editor (1996—2003)
  • Program committee, 2013-2015
• ADTI-MMS (Acid Drainage Technology Initiative-Metals Mining Sector)
  • Chairman Sampling and monitoring committee (1998-2014)
  • Chairman of the Steering Committee (2003-2005)
• American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation
  • Organizing committee, annual meeting, June 2001
  • National Executive Committee, 2004-2005
• Geological Society Penrose Conferences
  • Penrose Conference on Fractures and Fluid Flow, September 1997 in New Mexico (presented a poster).
  • Penrose Conference on Anorthosites, August 1988 in Wyoming (presented a poster)
• Judged
  • New Mexico State Science Fair (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003)
  • Regional Science Fair (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003)
  • Socorro Science Fair (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998)
  • Magdalena Fair (1993)
  • NM Junior Academy of Science Papers (2002-2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024)

(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

2025-2027—Mine Wastes in New Mexico Year 3, inventory and characteriztion (USGS, 344,087)

2024-2026—Geochemical reconnaissance of Southwest U.S. Mo-W deposits in southern Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California (USGS, 2024-2026, $644,364)

2024-2026—Priority 1 EARTH MRI minewastes in New Mexico, inventory (USGS, 2024-2026, $49,995)

2024-2026—Priority 2 EARTH MRI minewastes in New Mexico, characterization year 2 (USGS, 2024-2026, $264,541))

2023-2026—Geochemical reanalysis of NURE samples from the Colorado Plateau, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona (USGS, $660,000)

2023-2026—Geochemistry and detailed mapping of the Black Hawk arsenide-5 element vein system (focus area SW001) (USGS, $330,000)

2023-2025—Geochemistry of the Laramide Porphyry Belt, Arizona and New Mexico (subcontract with Az Geological Survey from USGS, $300,000)

2024-2025—Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Assessment Of San Juan River-Raton Coal Basin, New Mexico (DOE, CO-PI, $1,707,971)

2024-2025—Priority 3 Data Preservation of Critical Minerals in New Mexico: Year 6 (USGS, $49,677)

2023-2024—Critical minerals in minewastes (USGS, $243,488)

2020-2022—Rare earth elements (REE) deposits in the Cornudas Mountains area, Trans-Pecos Tertiary Alkaline Rocks, New Mexico and Texas (USGS, $100,000)

2019-2021—Rare earth elements (REE) deposits in the Gallinas Mountains, Lincoln and Torrance Counties, central New Mexico (USGS, $150,000)

2022-2023—Priority 2 Data Preservation of Critical Minerals in New Mexico: Year 4 (USGS, $49,981)

2021-2022—Mineral-Resource Potential of Southwestern New Mexico (BLM, $107,247)

2021-2022—NGGDP Priority 2 Identify Critical Mineral Resources (PI, USGS, $35,000) (year 3)

2020-2021—NGGDP Priority 2 Identify Critical Mineral Resources (PI, USGS, $35,000) (year 2)

2019-2020—NGGDP Priority 3 Data preservation of REE Mines and Occurrences in New Mexico (PI, USGS, $35,000) (year 1)

2017—BLM Mineral Resource Potential—PIs Martha Cather, R. Broadhead, McLemore, completed March 018

2017—NM State Land Office Minerals Resources—PIs Martha Cather, R. Broadhead, McLemore—to NMSLO (~$45,000), ended March 2017

2017—AML, New Mexico Abandoned Mine Lands Bureau, PIs Drs. Mojtabai, McLemore and Walder—to NMMMD, ($160,000 for 2 yrs) continuation of grant in 2017

2015—Rare earth mineral assessment on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation (Jicarilla Apache Tribe, $154,825)

2012-2013—Rare earth element (REE) potential and origin of the Cambrian-Ordovician syenites/episyenites in the Caballo and Burro Mountains, southern New Mexico (PI, USGS external research grant, $88,001)

2003-2008—Molycorp, Effects of weathering on the stability of the Molycorp rock piles, completed May 2008, ~$4.2 million

2003—Molycorp, AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF LITERATURE ON SUBSIDENCE, completed August 2003, $4500

2002—Heavy Minerals and Heavy Mineral Alteration in Sediments along the upper Red River, Taos County, Molycorp, Inc., extension, $4000 (completed in 2002).

2002—U. S. Army Corps of Engineers RAMS Database Project Mines Database of Sierra and Otero Counties, New Mexico, $30,000 (completed in 2003).

2002—Trace element analyses of molybdenite from the different ore types at Questa, New Mexico: Molycorp, Inc., $800 (completed in 2003).

2001—Heavy Minerals and Heavy Mineral Alteration in Sediments along the upper Red River, Taos County, Molycorp, Inc., $3,250 (completed in 2002).

2001—EPA Tenorm project proposal: A GIS database of uranium mines, prospects, and mills in New Mexico, EPA, $4,348.00 (completed in 2002)

2001—USGS Central Region surveys and analysis project; Mineral deposit databases of New Mexico, $25,000 (completed in 2004)

2000-2001—Geology and mineral resources of the Wild Horse Mesa area, Grant County, New Mexico. (PI, $1500 for Joe Aeillo and Associates)

2000-2001—Mineral resources in Luna County, New Mexico (PI, $15,000)

2000—Soils Geochemistry in Semiarid and Arid environments, Office of Surface Mining short course, August 7-11. $1800

1999-2000—Acid Drainage Technology Initiative, Workbook on Acid Drainage Remediation, Introduction and Sampling and Monitoing Chapters. (PI, $3000)

1997-Feb., 1998—Mariah Corp. for U. S. Army Corp of Engineers, Mineral Resources of the McGregor Range, Ft. Bliss, Otero County, New Mexico (my part of contract for precious and base metals, ect. $119,617; entire contract PI Ron Broadhead for $303,806)

1997—U. S. Geological Survey, Mineral resource inventory of Sierra and Otero Counties (PI, $6,525) March

1995—Phelps Dodge Mining Co., Geochemistry and geochronology of the Chino and Tyrone copper porphyry systems, NM (co-PI with Matt Heizler, unspecified)

1992—Mt. Royal Mining Corp., Geology and geochemistry of the Steeple Rock mining district, New Mexico (PI, $5,000)

1989—U. S. Department of Energy, Radon potential in New Mexico (co-PI with John Hawley, $5,000) NMBMR OF-345

1985-1986—U. S. Bureau of Land Management, Mineral Resources of Rio Puerco Resource Area (PI with others, $102,039)

Jan. to May, 1984—U. S. Bureau of Land Management, Mineral Resources of northern Rio Puerco Resource Area (PI with others, $19,000) NMBMR OF-211

1982-1983—U. S. Department of Energy, Uranium Occurrences in New Mexico (PI, $10,000) 1983—U. S. Bureau of Land Management, Mineral Resources of Torrance County (PI, $10,000) NMBMR OF-183