2026 AMA Annual Convention & Trade Show
Importance:
About
The program combines technical sessions, a mining trade show, poster sessions, the Core Shack, the Prospectors Tent, AMA policy discussions, and updates on operations and development projects in Alaska. Technical programming covers geoscience investigations, early exploration projects, advanced exploration highlights, policy issues, and operations and development projects. Additional programming includes a Mining District Breakfast emceed by Paul Manuel, a University and Friends Breakfast, keynote luncheons, an HR Roundtable, History Night with the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation, a closing banquet, industry awards recognizing Alaska mining leaders, and support for Alaska Resource Education. The Core Shack theme, “Built to Deliver – Advancing Alaska Mining,” features core samples, project insights, discoveries, and exploration work. The Prospectors Tent showcases independent prospectors and early-exploration projects, mineral prospects, maps, photographs, and rock samples. Educational short courses address geology and processing of critical minerals for electrification; education, workforce development, and communities; leadership skills for high-performing teams; and consultant agreements, privilege, and information management for Alaska mining. Named presenters include George Case (US Geological Survey - Anchorage), Chris Jenikins (US Geological Survey - Spokane), Ehsan Vahidi (University of Nevada - Reno), Beki Toussaint and Taylor Burgh (Alaska Resource Education), Mike Heatwole (Pebble Partnership), Maureen Breeze, M. Stephen Enders, and Jill Nelson (Brooks & Nelson), and Cody Doig (Stoel Rives).
Schedule
Times are local to the event.
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM3 sessions at the same time
8:00 AM – 9:20 AM
Geoscience Investigations
Tubughnenq 3-5 (Dena’ina, Floor 2)
Critical-mineral research and Alaska geoscience, including placer geochemistry and the Port Snettisham Ultramafic Complex.
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Geoscience Investigations
Tubughnenq 3-5 (Dena’ina, Floor 2)
Earth MRI, Fairbanks-Salcha mineralization, and aeromagnetic characterization for exploration.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Keynote Luncheon
Keynote · Dena’ina Center, Exhibit Hall (First Floor)
BLM address, awards, and Alaska Resource Education spotlight.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Exploration Project Highlights
Tubughnenq 3-5 (Dena’ina, Floor 2)
Southeast Alaska and Flat Gold exploration, the Triple Z Prospect, and the Grinder gold and industrial mineral sands deposit.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Exploration Project Highlights
Tubughnenq 3-5 (Dena’ina, Floor 2)
Alaska project advancement, the Kougarok lithium-tin-tantalum-niobium project, and antimony-gold exploration at Treasure Creek.
8:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Policy Session
Kahtnu 1-2 (Dena’ina, Floor 2)
Mining through Change: Alaska Permitting in Transition.
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Policy Session
Kahtnu 1-2 (Dena’ina, Floor 2)
Mining’s economic impacts and integrated federal-state FAST-41 permitting planning for the Arctic Project.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Policy Session
Kahtnu 1-2 (Dena’ina, Floor 2)
Water reservation regulations and partnerships for Alaska’s energy and critical-minerals future.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Policy Session
Kahtnu 1-2 (Dena’ina, Floor 2)
Cross-border mining collaboration between Alaska and British Columbia, and industry collaboration on Alaska wildlife habitat.
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Poster Session
Dena’ina Center, Second Floor
Posters address lithium-ion battery recycling, antimony and rare-earth characterization, critical-mineral mapping, and mineral exploration.
Emmanuel Abotar, Tathagata Gosh, Brent Sheets, Guven Akdogan, Albert Miezah Ackah, Nathan Graham, Hans Hoffman, Lisa Dean, Sarah Fowell, Justine Schmidt, Marisa Acosta, Sean Regan, Tom Johnstone, Doug Kreiner, Paul Metz, Kalin A.K. Seaton, Alexander Prikhodko, Aamna Sirohey
Speakers(90)
Moderator
Mining District Breakfast emcee
US Geological Survey - Spokane
University of Nevada - Reno
Alaska Resource Education
Alaska Resource Education
Pebble Partnership
Brooks & Nelson
Brooks & Nelson
Brooks & Nelson
Stoel Rives
Moderator
NSF Critical Mineral Accelerator Engine in Alaska
U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Geological Survey
Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
University of Alaska Fairbanks; Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
U.S. Geological Survey
Arnold & Porter
Holland & Hart
McKinley Research Group
Ambler Metals
Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Office of Project Management and Permitting
BLM National Deputy Director
Alex Metals
Tectonic Metals
Contango Silver and Gold
Trust Land Office
U.S. Antimony
Lost River Mining
Felix Gold Limited
DNR Division of Mining, Land and Water; Water Section
DNR Division of Mining, Land and Water; Water Section
National Lab of the Rockies
Mining Association of British Columbia
Valdez Creek Mining LLC
Grande Portage Resources
Alaska Energy Metals
Alaska Silver
Graphite One
Ensero Solutions
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Department of Mining and Mineral Engineering
IKO Coletanche USA
Alaska DNR Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
Advanced Supply Chain International
General Manager, Kinross Alaska
Contango Silver & Gold
Vizsla Copper
Vizsla Copper
Valhalla Metals
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Natural and Energy Resources Engineering Center, Institute of Northern Engineering
Expert Geophysics Surveys
Expert Geophysics Surveys
RESPEC
RESPEC
Spanweld Bridges
Holland & Hart
Substrata
Substrata
RECON
RECON
SRB&A
Donlin Gold
Kinross Fort Knox
Sundance Mining Group
Sundance Mining Group
Usibelli Coal Mine
Coeur Alaska
Teck Alaska — Red Dog Mine
Northern Star Resources Ltd.
Region 10 Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. GoldMining
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
North Star Group
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
U.S. Geological Survey
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
U.S. Geological Survey
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