COLORADO – THE MILE HIGH MINING HUB

Hub – A place that is a center of activity or interest;
Synonymous with center, core, nucleus and heart

Colorado has a rich mining heritage, beginning with the discovery of gold that brought the “fifty niners” to the Centennial State more than a century and a half ago. Since the Colorado Mining Association’s founding in 1876 – the year that Colorado achieved statehood – a diverse and vibrant mining industry has grown throughout the state, producing energy fuels like coal and uranium, and other critical and strategic minerals essential to our daily lives and to our nation’s security. Colorado is the nation’s number one producer of molybdenum, the fourth leading producer of gold, the 11th ranking coal producer, and the only source of specialty minerals like pure sodium bicarbonate. Colorado’s mining industry creates high paying jobs, such as those in coal mining that exceed $100,000 in annual wages and benefits.

Equally important, mining’s presence has created a diverse infrastructure of Colorado based companies whose reach spans the entire globe. Thus, the city of Denver has emerged as an international mineral center and launch pad for mineral development. Even more recently, Colorado based companies have figured in some of the most prominent and important corporate, merger and acquisition activities in the entire industry. Denver is clearly the core and capital of the world for mining expertise.

The 114th National Western Mining Conference and Exhibition – sponsored by the Colorado Mining Association – to be held March 19-22, 2012 at the Westin Hotel Denver – is one of the longest running conferences in the west and will feature presentations on the latest developments in mining. Chief Executives from the world’s industry leaders will participate – including Mark Cutifani, the CEO of AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. Fredrick Palmer, Senior Vice President, Peabody Energy, the world’s leading private sector coal producer, will outline his company’s vision for the world’s fastest growing electricity source.

Also featured are sessions devoted to how mining can help solve our nation’s growing dependence on imported minerals. Other sessions will outline the growing role of Colorado based companies in IPO, merger and acquisitions, here in Denver, the nucleus of mining activity.

The conference will also feature what’s new and exciting in mineral development in the Centennial State, along with new coal and other mining projects.

So mark your calendars for March 19-22, 2012 and make plans to stay in Denver, the center, the core, the nucleus and heart of worldwide mining, the Mile High Mining Hub.