CAN YOU DIG IT?
Mining education program focuses on uranium

By Mike Marino
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Uranium mining is to this area what logging is to the Northwest. It has been the lifeline of many individuals and families locally, and the economic thread that ties the community together.

Uranium mining is the focus of an educational program called Dig It! Starting this Sunday, the program will bring 15 teachers and five mentors from across New Mexico to Grants for seven days of symposiums and tours, sponsored and funded by the New Mexico Mining Association. The purpose of the program is to study the rich history and importance of mining to the area.

"Education is very important in this type of industry, and we are looking forward to teachers coming to the area to learn more. Although we will have ongoing seminars at the college, teachers will be visiting and touring the mining museum on Tuesday, June 26," Mary Savacheck, a mentor teacher for Dig It! and education director for the Mining Museum, said.

Dig It! is a five-year program now in its third year; this is the first year that it will be held in Grants. The first year of the project was held in Questa, the second in Silver City. Next year the program will be held in Carlsbad to study potash mining, and in the following year it will be held in Albuquerque.

Some of the seminars that will be presented over the course of one week will include mineral identification, coal and uranium geology, and a mine safety presentation given by Chris Hefner, state Mine Inspector for New Mexico. Teachers will also hear presentations on mine safety, radiation and uranium health. Terry Fletcher will give a presentation on what is driving the uranium market.

"Cathy Amonie-Martin is the person who really got the ball rolling on this when she spearheaded the education program on this project for the New Mexico Mining Association and has put a lot of work into its success. This year she also retired from her position as a teacher at New Mexico Tech," Savacheck said

Although most of the educational forums will take place in Grants, the teachers will travel on field trips to places such as Farmington and also San Juan Mine for a tour.