SOFIA BULGARIA.  The SE Europe Geoscience Foudantion is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of a two day seminar, May 16th and 17th,  presented by Professor William X Chavez. This event was  part of the ongoing SEEGF Distinguished Lecturer Series and was conducted in association with the Society of Economic Geologists,  the University of Sofia and Mining and Geology University.  The topics covered in the presentation included:

Minerals exploration and supply: A worldwide perspective: This presentation discusses mineral resources and sources, noting how social, environmental, and political forces influence from whom and where metals and non-metals are sourced. Topic appropriate for a general undergraduate through professional audience, with many slides showing geologic settings of various metal commodities worldwide, and “new” exploration areas.

Environmental geochemistry: The understanding of supergene processes applied to the remediation of mine environments: This lecture discusses metals and rock-forming minerals destruction and transport in a mine environment, with emphasis on how one uses such information to assess and remediate mine sites, including base metals, uranium, and precious metal mines.

Weathering-related metals mobility: Geochemical controls on the intensity and maturity of development of supergene enrichment profiles: This talk involves the geochemistry of low-T metal transport, with reference to metals accumulation and preservation; many examples from well-developed supergene profiles are provided to show students and professionals how well-developed profiles form...or are not formed.

Professor Chavez is an outstanding educator and very activily involves the entire audience.  As one attendee said "he is so engaging its hard not to stay attentative."

Following the Conference Professor Chavez was taken on a field trip through Bulgaria and southern Serbia.

The Foundation and the attendees wish to thank Professor Chavez for his time and considerable contribution to a better understanding of hydrothermal systems and weathering processes.