- JUNE DINNER MEETING -
Join us for our next SME Tucson Dinner Meeting! Make sure to select your meal when making your reservation. Reservation deadline is Friday, June 6th.
Program:
Florence Copper - America’s Next Major Green Copper Producer
Florence Copper is an in-situ copper recovery (ISCR) project located midway between Phoenix and Tucson in the community of Florence, Arizona. Setting a new standard for conservation and environmental protection in copper mining, Florence Copper will produce LME Grade A copper metal on site with unmatched energy, water, and GHG conservation. Florence Copper is currently constructing a commercial production facility, which will expand the project’s smaller-scale Production Test Facility. The first copper cathode produced from the commercial facility is expected at the end of 2025. Learn more about Florence Copper, its innovative and proven ISCR process, and its construction program in this upcoming presentation by Florence Copper General Manager John Mays.
Venue and Beverage Sponsor:

Meeting Sponsors:

One spot AVAILABLE!
Reach out to Omar Smith or Liliana Pinedo if you are interested!
Speaker: John Mays, Florence Copper General Manager
John Mays is a licensed professional chemical engineer with over 30 years of experience with in-situ recovery and the uranium industry. Mr. Mays began his early career at uranium ISR projects in South Texas operated by Everest Minerals in 1986, a company led by his father and one of the first commercially viable pioneers of uranium ISR technology. Since that time, he has developed broad technical knowledge and regulatory experience with uranium recovery throughout the U.S., having had significant involvement in a multitude of uranium projects throughout the western US including roles in New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. Notable among his recent experience was his role as Vice President with UrAsia Energy Ltd. based in Almaty, Kazakhstan from 2006 to 2008 during the successful initial construction and operation of the Akdala, South Inkai, and Kharasan-1 uranium ISR projects. Mr. Mays served as Vice President of Powertech USA Inc. from 2008 to 2014 and its successor, Azarga Uranium Corp., for which he served as COO from 2014 until its merger with enCore Energy Corp. in 2021. Since 2023, Mr. Mays has been General Manager of Florence Copper LLC. Since May 2024, Mr. Mays has served on the Board of Directors of Laramide Resources Ltd. Mr. Mays holds a Bachelor of Science of Chemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

Agenda:
- 6:00pm - 7:00pm Social Hour
- 7:00pm - 7:45pm Dinner
- 7:45pm - 8:00pm Announcements
- 8:00pm - 8:30pm Program
- 8:30pm - 8:45pm Q&A
Location:
HEXAGON, 40 E Congress St #300, Tucson, AZ 85701. CLICK FOR MAP.
Costs:
- $55 for SME Tucson members
- $65 for non-members
- Free for UA SME Student Chapter members
Payable at the door by cash, credit card, or check payable to SME Tucson.
Cancellations and No Shows:
Please call or email by the registration deadline to cancel. If you do not cancel your reservation by the deadline, SME is still required to pay for your dinner, and you will in turn be billed. Thank you.
Thank you to all our 2024 Scholarship Fundraiser Sponsors:
Mother Lode |
Hexagon Mining, AMES Construction, ASARCO, South32 |
Bonanza |
Freeport-McMoRan Sierrita Operations, Stantec |
Big Nugget |
Granite, M3 Engineering, Southwest Exploration Services, WSP |
Pay Dirt |
Ausenco, Call & Nicholas, Florence Copper, GroundProbe, Independent Geomechanics, Independent Mining Consultants, KE&G, McCraren Compliance, Meridian Engineering, Montgomery & Associates, Piteau Associates, Tetra Tech |
Prospect |
Darling Geomatics, Faraday Copper, Hatch, SRK Consulting |
Supporters |
Cori Hoag, Mayes Consulting, Ray Valenzuela |