The four-day annual convention of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is one of the world’s leading conventions for people, companies and organizations in, or connected with, mineral exploration. Last year, the event attracted over 30,000 attendees and about 1,000 exhibitors from 125 countries. Needless to say, Toronto is going to be quite busy next week. The PDAC Conference brings together the latest technology from around the world, as well as provides the latest information on global exploration projects. I wouldn’t miss the Investor’s Exchange, the Core Shack area, and the technical presentations. I especially enjoy the Core Shack, which shows real drill core samples, along with maps, charts, and technical information, from the latest mineral discovery projects around the world. On many occasions, I have brought one of our XRF analyzers into the shack and analyzed some drill core right on the spot. The educational program boasts expert speakers sharing industry insights. Each day is packed with short courses and technical sessions covering everything from commodities and market outlook, to data analysis techniques, to geometallurgy, geophysics, and geochemistry. Zinc is a big focus this year as well; there are seven sessions dedicated to just this element. (I guess we weren’t the only ones who found Zinc to be fascinating when we created this Zinc Infographic.) Also offered as a resource at PDAC will be e3 Plus — a toolkit for responsible exploration to help exploration companies continuously improve their social, environmental and health and safety performance and to comprehensively integrate these three aspects in to all their exploration programs. It includes voluntary guidelines designed to help inform explorers in their decision-making while engaged in exploration projects around the world. Since Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with a mission to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer, we applaud all those companies who are exploring these ideas on environmental stewardship, health and safety. If you get a chance to step out of the venue, there are some great restaurants in the area. I happen to like the sports-themed ones. Wayne Gretzky’s Toronto Sports Bar and Restaurant has a good menu, atmosphere and memorabilia. And the Real Sports Bar and Grill right across from The Air Canada Centre (home of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors) is the #1 sports bar in North America as voted by ESPN. Don’t expect any fancy food though, because all you’ll find are signature burgers, wings, and bar classics… and there are always sports being broadcasted on their giant screens and enthusiastic sports fans cheering for their teams. Looking for something to do outside the sports arena, and outside of PDAC? The new Ripley’s Aquarium is the newest attraction with great reviews. It is recommended to buy your tickets on line. The CN Tower offers great views, the Toronto theater district offers Tony Award winning productions, and the Royal Ontario Museum is among the world’s leading museums of natural history and world cultures. Looking for some shopping? The Distillery District is home to many of Toronto’s hottest designer boutiques, unique cafes, artisan shops, breathtaking art galleries, performance venues and award-winning restaurants. Shopping for some mining solutions? Make sure you stop by booth 504 to see the latest in portable x-ray fluorescent analyzers used in all stages of the mining and exploration proces. Bring a sample and see how you can analyze rock and minerals in seconds, including analyzing a vein in your sample rock. Or visit this mining page if you won’t be at the show or miss us there. Show Details PDAC 2014 Booth 504 March 2-5, 2014 Toronto, Canada
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