Governance

Donald E. Ranta has over 30 years of experience primarily in the exploration for and development of mineral deposits in North and South America, Africa, the Southwest Pacific, and the CIS. He has served in executive positions with Echo Bay Mines and Phelps Dodge Corp. and in managerial positions with AMAX, Climax Molybdenum, Gulf Mineral Resources, and Kennecott. From 1993 through 1997, he was Vice President of Echo Bay Mines where he managed the global exploration program with a professional staff of 40 geoscientists. His exploration teams have been responsible for the discovery or acquisition of a number of major ore deposits. From 1997 through 2002, he worked as a founding partner and officer of both Union Hill and NRX Global, two entrepreneurial companies providing financial and technical services to the mining industry.

Don holds three degrees in Geological Engineering--a BS from the School of Mines and Metallurgy/University of Minnesota, an MS from the Mackay School of Mines/University of Nevada, and a PhD from the Colorado School of Mines. He was the President of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) for the year 2000.