About The Minerals Research Association of Nova Scotia

The Minerals Research Association of Nova Scotia (MRANS) was established in 2018. Its mandate is to help the province’s mining and quarrying industry grow and create jobs for Nova Scotians by conducting and facilitating minerals-related research in partnership with government, industry and universities.

MRANS is a not-for-profit organization legally established under Nova Scotia’s Societies Act. While it is separate from the Mining Association of Nova Scotia (MANS), MANS seeded MRANS by covering costs associated with its establishment and donating staff time to manage the new organization.

MRANS’ board has adopted a policy that all MANS members are automatically members of MRANS at no charge. This ensures MRANS represents the mining industry and is accountable to it, in addition to being accountable to government for any government research grants MRANS receives. This policy also ensures that cost is not an obstacle to membership in MRANS.

MRANS’ 2018-19 Board of Directors

  • Pat Mills, President, former plant manager of National Gypsum’s Milford quarry.
  • John Wightman, Managing Director of the GOLDFIELDS Group of companies and Executive Director of the Prospectors Association of Nova Scotia.
  • Dr. Sally Goodman, Chief Geoscientist, Atlantic Gold.
  • Dr. Jacob Hanley, Chairperson and Full Professor, Department of Geology, Saint Mary’s University.
  • Michael Power, Senior Project Geologist and Business Development Lead, Mercator Geological Services
  • George O’Reilly, retired Mineral Deposit Geologist.
  • Rick Horne, Consultant.