The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) is a professional society (nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation) whose nearly 15,000 membership represents all professionals serving the minerals industry in more than 85 countries. SME members are engineers, geologists, metallurgists, educators, students and researchers.  SME advances the worldwide minerals community through information exchange and professional development. SME's staff of 45 are located in Englewood, Colorado.

SME's History

A member society of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME), SME's roots date back to 1871 when a handful of coal mining engineers founded AIME. Since its inception, SME has continued to evolve over the years to stay abreast of industry changes and to reflect the ever-broadening interests of its members.

How SME is Organized

SME is organized into eight distinct divisions - coal & energy, environmental, industrial minerals & aggregates, mineral and metallurgical processing, mining and exploration, underground construction association (UCA), International Marine Minerals Society (IMMS) and WAAIME - the woman's auxiliary to the AIME. These divisions reflect the rich diversity of the SME membership and serve as a framework for SME's committee structure.

Professional development and information exchange have been watchwords at SME from the beginning. Nowhere is this commitment more evident than in the range of programs and services available to SME members. Publications, professional registration, peer-review of technical papers, college accreditation programs, meetings and exhibits, public education, and SME short courses are just a few examples.

Scope of SME

Local and international involvement are also distinguishing features in the structure and character of SME as a professional society. More than 60 local SME sections facilitate the exchange of information and increase grassroots participation in SME programs and services. In addition, with the SME Foundation and the creation of an international online digital library, OneMine.org, SME has considerable reach around the world with related societies. We encourage you to browse our website to learn more about how professionals around the world are benefiting every day from their membership in SME.