Speakers
Education Session
This session examines mineral exploration from the field forward, focusing on how land access, permitting pathways, and early coordination with land professionals directly influence exploration outcomes, often long before economic geology is fully defined. Using real-world examples from U.S. uranium and critical minerals projects, the presentation explores where exploration teams and land managers most commonly encounter friction, why those challenges arise, and how clearer communication and early collaboration can materially reduce risk, delays, and cost. The discussion emphasizes practical realities rather than theory, highlighting how regulatory frameworks, surface and mineral ownership, and permitting timelines translate into day-to-day decisions in the field. Attendees will gain insight into how exploration geologists evaluate projects, how land considerations influence technical decisions, and where land professionals can add the greatest value early in a project’s life cycle.
Mark Travis, CPG, is an exploration geologist and technical advisor with more than two decades of experience advancing mineral projects across the western United States and internationally. He specializes in early- to mid-stage exploration, where geological interpretation, land access, permitting, and regulatory realities intersect.
Through his firm, Arkenstone Exploration, Mark works with public companies, private groups, and land stakeholders to translate complex geological data into practical, decision-ready insight, helping teams navigate risk, regulatory pathways, and capital expectations at critical inflection points. His work spans uranium, gold, silver, and critical minerals, with a particular emphasis on U.S. brownfields projects and federal land management processes.
Mark is an active speaker and industry contributor, focusing on improving collaboration between exploration teams, land professionals, regulators, and stakeholders to advance responsible resource development.