Mining loses highly regarded engineer, gentleman, friend

With immense sadness, Ucore Rare Metals Inc. Aug. 2 reported the sudden passing of COO Ken Collison, a mining engineer highly regarded both professionally and personally.

"Ken was a towering figure in the mine engineering industry," said Ucore President and CEO Jim McKenzie. "His outstanding successes at Ucore, Coeur Alaska, Crandon Mining, and Blue Pearl Mining/Thompson Creek speak to the diversity of his accomplishments in developing best-of-breed mining and minerals processing facilities."

As COO of Blue Pearl Mining/Thompson Creek Metals from 2005 to 2009, Collison was part of the team that purchased Thompson Creek Metals and built it into one of North America's premier molybdenum producers.

He previously held the positions of vice president at Crandon Mining Corp. and Coeur Alaska, the Alaska subsidiary of Coeur d'Alene Mines.

He brought extensive experience in mining operations, permitting and preparation of mining feasibility studies to Ucore and its work to develop the Bokan-Dotson Ridge rare earth element project in Southeast Alaska.

"Ken's innovative outlook was instrumental to generating the company's process flowsheet for the Bokan-Dotson Ridge project, and in laying the foundation for the utilization of MRT processing across the technology metals space," continued McKenzie. "Ken was a mentor, a respected colleague, a gentleman and a friend. His easygoing manner and his passion for the industry will be missed by all who had the pleasure to work with him."

-SHANE LASLEY