The National Mining Association is profiling women in mining with a feature on Virginia "Ginger" McLemore from the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Resources in Socorro, NM. We appreciate NMA for granting approval to reprint the full profile below:
Women in the mining field will grow an incredible nine
percent by 2019. With 1.2 million American jobs supported by minerals mining,
it is no wonder that women have found a home in mining. Not only that, but the average
salary for an employee in the sector is $85,504 a year and often climbs above
$100,000. These women in mining are bringing unique skills in math and science
to this male-dominated industry, proving that women can conquer all.
Spotlight on Ginger
Ever since Ginger McLemore was in junior high school she
knew she wanted to be a geologist. She grew up in Baltimore and when it was
time to go to college, she instinctively looked at the Colorado School of
Mines, but instead set her sights on the New Mexico Institute of Mining and
Technology. In her current job she works in the Applied Research department,
where she is the senior economic geologist for the New Mexico Bureau of Geology
and Mineral Resources. Throughout her
career, Ginger has been given the ability and opportunity to set her own
projects and continue to work on what she finds most interesting.
When Ginger first started work in in the 1980s, it was a
much different scene. Women were in the field—but they had just started
trickling in. Ginger mentioned, “I had two children at the time and the
industry just did not know how to handle it.” But now she says it’s a much
different scene; the industry now understands when women need to take their
kids to school or leave for an assembly.
Over the past 15 years, the industry has grown. When Ginger was
in school, she was the only women in her field camp. When the students would
take field trips to the mine, the mine owners would say that women were not
allowed to come in. But when the professor threatened to leave with all the
students, the mine changed their mind.
Ginger says that she is happy women are being recognized for
their achievements in mining. Back then, the ratio of women to men was 1:5 – perhaps
even lower – but as time has passed, the ratio has shifted to 3:5. She even
added that at the New Mexico Geological Survey there are more females on the
executive board than males.
Lastly, she tells young women interested in the field,
“you’ll never be bored. It will always be challenging and you have the
opportunity to do things you could have never imagined.”
Virginia “Ginger” McLemore currently
serves as the senior economic geologist for the New Mexico Bureau of Geology
and Mineral Resources and the Minerals Outreach Liaison for the New Mexico
Institute of Mining and Technology. She joined the Bureau of Geology and
Mineral Resources in 1980 and was promoted to senior geologist in 1993.
She specializes in
mineral resources in New Mexico (geology, origin, resource potential, water
resources, environmental assessment, impacts on water resources, reclamation,
sustainable development; see current projects) and the geology and history of
mining districts in New Mexico. She also holds memberships to several
professional societies related to minerals mining.
We are saddened to learn that Arthur ("Art") Socolow passed away yesterday after several years of failing health. His son Roy reports that the family had a chance to say goodbye in the morning before he passed and even got a chance to celebrate his 92nd
birthday on Saturday when he ate some cake and
ice cream.
