Ernie Black, P.Eng, gets Ben F. Dickerson III Award from Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME)

February, 27, 2012 - Ernie Black, P.Eng, a senior advisor to Rockland Minerals, has been awarded the prestigious Ben F. Dickerson III Award by the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) at their Annual Meeting held recently in Seattle, WA. For many years Ben F. Dickerson III wrote the "News and Rumours from the Bush" column for Skillings Mining Review. The Award, established in 1987, recognizes professionalism and contributions to the mining industry. Mr. Black was particularly recognized for his consistent adherence to the highest ethical standards in the exploration business, and his life-long focus on mineral exploration.

Over the last 55 years, Mr. Black has worked domestically and internationally in mining and oil and gas exploration. Approximately 40 years of his career has been spent in corporate management, consulting and project development. Mr. Black is the founder of MPH Consulting Ltd. in Toronto and MPH Consulting Inc. in Denver, Colorado. Over the years, Mr. Black has served as an officer, director or technical advisor of a number of Canadian and American companies, and continues to actively consult for clients in the mineral industry. His extensive mining career started as a geologist with US Steel Corp's subsidiary, Quebec Cartier Mining Company from 1956 to 1963, and as a consultant from 1964 to 1970. Between 1964 and 1967 Mr. Black consulted for WGM on the Baffinland Iron deposits and Hematite Lake deposits. In 1967, Mr. Black also consulted to Expo Iron Mines Ltd. on the Mt. Laurier iron ore mine and facilities development plan. In 2004, Mr. Black optioned his Peppler Lake and Lamalee iron ore claims to Quinto Mining Corp. which dealt them to Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines in 2008. These properties are now being developed by Cliffs Natural Resources.

The Rockland team is very proud of Ernie and he deserves this special recognition!