The Brigadier Stokes Memorial Award:

This award is the highest honour awarded by SAIMM, recognising outstanding lifetime contributions to the mining and metallurgical industry.

Honorary Life Fellowship:

Awarded to individuals whom SAIMM desires to honour in consideration of services rendered to the Institute, to science, or to industry.

50 Year Membership:

Presented to members who have attained 50 years of continuous membership of SAIMM.

Fellows elected during the year:

Recognising individuals who have been upgraded to Fellows of SAIMM. The criteria to be considered for upgrading are:

  • Be at least 35 years of age.
  • Have, for a period of at least five years, been practising in a senior technical position in mining or metallurgical undertakings, or in governmental, educational or research organisations concerned with those industries; or
  • Have, for a period of at least five years, been practising as a consultant in the skills of mining and metallurgy, and;
  • Be practising his/her profession at the time of application, satisfy Council that he/she is a fit and proper person to become a Fellow, and Council shall be satisfied that his/her qualifications, training and technical experience justify such professional status, and;
  • Have been a Member of good standing for five years and have promoted the interests of the SAIMM.

Awards for papers published in the Journal:

Recognising authors of outstanding technical papers published in the SAIMM Journal:

  • Gold medal award: Gold medals are awarded for papers that are of a world-class standard and judged to be publications that will become key references in their mining or metallurgical field in the future.
  • Silver medal award: Silver medals are awarded for papers that make a major contribution to the professions of mining and metallurgy and to the prestige of the Institute.

Danie Krige Medal Award:

Consists of a 9ct Gold Medal, with the following criteria considered:

  • Papers on theoretical or applied geostatistics are eligible;
  • The papers must have been published in the Journal of the SAIMM in the preceding calendar year;
  • Nominations for the award may be made by a member of the SAIMM (who is not an author) or submissions may be made by the author(s);
  • Award of a Danie Krige Medal excludes the winning paper from consideration for any other SAIMM publications awards i.e., the SAIMM Gold and Silver medals for Journal papers.

The Top Advertiser Award:

The award is made annually by the SAIMM:

  • It is the Institute’s way of recognising the continued and loyal support of those companies that advertise in the SAIMM Journal.
  • The award is made not only on the strength of the amount of money spent by an advertiser, but also on factors like general co-operation, meeting of deadlines, and the timely settling of accounts.

Student Prestige Prizes:

This consists of a silver medal.

  • Generally the top academic achiever is selected. However, the discretion is given to the University Head of Department to select a person who is not the top academic achiever but who has been active in community involvement or demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities.
  • One SAIMM prize will be awarded per university per bona fide Mining or Metallurgy Bachelors qualification – this could be extended to include Chemical Engineering if there is a case requested by a university based on the number of graduates that find employment in the Metallurgical sector