GENERAL: It is gratifying to note that our announcement issued in December 2000 has generated much interest in the international geological community and many of you have already sent the pre-registration form in. We thank you all for doing so and hope to receive many more registration forms. There are minor changes in the original agenda, as courses relevant to the objectives of IGCP 450 and of interest to the participants are being organized. Information of the field trip is included.

THE MEETING: The First IGCP 450 Field Workshop will be held during the "XI Simpósio de Geologia de Minas Gerais" (XI Symposium on the Geology of Minas Gerais State), organized by the Brazilian Geological Society, Minas Gerais Division. The workshop forms a major part of the activities of the UNESCO and International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) - International Geological Correlation Program Project 450, Proterozoic Sediment-Hosted Base Metal Deposits, Western Gondwana: Intra and Intercontinental Correlation of Geological, Geochemical and Isotopic Characteristics, Southern Atlantic. The major objectives of IGCP Project 450 include the preparation of a mineral deposit database and metallogenic maps. The present workshop is a step in this direction.

LOCATION OF THE EVENT: Participants will meet initially in the historic city of Belo Horizonte, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Belo Horizonte, the first modern Brazilian city to spring from an architect's drawing board, was especially designed for its role as the capital of the state of Minas Gerais. The State of Minas Gerais (may be roughly translated as "widespread mines") is a geologist's delight and tourist haven.

The field excursion will cover well-exposed sections of the Bambuí and Vazante Groups, located to the North and West of Belo Horizonte. Participants will visit the Vazante and Morro Agudo mines, the only Proterozoic sediment hosted Zn-Pb mines now in production in the whole of South America.

THEMES: We welcome all contributions relating to the metallogeny of copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, uranium and the byproducts Au, Ag, Pt-Pd in the Proterozoic basins of Western Gondwana (Africa and South America). However, emphasis will be placed on presentations consistent with the following lines of investigation:

1. Regional studies of mineral districts.
2. Metallogenic models based on geological, geophysical and geochemical constraints.
3. Radiogenic, stable isotopes and fluid inclusions studies of mineral deposits in Proterozoic basins of Western Gondwana.
4. Estimation of the epochs of mineralization.
5. Inter and intra-continental correlation of geological, geotectonic, geochemical and isotopic characteristics of Proterozoic sediment hosted base metal deposits of Africa and South America and host rocks.

ORGANIZATION: The scientific sessions will comprise oral presentations and posters. Invited keynote talks will be given by leading scientists. Their names and themes will be announced soon. It should be emphasized that the field excursion lasting five days forms the core of the scientific session.

In order to accommodate a large number of interesting papers we are compelled to allocate a maximum of 15 minutes for the oral presentation followed by an additional 5 minutes for discussion. Slide and transparency projectors and Data Show (Windows format) equipment will be available. The poster session will run in parallel with the oral session and take place in a separate hall where the posters will be on display during the whole day (September 28) or part of the day depending on the number of posters submitted and the space available. The discussions on the posters may take place during the intervals and after the close of the oral session. At least one of the authors is expected to be present near the poster to facilitate discussion.

LANGUAGE: All presentations (oral and poster) must be in English. The authors are requested to submit the extended abstracts in English, which will be reproduced in the Abstract Volume to be distributed to the participants. Abstracts will not be edited and the authors are expected to exercise caution while preparing their material.

INVITED KEYNOTE SPEECHES: The scientific sessions will begin on September 27 in the afternoon with invited talks by distinguished investigators on themes of great relevance to IGCP 450. The speeches will last 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes of discussion.

SHORT COURSES: Short courses related to the theme of IGCP 450 are being offered. These courses will greatly benefit graduate students and mining geologists. The following short courses are programmed for now:

1. Application of stable and radiogenic isotope studies in establishing metallogenic and exploration models: Examples from Western Gondwana, by Dr. Sundaram S. S. Iyer, from the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
2. Application of fluid inclusion studies in metallogenesis and in mineral exploration: Examples from the São Francisco Craton, Brazil (in French and in Portuguese), by Dr. Carlos E. S. Coelho, Grupo de Metalogênese, Centro de Pesquisa em Geofísica e Geologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil.
3. Dating mineralizing events: New techniques in geochronology of hydrothermal sulfide deposits, by Dr. Colombo Celso G. Tassinari, Centro de Geocronologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.

Courses will be offered during two days preceding the scientific sessions (25- 26 September) in the Geoscience Department of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Registration fee for short courses is US$ 100.00 per course. All participants should register for the courses in advance (see instructions).

FIELD TRIP: A field excursion lasting September 29 to October 3 is the major highlight of the Workshop. Details of the field excursion are attached. Unfortunately, due to limitation of lodging facilities in the area, we are compelled to restrict the maximum number of participants to 30. Thus participants will be chosen on a "first come first served" basis. You are thus advised to reserve places well in advance to avoid disappointment.

SUBMISSION OF PAPERS: The deadline for extended abstracts is 30 June 2001. All abstracts should be prepared according to the guidelines given below and those which does not conform to the guidelines will be returned to the authors. Attempts will be made to publish full-length papers in Gondwana Research after a proper reviewing process.