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We wish to call your attention to the following AGU Special Session, San Francisco, 2004. Abstract deadline is September 9, 2004 (online). Apologies for multiple posting. Session S11, Sponsor: Seismology; CoSponsors: Tectonophysics, Nonlinear Geophysics EARTHQUAKES IN MINES AS A NATURAL LABORATORY OF EARTHQUAKE PROCESSES Conveners: Thomas Jordan, USC, [log in to unmask] Malcolm J Johnston, US Geological Survey, [log in to unmask] Ze=92ev Reches, U of Oklahoma. [log in to unmask] One major obstacle in earthquake investigations is the lack of direct and near-field observations of the earthquake process. Deep mines offer unique advantage: they allow study of seismogenic processes at the focal-depth with three-dimensional access to the rupture zones, and testing of theoretical models of fault failure and rupture dynamics. Further, as the mining operations control the location, magnitude and timing of earthquakes, the investigation can be focused at sites where earthquakes are guaranteed to occur in the near future. The moment-magnitude range of mine earthquakes is from =962 to 4, which bridges the scale gap between laboratory experiments and tectonic earthquakes in the crust. The project NELSAM (Natural Earthquake Laboratory in South African Mines) is directed to such studies; see some details is http://earth.es.huji.ac.il/reches/DAFSAM/ We invite presentations on all aspects of mine seismicity with emphasis on the relationships to tectonic seismicity as well as discussion of potential application and implications of the NELSAM project.