Jim Miller - Department of Geological Sci. & Precambrian Research Center
Richard Davis - Department of Chemical Engineering
Carlos Carranza-Torres - Department of Civil Engineering
Donald Fosnacht – Natural Resources Research Institute
Nathan Johnson- Department of Civil Engineering
Penelope Morton – Swenson College of Science and Engineering
Presented April 17, 2013
86th Annual Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration –Minnesota Section Meeting
Jim Miller
Department of Geological Sciences
Carlos Carranza-Torres
Department of Civil Engineering
Richard Davis
Department of Chemical Engineering
April 15, 2009
82nd Annual Meeting
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration
Duluth, MN
Talk Outline
• Demand and supply of human capital in
the minerals industries
• Why a Center of Excellence at UMD
• Initial Recommendations
• Educational Goals
• Research Goals
• Structure, Management, Funding
• Moving Forward
The Booming
Global
Exploration
and Mining
Industries
From P. Clevenstine (2011)
Global Exploration
Budgets 1993-2012
(In Billions of US Dollars)
World Exploration Trends
Metals Economics Group (2013)
Eckstrand and Hulbert, 2007
How Long?
Global Recession –
Collapse of US Minerals
Exploration Industry
Arab Oil
Embargo
Environmental
Geology Boom
American Geoscience Institute 2012
Education in Mineral Resource Geology in US Universities
Dilles, Hitzman, & Barton, 2012
American Geological Institute 2009
Career Choices for Geoscience Students and
Recommendations by Faculty Advisors - 2006
2007 AGI Workforce Report
Decline in Mining and Geological
Engineering Graduates
1980-2006
Engineering Trends, Report 2007
Department of
Geological Sciences
Est.1950
Department of Chemical
Engineering
Iron Range/UMD
Graduate Engineering
Education Program
Department of Civil Engineering
Coleraine Minerals Research Laboratory
Economic Geology Group
Department of Geological Sciences
A Long Tradition of Teaching and Research in
Economic Geology and Related Fields
UMD faculty 1976-77
Henry Lepp (1954-1964) – economic geology (iron formation genesis)
Dick Ojakangas (1964-2002) – sedimentology/stratigraphy (iron formation geology, U-deposits)
Ralph Marsden (1967-1980) – economic geology (iron formation geology and genesis)
Dave Darby (1968-1992) – paleontology and stratigraphy (iron formation paleontology)
Ron Morton (1979-present) – economic geology (volcanic-hosted ore deposits)
Howard Mooers (1981-present) – glacial geology and hydrogeology (ore body dispersal trains)
Penny Morton (1986-present) – mineralogy/economic geology (magmatic ore deposits)
John Swenson (1999-present) – sed. basin analysis/hydrogeology (hydrothermal ore deposits)
Tim Demko (2002-2006) – sedimentology/stratigraphy (oil and gas)
Jim Miller (2008-present) – igneous petrology (magmatic ore deposits)
Current Adjunts : George Hudak, Dean Peterson, Phil Larson, Mark Severson, Tami Deidrich
Department of Geological Sciences
Over 50 Years of Providing Intellectual and Human Capital
for Local Mining-related Industries and Institutions
Aubrey Lee (MS in progress) Numax
Matt Chaffee (MS in progress) Big Rock Expl.
Cabin Ross (MS in progress) Twin Metals MN
Mike Totenhagen (MS in progress) Arcelor Mittal
Jenny Goldner (MS in progress) Rio Tinto
Dan Foley (MS’11) Kennecott-Eagle/Rio Tinto
Stephanie Theriault (MS’11) Barr Engineering
Brian Goldner (MS’11) Kennecott Exploration/Rio Tinto
Robert Rush (MS’10) Kennecott Exploration/Rio Tinto
Chris White (MS’10) Cardero Iron Ore
Cara Leithheiser (BS ‘10) Twin Metals MN
Gina Raymond (BS ‘10) Twin Metals MN
Eric Quigley (BS ‘10) Mineral Resource Corp.
Amanda Gurske (BS ’08) Cliffs NR
Ashley Anderson (BS ‘08) Aquila Resources
Erik Tharalson (BS ’08) Encampment Resources
Phil Larson (PhD ’07; BS ‘95) Duluth Metals
Paul Albers (MS ‘06) Freeport-McMoRan
Dean Peterson (PhD ‘01, BS ’86) Duluth Metals Ltd.
Steve Hovis (MS ‘01) Kennecott Exploration/Rio Tinto
Mike Neimitz (BS ‘01) Newmont Exploration
George Hudak (PhD’96, MS’89) UMD-NRRI/PRC
Tamara Diedrich (BS ‘99) Barr Engineering
Rich Patelke (MS ’96) Polymet Mining (dec.)
Steve Geerts (MS’ 94) UMD-NRRI
Kevin Boerst (BS ’94) Twin Metals MN
Tom Muhich (MS ’93) Environmental Consulting
Taconite Industry
Jeff Price (‘92) US Steel/Cliffs NR
Al Strandlie (BS ’88) Cliffs NR
Frank Pezzutto (MS ‘88) US Steel
Pete Jongewaard (MS ’89) Cliffs NR
Terry Boerboom (MS ’87) MN Geological Survey
Jeff Vervoort (MS ’87) Washington State U
Dan England (MS ’86) Eveleth Fee Office
Dan Holm (MS ’86) Kent State University
Colin Reichoff (MS ’86) SEH-Duluth
Kent Syverson (BS ‘86) UW Eau Claire
Dave Groves (MS ‘84) Newmont/Ceterra Gold
Doug Halverson (BS ’85) Cliffs NR
Keith Rapp (BS ‘84) ECOR Solutions
Matt Oberhelman (BS ’82) MN DNR
Mark Jirsa (MS ’80) MN Geological Survey
Stu Behlig (BS ‘79) Geological Consultant
Tom Quigley (BS ‘79) Aquila Resources
Leon Gladen (MS ’78) Franconia Minerals/Encampment
Mark Severson (MS ’78) UMD-NRRI
Rick Ruhanen (BS ’78) MN DNR (ret.)
Klaus Schulz (MS ’74) US Geological Survey
Ed Ripley (MS ’73) Indiana University
Odin Christenson (BS ‘70) Newmont Mining (ret.)
Harry Noyes (BS ’70) Encampment Resources
Lou Mattson (BS ’57) Oliver Mining (ret.)
G.B. Morey (BS ‘57) MN Geological Survey (ret.)
Dick Ojakangas (BS ‘55) UMD (ret.)
Precious & Base Metal Industry
Academia/Govt.
Steady Production of Economic Geology Theses
2013 – 3 Economic Geology Theses Pending
Established in 2008
2nd graduating class in May 2013
Specialty Areas
Water resources
Transportation
Structural
Geotechnical
Geotechnical Faculty
Carlos Carranza-Torres, Associate Professor
Research Interests: Engineering Geology, Rock Mechanics, Design of
Underground and Surface Excavations, Analytical and Numerical
Modeling in Geotechnical Engineering
David Saftner, Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Geotechnical Testing, Site Investigation and
Characterization, Sand Aging, Geostatistical Applications, and
Wireless Sensing Technology in Geotechnical Applications
The GEOTECHNICAL SPECIALTY AREA seeks to train engineers
and scientists in practical aspects of mining engineering, offering
courses and research relevant to mining in Minnesota.
Course offerings related to Mining Engineering
CE 3425 Engineering Geology
CE 3426 Soil Mechanics
CE 4415 Geotechnical Design
CE 4426/5426 Rock Mechanics
CE 4421/5421 Applied Geostatistics
CE 4422/5422 Modeling in Geotechnical Engineering
CE 4436/5436 Design of Underground and Surface
Excavations in Rock
The Department of Civil Engineering also has state-of-the art
equipment for physical of mechanical and testing of rock and soils,
which are used in ongoing teaching and research.
Department History





Established in 1986 as Department of Chemical
Process Engineering
Taught basic mineralogy for engineers & mineral
processing engineering courses in 1980’s
McKnight Professor Ron Visness introduces Particle
Technology Course in 1999; still required.
Electives in Environmental Engineering, Pollution
Control, Hazardous Waste Processing
Research collaborations with
CMRL and Taconite Producers
Over 25 years of ChE
graduates finding engineering
positions in local industries
New Initiatives in Mineral Process Engineering

New course in Material and Mineral Processing (ChE4141)
to be taught in Fall 2013.

Dr. Zhihua Xu, recently hired to develop materials and
mineral process engineering program

Minor in Mineral Processing (requires industrial coop).


SME Student Chapter started 2012
Four students coop with CESL
Seeking to increase student COOP
and intern opportunities with Cliffs,
USS, Arcelor-Mittal, Essar, Teck,
UTac, ME Global, Barr, MN Power,
and related companies

UMD Master’s Degrees
with an Iron Range Focus
Classes held in Virginia, Hibbing and
Itasca
Professional’s Schedule
 Evening Class Time
Flexible Presentation Style
 Face to Face with recording
 4D instruction
Director / Advisor in Virginia
• Master of Science in Engineering Management
“MBA for Engineers”
• Master of Engineering
Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Computer, Industrial, and Mechanical
• Master of Science in Environmental Health and Safety
Don Fosnacht
Director, Center for Applied Research and Technology Development
(CARTD) Mineral and Metallurgical Engineering (PhD)
George Hudak
Director, Minerals Division of CARTD
Economic Geology (PhD)
COLERAINE MINERAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
Dick Kiessel - Director, CMRL
Expertise: Chemical Engineering (MS)
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY GROUP
Dave Hendrickson – Director, Strategic Developments
Expertise: Mine Mgmt., Environmental Eng. (MS)
Larry Zanko – Senior Research Fellow
Expertise: Geological Engineering (MS)
Sarat Panigrahy - Endowed Taconite Chair
Expertise: Metallurgical Eng., Pyrometallurgy (PhD)
Steve Monson-Geerts – Scientist
Expertise – Economic Geology (MS)
Dave Englund – Director, Computational Modelling
Expertise: Metallurgical Engineering (MS)
John Heine – Scientist
Expertise: Geology (BA)
Tom Peterson– Interim Director, Minerals Beneficiation
Expertise: Mineral Processing / Extractive Metallurgy
Marsha Meinders-Patelke – Scientist
Expertise: Sed/Strat (MS in progress)
Andriy Khotkevych –Research Associate
Expertise: Biomass, Biofuels (PhD)
Julie Oreskovich – Scientist
Expertise: Geology and Biology (BS)
Paul Mack– Research Associate
Expertise: Pyrometallury (MS)
Steven Hauck – Program Director
Expertise: Economic Geology (MS)
Precambrian
Research Center

Summer Precambrian
geology field camp in
northeastern Minnesota

Graduate research
assistantships and grants

Professional workshops
and field courses

Public outreach, student
mentoring
• Charter approved May 2011
• One of 11 SEG Student Chapters in US
• Charter approved Spring 2012
• 25 student members
• Initial interest from 40+ students from
CE, ChE, EE, Geology, ME
• Advisors - Hudak, Miller, Noyes
• Advisors – Davis, Sersha
Activites
Activities
•Field trips in conjunction with SME
chapter & other schools (UWEC,
• Host seminar speakers from mining
industry
Lakehead, New Mexico Tech)
• Host EG seminar speakers, webinars
• Public outreach about MN resources
• Sponsor job fairs and industry visits
• Advertise employment/internship
opportunities
Center of Excellence in Mining,
Metallurgy, and Exploration at UMD
To produce scientists and engineers with
expertise in specific mining-related fields,
as well as with a general knowledge of all
aspects of the mining cycle, and to
promote and facilitate high quality,
collaborative research among Center
faculty/students, government agencies,
and the minerals industry.
To produce students who…
• are well trained in specialized science, engineering, and
technical fields related to mining and minerals
exploration, AND…
• who have a robust general understanding of all aspects of
the mining life cycle – origin of ore deposits, exploration,
permitting, development, mineral economics, mine design,
excavation, ore processing, environmental protection, and
reclamation.
To accomplish these goals of producing both expertly- and
holistically-trained mining professionals, one of the primary
functions of the Center would be to promote and facilitate
efficient coordination and collaboration of minerals-related
curriculum offered by center-affiliated departments and
faculty
Coordination needed to Develop
Program in Sustainable Mining
• to promote and facilitate research partnerships currently
established between UMD faculty, students, and the
minerals industry
• to explore new areas of minerals-related research that
would benefit UMD students, the local mining industry,
local communities, and the State of Minnesota.
Areas of potential research pathways that might involve
oversight or coordination by the Center include:
1) research and internship opportunities between UMD
students and the local mining industry
2) contract research projects conducted by UMD faculty and
students funded by and in collaboration with individual
minerals-related companies…
Areas of potential research pathways that might involve
oversight or coordination by the Center include:
3) general interest research projects by UMD faculty and
students that are recommended and funded by
industry membership contributions to the Center
4) publicly-funded research collaborations among Center
departments and institutes, other academic
institutions, and/or national, state, and local
government agencies (e,g., by NSF, USFS, MNPCA,
MNDNR, IRRRB,…)
• General oversight of the Center will be by the Swenson
College of Science and Engineering in coordination with
the Natural Resources Research Institute
• The Center has no direct administrative authority over
participating departments or faculty. Rather, its role is to
serve as a facilitator for communication and collaboration
among the participating departments, especially in
helping to better coordinate mining-related programs and
curriculum. It would also serve as a conduit and liaison
between industry and UMD researchers.
• Despite its lack of administrative authority, a key
ingredient to the effectiveness and status of the Center
would be to have a managing director and staff assistants.
The director would ideally have strong industry
connections and perhaps employment experience with the
mining industry, a history of involvement or oversight of
minerals-related research, and proven management and
negotiating skills.
• Another key component to the effectiveness and relevance
of the Center is to develop an industry advisory board.
The role of the board would be to give recommendations
on curriculum/program improvements and collaborative
research projects that would have broad industry appeal.
• Establishment of an endowed chair for the director of
the Center with contributions from UMD alumni and
industry
• A possible funding model for the Center that has been
used in several other centers is to establish a significant
annual membership fee for industry to be on the board
of advisors ($25K/year for ASISC). The fee is the same
for all companies and so that no one company
dominates the recommendations.
• Gain approval from UMD Administration to further
develop the Center concept – VOICE YOUR SUPPORT!
• Hold open forums among interested faculty, govt. agencies
and representatives of the local minerals industry to solicit
ideas and comments on the mission, goals, structure,
management and funding of the Center
• Research and visit other Academic Centers of Excellence in
North America
• Submit a final report to the UMD Administration by May,
2014 with recommendations for creation of a Center (which
will have a name by then!)