Degrees Offered: MS, Mining Engineering PhD, Mining Engineering

The advanced degree program in Mining Engineering has been a tradition at Michigan Tech for more than 100 years. It was the first college degree program offered, beginning in 1885 with the Michigan Mining School. In 1927, the MS degree in mining engineering became part of the program. A PhD program in mining engineering was established in 1991. Prior to that the PhD degrees were offered through a multi-disciplinary PhD program in Geotechnical Engineering. Today the mining engineering degree program is above average in size compared with other mining schools offering graduate degrees in the United States, and during the last ten years it has been one of the largest mining engineering graduate programs in the Midwest. The Mining Engineering Graduate Program is overseen by a group of faculty from throughout the University, any of whom can serve as advisor; the Program is administered through the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences.

Studies directed toward reducing the environmental impacts of mining are increasingly important for mining engineers. Regulations on air and water quality and disposal of mining "wastes" must be addressed as they affect mine permitting requirements and reclamation practices. Many useful lessons can be learned by studying case histories of negative impacts caused by some past mining practices. Knowledge gained can be used to improve current and future mining practices. An example is the development of improved underground mine closure methods that not only protect the environment and provide for better long-term public safety, but ultimately to lower environmental cost for mining companies.

The Michigan Tech Mining Engineering program offers opportunities for research utilizing the environmental labs of the Institute of Materials Processing.

Click here for more details about the Institute of Materials Processing shared Environmental Laboratory Facilities with Mining Engineering.

Geostatistics

The introduction of geostatistics into the mining program has vitalized both instruction and research in mine valuation and geotechnical engineering. The focus is on theory concerned with widening and improving the underlying mathematical assumptions, such as the theoretical development of Bayesian geostatistics or on new applications, spatial analysis on rock joint systems, probabilistic risks and uncertainty analyses in geotechnical design and analyses, as well as environmental impact analyses.

Materials Handling

Research in materials handling involves the selection, design, and performance analysis of materials handling equipment.

Mine Health and Safety

Mine health and safety research has over the last years led to the development of a series of computer codes, which have become known under the name MFIRE PROGRAMS. They allow the modeling of ventilation systems under ordinary and fire conditions and are widely used nationally and internationally. Recent research focuses on the validation and refinement of these programs with the help of measured data and on improving the input and output interface. New concepts, like thermodynamic availability analysis and optimal control theories, are being tested for their usefulness in ventilation planning.

Mineral Economics

Research in mineral economics has included project evaluation, metal demand forecasting, metal market and corporate behavior, and the international market of steel. Current research involves investigating mineral industry corporate financing and the impact of advanced materials on the needs for traditional metals.

Rock Fragmentation

Research in rock fragmentation focuses on both blasting and mechanical techniques for underground and surface mines. Blasting studies include the design of optimal blast patterns and stress wave propagation, the dynamic responses of earth and surface structures to blast vibration, and the determination of detonation parameters of non-ideal heterogeneous explosives containing gaseous and liquid phases.

Mechanical rock fragmentation research includes the inter-reaction of the machine with the rock, for lowest energy expenditure. We study continuous mines, roadheaders, tunnel boring machines, and surface strippers.

Rock Mechanics

Research in rock mechanics involves laboratory and in situ testing of rock properties. A larger on-going project is the study of rock mass structural characteristics compared to rock properties obtained from specimens in conventional lab tests. New projects include the use of geostatistics for optimal geotechnical site characterizations and its application to predict or analyze the spatial distribution of characteristic parameters of rock joints as well as probabilistic risk and uncertainty analyses for mine and civil structures.

Newly developed methods of site characterizations include space-based technologies for geotechniques and resource engineering, structural analysis of rock slopes, tunnels, and underground openings for mining.

Solution Mining

Heap, dump, and in situ solution mining, when combined with mineral bioleaching, provide further advantages in metal recovery and/or processing. This is a low-impact technology that has turned around the U.S. gold mining industry

Underground Construction

Underground construction applies mining and civil engineering technologies to the creation of underground structures. This area of study includes all aspects of underground site characterization, opening design, excavation of openings, supporting systems, project scheduling, costing, ventilation, ground control, and equipment selection.

Graduate Courses

Individual degree schedules are set up to meet the goals of the student and the requirements of the Graduate School. The department can supply information about specific departmental requirements and procedures.

The faculty is also involved in the multidisciplinary program leading to the doctoral degree in engineering, specializing in geotechnical engineering. (See College of Engineering,PhD)

Graduate Course Descriptions from University Graduate Catalog

Applicants must meet general Graduate School admission requirements. The department requires either a bachelor's or master's degree in either engineering or science. Non-mining graduates may be required to take certain undergraduate courses for additional preparation. Prospective applicants should contact the Department of Geological & Mining Engineering & Sciences early to discuss their educational goals and the University's resources.

Click here for more information on graduate school admission requirements

Financial Assistance

• Teaching Assistantship: MS and PhD candidates who meet the admission requirements of the Mining Engineering Graduate Program are eligible. The position requires the applicant to dedicate approximately 50 percent of his/her time toward undergraduate instruction in addition to completing the requirements for their degree.
• Graduate Assistantships: PhD candidates who meet the admission requirements of the Mining Engineering Graduate Program are eligible. Candidates may choose from any of a number of concentrations throughout the University, as described above; the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences is the host department for this interdisciplinary program.