Mission
To advance responsible mining and use of minerals by catalyzing resources across The University of Arizona and our global network to: educate stakeholders on the importance of mineral resources and innovations in modern mining; attract the brightest minds from diverse disciplines to apply their talent to mineral resources challenges; develop the next generation workforce; and provide timely, integrated solutions to address real industry challenges.
San Xavier Mining Laboratory: extension underway
The Henry G. “Hank” Grundstedt San Xavier Mining Laboratory, jointly run by the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources and Department of Mining and Geologic Engineering, is the only such lab in the United States with a working vertical shaft. An extension project that gets underway in summer 2020 will add research, teaching and training opportunities. It includes installation of sophisticated sensor systems and the start of a decline to the lower levels of the mine.
Catching rocks before they fall: Can thermal imaging save miners’ lives?
Starting this fall, University of Arizona’s Geotechnical Center of Excellence (GCE) will test thermal imaging cameras at open pit mines to see if they can detect rock fall events and possibly predict those events and slides before they occur. If the cameras can sufficiently measure the movement of rocks, it could save miners from injury or death.
UArizona, mining tech firms partner to expand workers’ industry knowledge
While Caterpillar's certificate course in cooperation with the University of Arizona's Department of Mining and Geological Engineering just graduated its fourth cohort (image), Hexagon’s Mining Division in Tucson is slated to offer a similar mining professional development program for its employees. Starting this fall, Mining 4.E will provide an overall look at how mining works and the technology to make it happen.
