Research

Underground Science & Engineering

Strategic Research Area:
Underground Science and Engineering

Underground science and engineering research covers all current or future work related to underground research and technology. This includes research that can answer fundamental questions in physics, geology, geological engineering, and biology and that can be addressed best in an underground environment. This research area also involves research in the fields critical to working and living underground, such as civil and mining engineering, as well as other supporting engineering and technology disciplines.

Underground Science and Engineering:
Research Themes

Fundamental Nature of Matter Theme

This theme is related to fundamental questions about neutrinos, dark matter and subatomic particles that are unanswered today. This area is underdeveloped at the School, but has the potential for major development through projected growth of the Physics Department.

Critical Strategic Minerals Theme

Many key minerals are essential to the function of emerging technologies and other consumer products and some of these are in high demand and short supply in this country. Such minerals are both functionally “critical” and politically “strategic.” Decision makers in both the public and the private sectors need continuous, unbiased, and thorough mineral information. Areas of emphasis include:

Economic Analysis of Minerals
Life Cycle, Detection and Location of Minerals
Growing High Purity Minerals
Critical Materials in South Dakota

Subterranean Systems Theme

This theme explores the unknowns of subterranean engineering and geological processes, including seismic wave propagation in wet vs. dry crust; research into ground motion; underground fluid flow systems and the role of fractures; and many other topics. Appropriate areas of emphasis include: