The Mining Hub

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South Dakota Mines has a long history in the development and advancement of mining. It is one of only five universities in the United States to have all three mineral industry disciplines: Geology and Geological Engineering, Mining Engineering and Management, and Materials and Metallurgical Engineering.

The multidisciplinary research collaborations have a history of creating advancements and innovation that benefit society. For these reasons, in addition to our location, South Dakota Mines is well-positioned to be the hub that fosters innovation in mining. The mining industry is evolving rapidly. With an influx of new processes and techniques, plus advanced new technologies, mining is experiencing a step change that is creating new opportunities for miners — and for the regions in which they mine. 

These days mining is high tech. Autonomous equipment, robotics, and artificial intelligence are some of the latest innovations that require a highly skilled workforce. 

The areas within the Hub

Mining leads all industries in the autonomous space — with more autonomous miles traveled than all autonomous automotive companies combined. And emerging mining technologies are on pace to transcend other industries —including agriculture, construction, automotive and other autonomous vehicle applications.

The Mining Hub is designed to be an incubator for these emerging technologies. It is a place for educators, researchers, corporations, organizations…and students… to collaborate, learn, discover, and innovate.

This hub brings together the partners to work in convergent research areas that include technology development and implementation, digitalization, human factors, and many other areas to support sustainable recovery of the Earth's resources, to ensure a stable national supply of materials, and to support the nation's needs.

Each of these areas within the hub will support and provide resources for each other.

• Multi-disciplinary programming working together: Mining Engineering, Geology, Geological Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and the Humanities
• Research at both the graduate and undergraduate level.
• Professional development for industry.

• Big Data
• Internet of Things
• Environmental assessment, mitigation, remediation, and reclamation
• Sanford Underground Research Facility

• Mine health and safety
• Aggregates/Bulk material handling
• Mine to Mill
• Senior Design projects

• Critical minerals
• Intelligent materials

• Spinoff companies
• Intellectual property

 
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Opportunities

For Students

  • Students from any engineering or science discipline can take part in activities happening within the hub.
  • Students will have in-demand skill sets employers need.
  • More employers will be attracted to what the university and its partners are doing, providing more internship, co-op, and employment opportunities for students.

For South Dakota

  • Potential for spin-off companies to be developed, providing high-tech and high-paying jobs that will have an economic impact on the Black Hills, South Dakota, and the region
  • Graduates will be able to stay and work in the state, have families, develop their careers -  providing a high return on investment for public higher education and an increase in the overall tax base.
  • Provide an even larger, highly-skilled workforce for existing South Dakota businesses.

Mining Hub Partners

Caterpillar Logo Dakota_Gold_Logo Hexagon_Logo Prairie_Eagle_Mining_Logo Cargill logo Agnico Eagle
Coeur Wharf Logo Western Dakota Tech Logo Pete Lien And Sons Logo RESPEC Logo Peabody logo