Mining Engineering (MINE)

University Directory
University Courses

MINE 201 INTRODUCTION TO MINING AND EXPLORATION
(3-0) 3 credits. The principles of discovery, development, and operation of mineral properties with background material for the more advanced work that follows. Subjects include the fundamentals of exploration, mining law, mine development, surface and underground mining operations, ore reserve calculations, mineral processing, mine maintenance and safety. This course is cross-listed with ENVE 201.

MINE 202 UNDERGROUND MINING
(3-0) 3 credits. Prerequisite: MINE 201 or permission of instructor. Techniques of underground mining, including a study of mining methods, drilling, blasting, excavation, underground mining equipment, and an introduction to mine ventilation.

MINE 301/301L MINE SURVEYING
(1-2) 3 credits. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. Topics include coordinate calculations, errors and adjustments, closed and open traverses, area and volume calculations, surface and underground techniques, and topographic mapping. Laboratory work includes the use of Brunton compass, plane table, level, transit, EDM, and total station.

MINE 302 SURFACE MINING
(3-0) 3 credits. Prerequisites: MINE 201. Surface mining techniques including mine design and planning; surface drilling and blasting; the applicability and performance characteristics of earth-moving equipment; and an introduction to slope stability and mine drainage. This course is cross-listed with ENVE 302.

MINE 316/316L ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
(2-1) 3 credits. Prerequisite: Preceded by or concurrent with EM 321, and CEE 284. Principles that govern physical and mechanical properties of ferrous and nonferrous metals, plastics, bituminous materials, portland cement, aggregates, concrete, and timber. Laboratory exercises to demonstrate basic principles and standard laboratory tests (ASTM Standards) of structural materials. Computer-aided graphics and word processing are required for lab reports. This course is cross-listed with CEE 316/316L.

MINE 326 ENVIORNMENTAL ENGINEERING PROCESS FUNDAMENTALS
(3-0) 3 credits. Prerequisites: CHEM 114, EM 331, and CEE 284. The first course in the theory and practice of Environmental Engineering. Emphasis is on the mass-balance approach to problem solving with consideration of water chemistry, environmental process kinetics, ideal reactors, and biological process fundamentals. This course is cross-listed with CEE and ENVE 326.

MINE 346/346L GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(2-1) 3 credits. Prerequisites: EM 321. Corequisite: CEE 346L Composition, structure, index, and engineering properties of soils; soil classification systems; introduction to soil engineering problems involving stability, settlement, seepage, consolidation, and compaction; and laboratory work on the determination of index and engineering properties of soils. Computer-aided graphics and word processing required for lab reports. This course is cross-listed with CEE 346/346L.

MINE 347 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING II
(3-0) 3 credits. Prerequisite: CEE 346. Composition of soils, origin and deposition, exploration, frost problems, swelling of soils, erosion protection, soil improvement, groundwater flow and dewatering, slope stability of retaining structures, and rigid and flexible pavement design. The application of these topics to highway engineering will be stressed. Computer applications are required. This course is cross-listed with CEE 347.

MINE 411/411L ROCK MECHANICS I
(3-1) 4 credits. Prerequisite: Junior standing. The study of mechanical properties of rocks and the design of structures in rock. Topics include failure criteria for rock, techniques of underground stress measurement, slope stability, and the application of elasticity theory to the design of underground openings. Laboratory work includes the measurement of the mechanical properties of rocks.

MINE 412/512 ROCK MECHANICS III
(3-0) 3 credits. Prerequisite: MINE 411 or equivalent. Experimental laboratory and field techniques for determining the properties and behavior of rock materials. Topics include determination of the properties of anisotropic rocks, discussion of field stresses, influence of joints, strain energy, rockburst mechanics, and rheological behavior of rocks. Field project will include engineering design of a structure in a rock mass. Students enrolling in MINE 512 will be held to a higher standard than those enrolling in MINE 412.

MINE 433/433L/533/533L COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN GEOSCIENCE MODELING
(3-1) 4 credits. The use of computer techniques in modern geoscience modeling of mining, geology, and environmental problems such as exploration, geological characterization and mining exploitation. Practical application of state-of-the-art Vulcan modeling software will be an essential part of the course. Students enrolling in MINE 533 will be held to a higher standard than those enrolling in MINE 433. This course is cross-listed with ENVE 433/533.

MINE 440/540 ENVIRONMENTAL AND RECLAMATION PRACTICES IN THE MINING INDUSTRY
(3-0) 3 credits. A study of various environmental problems that are associated with mining and the reclamation practices that have been developed or are being evaluated to alleviate these problems. Federal, state, and local reclamation regulations are examined for their effects on present and future mining practices and costs. Field trips to several mining operations are taken for on-site observation of actual reclamation problems and the mining practices used to resolve these problems. Students enrolling in MINE 540 will be held to a higher standard than those enrolling in MINE 440. This course is cross-listed with ENVE 440/540.

MINE 441 ECONOMICS OF MINING
(3-0) 3 credits. Prerequisite: Junior standing. The significance of the mineral industries in the economy, mineral and engineering economics with special emphasis on the valuation of mineral properties, and mine administration economic decision methodologies. This course is cross-listed with ENVE 441.

MINE 450/550 ROCK SLOPE ENGINEERING
(3-0) 3 credits. Prerequisite: CEE 346 or MINE 411. Modes of slope failure. Economic consequences of instability in mining and construction. Geological factors controlling stability of rock slopes. Shear strength of highly jointed rock mass and discontinuities. Projection methods. Vectoral analysis of 3-D problems by means of the sterographic projection method. Analytical, graphical and computer analysis of planar, wedge and toppling failures. Probabilistic methods. Students enrolling in MINE 550 will be held to a higher standard than those enrolling in MINE 450.

MINE 451 COAL MINING
(3-0) 3 credits. Prerequisite: MINE 411 or permission of instructor. Geology and characteristics of coal and lignite. Modern surface and underground coal mining methods together with pillar design, mining equipment selection, mechanized equipment requirements, permitting, reclamation, and coal preparation.

MINE 461/461L MINE VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING
(2-1) 3 credits. Prerequisites: Senior standing, EM 327. A study of the mine atmosphere and its control. Solution of air-flow networks by numerical techniques. Ventilation and air conditioning of deep mines. Design of mine ventilation systems.

MINE 464 UNDERGROUND MINE DESIGN
(4-0) 4 credits. Prerequisite: MINE 202, MINE 411, and at least MINE 441, MINE 461, EM 327 and EE 301 concurrently. A comprehensive study of the principles and practices involved in the selection of mining equipment and choosing the proper method for developing an ore deposit starting with drill hole data following through to a completed feasibility study covering ore reserve calculations, selection of underground mining methods and equipment selection. Computer use will be an integral part of the course.

MINE 465 SURFACE MINE DESIGN
(4-0) 4 credits. Prerequisite: MINE 302, MINE 411, MINE 441 and at least EM 327 concurrently. A comprehensive study of the principles and practices involved in developing an ore deposit starting with drill hole data, following through to a completed feasibility study covering ore reserve calculations, and selection of surface mining methods and equipment. Computer use will be an integral part of the course.

MINE 471 THEORY AND APPLICATION OF EXPLOSIVES
(3-0) 3 credits. Prerequisite: Senior standing, or permission of instructor. The characteristics, composition, and mode of detonation of explosives are studied as related to drill hole pattern and blast design. Smooth blasting techniques and controlled blasting are studied for application to all phases of mining and to other field situations. The techniques used to control airblast and ground vibration and the equipment used for airblast and ground vibration monitoring are studied.

MINE 474/574 ENGINEERING PROJECT MANAGEMENT
(3-0) 3 credits. Prerequisite: Senior standing or permission of instructor. Study of owner, engineer, and contractor organizational structures, project work break down structures, resource and asset allocation, computer and non-computer scheduling by Critical Path Method (CPM) and Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT). Students enrolling will be required to perform an engineering project with written and oral presentations. Students enrolling in MINE 574 will be held to a higher standard than those enrolling in MINE 474. This course is cross-listed with CEE 474/574.

MINE 490 SEMINAR
(1-0) 1 credit. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. A highly focused, and topical course. The format includes student presentations and discussions of reports based on literature, practices, problems, and research. Seminars may be conducted over electronic media such as internet and are at the upper division or graduate levels. Enrollment is generally limited to fewer than 20 students.

MINE 491 INDEPENDENT STUDY
1 to 3 credits. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Includes directed study, problems, readings, directed readings, special problems and special projects. Students complete individualized plans of study which include significant one-on-one student-teacher involvement. The faculty member and students negotiate the details of the study plans. Enrollments are usually 10 or fewer students. Meeting depending upon the requirements of the topic.

MINE 492 TOPICS
1 to 3 credits. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Includes current topics, advanced topics and special topics. A course devoted to a particular issue in a specified field. Course content is not wholly included in the regular curriculum. Guest artists or experts may serve as instructors. Enrollments are usually 10 or fewer students with significant one-on-one student/teacher involvement.

MINE 631 OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES
(3-0) 3 credits. The course develops basic judgment and competence in using quantitative methods in engineering or management decisions. Students will study various types of linear programming techniques, including simplex, transportation and assignment methods, and post-optimal sensitivity analysis. In addition, network-type problems, critical-path methods, dynamic and decision tree techniques will be covered. Some basic mathematical theory is taught and the computer is used to solve both assigned problems and problems developed by the student in a particular field of interest. This course is cross-listed with TM 631.

MINE 678 MINING EXPERIENCE ON THE GREAT PLAINS
(2-0) 2 credits. The course is an intense one week educational experience that presents a variety of topics which will acquaint the students with the evolution of the mining industry, the history of mining in the Black Hills region, the process of providing the minerals required by society from exploration through to recovery of the final product. Environmental and legal consideration will be covered in detail. The lecture material will be enhanced by field trips. The course credits cannot be used for an SDSM&T graduate degree.

MINE 691 INDEPENDENT STUDY
1 to 3 credits. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Directed independent study of a topic or field of special interest. This may involve readings, research, laboratory or field work, and preparation of papers, as agreed to in advance, by student and instructor.

MINE 692 TOPICS
1 to 3 credits. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Lecture course or seminar on a topic or field of special interest, as determined by the instructor.

MINE 732 STOCHASTIC MODELS IN OPERATIONS RESEARCH
(3-0) 3 credits. Probabilistic quantitative methods are developed. These include project control, decision trees, risk analysis, queuing, Markov chains, forecasting, mathematical modeling and Monte Carlo simulation. Computer programs are used to solve practical problems after the techniques are developed and understood. This course is cross-listed with TM 732.

MINE 742 ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT AND LABOR RELATIONS
(3-0) 3 credits. Principles of management, supervision, administrative policies, human-factors engineering, and labor-management relationships. This course is cross-listed with TM 742.

MINE 788 MASTER¿S RESEARCH PROB/PROJECTS
1 to 5 credits. Supervised original or expository research culminating in a written report on the work. The course will allow M.S. students to participate in research projects that are of limited scope and not suitable for a thesis.

MINE 790 SEMINAR
(1-0) 1 credit. May be repeated once for degree credit. Preparation, oral and/or written presentation, and discussion of mining research problems.

Contact: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
http://www.hpcnet.org/sdsmt/directory/courses/mine