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Research

Center staff collaborates with private organizations and governmental entities to illuminate basic science questions associated with mining safety and health and to resolve practical problems associated with mining practices. 

Dr. Felipe Calizaya

Education

  • B.S., Mining Engineering, Bolivian School of Mines, 1971;
  • M.S., Mining Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1977;
  • Ph.D., Mining Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1985.

Teaching & Research

Dr. Calizaya joined the University of Utah as an Associate Professor in January 2002. He is teaching Mine Ventilation, Mine Hydraulic Systems, Mine Administration and Finance, Simulation of Discrete Event Systems, Operations Research, and Mine Fire Safety. In addition, he is the principle investigator ( P.I.) of the NIOSH project: Utilization of Booster Fans in Underground Coal Mines (2009-2014). Previously, Dr. Calizaya was the P.I. of two other NIOSH projects: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for Small Mines in Western U.S. (2005-2009), and, Air Leakage in Underground Mines (2005 – 2006).

His experience in mining engineering extends back to 1972 and includes six years as Chief Ventilation Engineer at PT Freeport Indonesia, five years as Research Associate at the University of Nevada, Reno, and four years as Research Fellow and lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Colorado School of Mines.

Publications

  • Wempen J. and Calizaya F. 2012. Factors Affecting the Location of the Neutral Point in Ventilation Systems. Mining Engineering, Vol. 64, No. 6: 28-31.
  • Wempen J. and Calizaya F. 2012. A Study of Recirculation in a Coal Mine Ventilation Model. Proceedings of the 14th US/ North American Mine Ventilation Symposium. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT: 443-448.
  • Calizaya F. 2012. Utilization of Booster Fan (in Spanish). Proceedings of the 14th US/ North American Mine Ventilation Symposium. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT: 617-624
  • Wempen J., Calizaya F., Peterson R. and Nelson M. 2011. Evaluating the Use of Booster Fans in Two Underground Coal Mines. Mining Engineering, Vol. 63, No. 6:115-119.
  • Calizaya F., and Marks H. 2011. Heat, Humidity, and Air Conditioning. In SME Mining Engineering Handbook, Third Edition, Edited by Peter Darling. SME, Littleton, CO: 623- 636.
  • Stephens M. and Calizaya F. 2010. A Study of Leakage Flow in a Laboratory Model and Using CFD. Proceedings of the 13th US/ North American Mine Ventilation Symposium. Sudbury, Ontario, Canada: 485-491.
  • Calizaya F., 2009. Guidelines for Installing and Operating Booster fans in Underground Mines. Proceedings the 9th International Mine Ventilation Congress. Department of Mining Engineering, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India: 727-735.
  • Lolon S. and Calizaya F. 2009. Computational Fluid Dynamics Study on Hot Spot Location in Longwall Gob. Mining Engineering. Vol. 61, No. 8: 36-41.
  • Calizaya F. and Tien J. C. 2009, Utilization of Belt Air to ventilate Working Sections in Underground Coal Mines. Mining Engineering. Vol. 61, No. 4: 77- 82.
  • Calizaya F. and Suryanto S. 2008. Safe Production Model for Small Mines. Journal of Coal Science & Engineering (China). Vol. 14, No. 3: 436-442.
  • Calizaya F., Nelson M.G., and Suryanto S. 2008. Small Mine Contractor Safety – Cases Studies. Mining Engineering. Vol. 60, No. 10: 30-35.
  • Calizaya F., and I.J. Duckworth.2006. Study of Pressure Buildup in Long Ore-passes Using CFD. SME Transactions. Vol. 320. Littleton CO: 122-126.
  • Calizaya F., Tarigan S., and Stephens M. T. 2005. A Ventilation System for Large Block Cave Mines. Proceedings of the 8th International Mine Ventilation Congress, Brisbane, Australia: 457-463.
  • Calizaya F., A. Tarigan, and M. T. Stephens. 2005. A Ventilation System for Large Block Cave Mines. In Proceedings of the 8th International Mine Ventilation Congress, Brisbane, Australia: 457-463.

Awards & Honors

  • College of Mines and Earth Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award for 2008-2009.
  • Panel Member, MSHA Technical Study Panel on the Utilization of Belt Air in Underground Coal Mines, MINER Act of 2006.

 

Dr. Kim McCarter

Education

  • B.S., Magna Cum Laude, Mining Engineering, University of Utah, 1965.
  • Ph.D., Mining Engineering, University of Utah, 1972.

Funded Research

  • Brush Resources, Preliminary Blasting Study ($5,000), 2010.
  • NIOSH Spokane Research Lab, Recommendations for Deep Retreat Coal Mine Safety ($427,600) with W.A. Arabasz, K. L. Pankow, M.G. Nelson, M.C. Chapman, 2008 – 2009
  • NIOSH Spokane Research Lab, Effect of Water on Coal Strength ($24,205), 2007 – 2008
  • BLM Solid Minerals Branch, Recovering Coal Resources from Deep Deposits,                       ($75,000), 2005 – 2007
  • J. Fredrick    Personal Emergency Stop – Review of MSHA Injury reports ($7,029), 2006   
  • NIOSH Spokane Research Lab, Nondestructive Measurement of Rock Damage, ($6,000), 2004 – 2006
  • Mineral LeasingRate Effects in Uniaxial Compression of Coal Equipment ($2,950), 1996 – 1997
  • Dyno Nobel, Far-Field, Real-Time Airblast Monitoring ($5,350), 1995 – 1996
  • Mineral Leasing Evaluation of Explosive Preconditioning Benefits ($6,287), 1994 – 1995
  • Comminution Center USBM, Effect of Blast Damage on Comminution of Rock ($52,503), 1993 – 1994
  • Comminution Center USBM, Effect of blast-Induced Damage on Comminution of Rock Materials Using a Split Hopkinson Bar ($50,517), 1991 – 1993
  • IRECO Fragmentation Laboratory (Equipment) ($100,000), 1987 – 1991
  • Mineral Leasing, Verification of Blast Initiation Sequencing (Equipment) ($8,945), 1987 – 1989
  • Mineral Leasing, Expendable Convergence Meter ($4,400) 1986 – 1987
  • Research Support Committee, High Speed Photographic System (Equipment) ($17,500), 1985 – 1986
  • Comminution Center USBM, Evaluation of Field Parameters Controlling Explosive Fragmentation with W.G. Pariseau Co-investigator ($72,000) 1985 – 1986
  • State of Utah UGMS, Landslide instrumentation ($52,000), 1984 – 1986
  • Salt Lake County, Development of Telemetry Equipment for Emigration Canyon Landslides ($7,000), 1984 - 1985
  • FEMA/Davis County, Rudd Creek Monitoring System ($40,000), 1983 – 1985
  • SLC County, Reynolds Gulch Monitoring System ($6,000) 1983 – 1984
  • Chevron Grant, Scale Effects on Rock Deformability in Boreholes ($17,000), 1981 – 1982
  • Kennecott Corporation, Ground Settlement Monitoring System ($10,547) 1980 – 1981
  • Mineral Leasing, Design and Construction of Beam Detectors For Laser Monitoring System ($3,000) 1980 – 1981
  • Office of Surface Mining, In situ Shear Strength of Rock in Open Pit Benches with W.A. Hustrulid Co-investigator, ($85,650) 1979 – 1981                                                  
  • MMRRI, Open Pit-Limit Simulation (Equipment) ($5,333) 1979 – 1980
  • MMRRI, Settlement Monitoring System for Mine Waste Embankments (Equipment) ($5,400) 1979 – 1980

Patents

  • McCarter, M.K. and Green, D.J., "Telemetry Alarm System for Early Detec­tion of Slope Failures in Open-Pit Mines," United States Patent No. 3,944,996, March 16, 1976.
  • Guruswamy, S., McCarter, M.K., and Loveless M. R., Magnetostrictive Composites and Process for Manufacture by Explosive Compaction, United States Patent 6071357, June 6, 2000.

Publications

  • McCarter, M.K. and Ko, K.C., 1972, "A Seismic Refraction Technique for Deline­ating Unstable Areas in Pit Slopes," (AIME Trans.) Vol. 252, pp. 374-378.
  • McCarter, M.K., 1972, "A Correlation of Strength and Dynamic Properties of Some Clastic  Sedimentary Rocks," (Ph.D. Thesis, University of Utah).
  • McCarter, M.K. and Willson, J.E., 1973, "Correlation of Strength and Energy Dissipation in Sandstone," New Horizons in Rock Mechanics, 14th Symposium on Rock Mechanics, ASCE, pp. 223-245.
  • Ko, K.C. and McCarter, M.K., 1975, "Dynamic Behavior of Pit Slopes in Response to Blasting and Precipitation," (Application of Rock Mechanics), ASCE, pp. 363-383.
  • McCarter, M.K., 1975, "Open-Pit Operations Today," (Guide Book Bingham Mining District), Soc. of Econo. Geologists, pp. 17-20.
  • McCarter, M.K., 1976, "Monitoring Stability of High Waste Dumps," (1976 SME Fall Meeting, Denver, Colorado).
  • Zavodni, Z.M. and McCarter, M.K., 1977, "Main Hill Slide Zone, Utah Copper Division," (17th Symp. For Rock Mechanics) Monograph on Rock Mechanics Applications in Mining, AIME, pp. 84-92.
  • McCarter, M.K., 1977, "Application for Plane Table Photogrammetry in Open-Pit Mapping," (17th Symp. for Rock Mechanics) Monograph on Rock Mechanics Applications in Mining, AIME, pp. 93-98.
  • Anderson, G.P., Davey, R.K., Hughes, W.E., McCarter, M.K., Moffat, G.S., 1977, "Timely Mine Production Reporting and Mine Planning, Utah Copper Divi­sion's Bingham Mine" (1977 Fall Meeting, St. Louis, MO).
  • McCarter, M.K., and Kaliser, B.N., 1984, "Prototype Instrumentation and Monitoring Programs for Measuring Surface Deformation Associated with Landslide Processes," Proceedings of the Specialty
  • Conference on Delineation of Landslide, Flash Flood and Debris Flow Hazards in Utah, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, June 14-15, 1984, 21pp.
  • McCarter, M.K., 1985, "Monitoring Stability of Waste Rock Dumps," Design of Non-Impounding Mine Waste Dumps, M.K. McCarter ed., American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc., New York, N.Y., pp. 163-173.
  • McCarter, M.K., Green, D.J., and Cameron, R.E., 1985, "Real-Time Slope Monitoring using a Dedicated Computer," AIME Annual Meeting, New York, N.Y., Preprint, 9pp.
  • Paul, B.C., Wells, H.M., and McCarter, M.K., 1989, "FDLC - A New Method for Underground Recovery of Copper," International Symposium on Innovative Mining Methods, Louisville, Kentucky
  • Paul, B.C. and McCarter, M.K., 1989, "Source of Variability in Rock Hardness during Crater Blasting," Society of Explosive Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • Paul, B.C., Sohn, H.Y., and McCarter, M.K., 1989, "Model for Bacterial Leaching of Copper Ores Containing a Variety of Sulfide Minerals," Metallurgical Processes for the Year 2000 and Beyond, AIME Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada. Published 1992, Metal. Trans. B, vol. 23B, pp 537-555.
  • Paul, B.C., Procarione, J.A., and McCarter, M.K., 1989, "Prediction of Air Flows Through Broken Rock Using Finite Difference Grids," Fourth U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium, Berkeley, California.
  • McCarter, M.K., 1990, "Design and Operating Considerations for Mine Waste Dumps," Surface Mining, 2nd Edition, Bruce A. Kennedy, ed., Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, CO, pp 890-900.
  • Guruswamy, S., McCarter, M.K., and Wadsworth, M.E., 1991, "Explosive Compaction of Metal Deuterides and Metal Matrix-Al2O3 Composites", Advances in Powder Metallurgy, Vol. 6., MPIF.
  • McCarter, M.K. et al, 1992, "Surface Mining: Mechanical Extraction" SME Mining Engineering Handbook,Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, CO, pp 1365-1452.
  • Eaton, C., Kupfer, D., McCarter, M. and Swanson, S., "Biomechanics and Prevention of Ring Avulsion Injury", presented at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, 47th Annual Meeting, Nov. 1992.
  • Kim, D.S. and McCarter, M.K., 1993, "Assessment of Damage in Rock Subjected to Shock Loading", International Society of Explosive Engineers, 9th Annual Research Symposium, San Diego CA, pp 163-177.
  • McCarter, M.K. and Kim, D.S., 1993, "Effect of Shock Wave Induced Damage on Subsequent Comminution of Rock Materials," 4th International Symposium for Fragmentation by Explosives, Technical University, Vienna, pp 63-69.
  • McCarter, M.K., 1996, Effect of Blast Preconditioning on Comminution for Selected Rock Types, Proceedings of the Eleventh Symposium on Explosives and Blasting Research, ISEE, Orlando, FA, pp 119-129.
  • Guruswamy, S., McCarter, M., Shield, J. and Panchanathan, V., 1996, Explosive Compaction of Magnequench Nd-Fe-B Magnetic Powders, Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 79, No. 8, April 1996 Issue, pp 4851-4853.
  • Kim, D.S. and McCarter, M.K., 1998, Quantitative Assessment of Extrinsic Damage in Rock Materials, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 31(1), pp 43-62.
  • Arabasz, W. J. and McCarter, M. K., 2000, Mine Seismicity and the Interface between Mining Engineers and Seismologists, [abs.]: Seismological Research Letters 71 (2), 220.
  • Guruswamy, S., M. Loveless, N. Srisukhumbowornchai, M. McCarter and J. Teter, 2000, Processing of Terfenol-D Alloy Based Magnetostrictive Composits by Dynamic Compaction, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 36, No. 5, Sept. 2000, pp 3219-3222.
  • Arabasz, W.J, J. C. Pechmann, and M. K. McCarter, 2001.  Mechanisms and Ground-Truth Observations for the largest (ML = 3.0-4.2) Coal-Mining-Induced Seismic Events in Utah, 1978-2000 [abs.]: EOS, Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 81 (48) Fall Meet. Suppl., S71C-10, F869.
  • Arabasz, W. J., J. Ake, M. K. McCarter, A. McGarr, S. J. Nava, and K. L. Pankow, 2002.  Coal Mining Seismicity in the Trail Mountain Area, Utah: Part I - Case Study for Assessing Ground-shaking Hazard [abs.]: EOS, Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 83 (47), Fall Meet. Suppl., S12A-1170, F1051.
  • Arabasz, W. J., S. J. Nava, M. K. McCarter, and K. L. Pankow - With contributions from J. C. Pechmann, M. E. Jensen, and J. D. McKenzie, 2002. Ground-Motion Recording and Analysis of Mining-Induced Seismicity in the Trail Mountain Area, Emery County, Utah. [http://www.seis.utah.edu/Reports/sitla2002a/toc.shtml ]
  • Meng, X, W.A. Hustrulid,, and M.K. McCarter, 2005, Some New Insights on Borehole Wall Pressure when using Decoupled Charges, Proceedings, 31st Annual ISEE Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique, Vol. 1, Orlando, Feb 6-9.
  • Arabasz, W. J., S.J. Nava, M.K. McCarter, K.L. Pankow, J.C. Pechmann, J. Ake, and A. McGarr, 2005, Coal-Mining Seismicity and Ground-Shaking Hazard: A Case Study in the Trail Mountain Area, Emery County, Utah; Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Vol 95, No. 2. pp. 18-30, Feb. 2005.
  • Corson, R. P., S. Guruswamy, and M. K. McCarter, 2005, Preparation of Magnetic Fe-Zn Alloys by Explosive Compaction, Sixth Global Symposium on Materials Processing and Manufacturing Innovation, TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society), Ed. Thomas R. Bieler and James W. Sears,
  • Guduru, R.K., R.O. Scattergood, C.C. Koch, K.L. Murty, S. Guruswamy and M.K. McCarter. 2006.  Mechanical Properties of Nanocrystalline Fe-Pb and Fe-Al2O3.  Scripta Materialia. Vol 54, Issue 11, pp. 1879-1883.
  • McCarter, M.K., 2007.  Mining Faculty in the United States: current status and sustainability. Mining Engineering a Publication of SME. Vol. 59, No. 9.  pp. 28-33.
  • Pechman, J. C., W.A. Arabasz, K.L. Pankow, R. Burlacu, M.K. McCarter, 2008. Seismological Report on the 6 August 2007 Crandall Canyon Mine Collapse, Seismological Research Letters, May 2, 2008.
  • Pankow, K.L., M.K. McCarter, W.A. Arabasz, and R. Burlacu, 2008. Coal-Mining-Induced Seismicity in Utah – Improving Spatial Resolution Using Double-difference Relocations. (27th Conference on Ground control in Mining, Morgantown, WV, July 29, 2008)
  • Pariseau, W.G., M.K. McCarter and J.D. McKenzie, 2008. Inter-Panel Barrier Pillar Study in a Deep Utah Coal Mine. (42nd U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium and 2nd U.S. Canada Rock Mechanics Symposium, San Francisco, CA)
  • Hanafy, S.M., W. Cao, M.K. McCarter and G.T. Schuster, 2008. Using Super-stacking and Super-resolution Properties of Time Reversal Mirrors to Locate Trapped Miners, Leading Edge Journal.
  • Sonley, E, K.L. Pankow and M.K. McCarter, 2009. Trail Mountain Mine: A Case Study for Improving Locations of Mining-Induced Seismicity with double Difference Relocation. 28th Conference on Ground Control in Mining, Morgantown, WV, July 28, 2009.
  • McCarter, M.K., 2010, Water Infusion for Bump Control – Laboratory Feasibility Tests on Utah Coal (ARMA Proceedings on CD).
  • Pankow, K.L. and M.K. McCarter. 2010, Improving Hypocentral Locations of Induced Seismicity in the Wasatch Plateau – Book Cliffs Coal  Mining Region, Central Utah, USA.
  • Warner, J.W., P.J. Phipps, M.K. McCarter and K.L. Pankow, Monitoring Post Collapse Seismicity – An Analysis of Crandall Canyon Events.

Editorship

  • Open Pit Mine Planning and Design, 1979, Section 2A, "Development Drilling" and Section 2B, "Mineral Block Models," American Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Engineers, New York, N.Y., pp 23-80.
  • Design of Non-Impounding Mine Waste Dumps, 1985, American Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Engineers, New York, N.Y., 216pp.
  • Mining Engineering Handbook, 1992, Section 14, American Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Engineers, pp. 1365-1452 and pp. A35-40.
  • Proceedings, Twenty-Eighth Annual Institute on Mining Health, Safety and Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1997, 189pp.
  • Proceedings, Thirtieth Annual Institute on Mining Health, Safety and Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1999, 116pp.
  • Slope Stability in Surface Mines, Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc., with William A. Hustrulid and Dirk J.A. VanZyl, 2001, 456 pp.
  • Proceedings, Thirty Second Annual Institute on Mining Health, Safety and Research, University of Utah, 2001, 193pp.
  • Proceedings, Thirty Third Annual Institute on Mining Health, Safety and Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2002, 152 pp

Honors and Awards

  • Jackling Scholarship: 1960, 1961 and 1964.
  • Kennecott Scholarship: 1962 and 1963.
  • Browning Scholarship: 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968.
  • Graduated Magna Cum Laude: 1965.
  • Member, Phi Kappa Phi National Scholastic Honor Society: 1965.
  • President, Student AIME:  1967.
  • Outstanding Teaching Award (CMMI) 1979; (CMES) 2005.
  • American Federation Distinguished Achievement Award in Earth Sciences: 1987.
  • Most Notable Research Publication, Minerals, Metals and Materials Society for Extraction and Processing Science, Coauthor, 1994.
  • Election to the Mining and Metallurgy Society of America: 1994.
  • International Society of Mine Safety Professionals, H. L. Boling Award: 1998.
  • The Old Timers Organization Annual Faculty Award (1999) for outstanding teaching skills, involvement with students, and commitment to the development of mining engineers.
  • Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Distinguished Member Award, 2003.
  • Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute, Honorary Member Status (Life Membership), for outstanding service in education  2004.
  • Utah Mining Association, Distinguished Service Award for leadership and dedicated service to the mining industry.

Dr. Michael Nelson

Education

  • Ph.D., Mineral Engineering, University of West Virginia, 1989.
  • M.S. Instrumentation Physics, University of Utah, 1983. 
  • B.S. cum laude, Metallurgical Engineering, University of Utah, 1975. 

Funded Research

University of Utah

  • Development of Training Materials for Small Mines, NIOSH, 2004-2009.
  • Hydrodynamic Testing and High-speed Imaging of a Froth Flotation Machine, FFE Minerals USA, Inc., 2004-2006.
  • Selection and Testing of Foam for Gas Control, San Juan Coal Company, 2003-2004.
  • Application of Odor Sensors to Ore Sorting and Mill Feed Control, U. S. Department of Energy, 2003-2004.
  • Carbon Dioxide Sequestration by Mechanochemical Carbonation of Mineral Silicates, U. S. Department of Energy, 2002-2003.
  • Underground Mining Feasibility Study:  Brush Wellman, Inc., 2001-2002.
  • Development of a Mine Compatible Laser Instrument for Ore Grading:  U. S. Department of Energy, J.R. Simplot Co., Advanced Power Technologies, Inc., and Idaho National Engineering and environmental Laboratory.
  • Reduced Energy Consumption through Projectile-based Excavation:  U. S. Department of Energy, LaFarge, Inc., Advanced Power Technologies, Inc.

University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska  (1989 – 1995)

  • Plasma Arc Processing of Red Mountain Chrome Ore.
  • Bacterial Inoculation of a Test Heap at Ryan Lode Mine.
  • Effects of Treated Gold Extraction Solutions on Plant Growth.
  • Innovative Design of Ventilation Systems for Underground Placer Mines in the Arctic.
  • Roof Support System for Development Openings in Alluvial Permafrost.
  • Vehicle Mobility Testing on Frozen and Partially Frozen Ground.
  • Treatment of Precious Metal Mine Waste Water – Alaskan Testing of Biological Methods.
  • Assessment of Pre-concentration Methods for AJ Mine Ore.
  • Rinsing and Retention of Cyanide Leachant in Arctic and Sub–Arctic Conditions.
  • Conceptual Designs and Economic Analyses of Indoor Vat Leach Gold Recovery Plants.
  • Phenomenological Modeling of the Heap Leaching Process for Precious Metals.
  • Preliminary Investigation of the Use of Microorganisms in Precious Metal Recovery.
  • A Control Simulator for Continuous Mining Machines.

Patents Granted

  • Optical Shutter Assembly for Trace Element Detector, U.S. 5,953,119. September 14, 1999.
  • Method and Apparatus for Controlling Froth Flotation Machines, Canada 2,257,158. December 4, 1997.
  • Methods and Apparatus for Maintaining Longwall Face Alignment, U.S. 5,020,860. Jun 4, 1991.
  • Method of Indirect Measurement of Cowl Position on a Longwall Shearer, U.S. 5,013,091. May 7, 1991.
  • Method and Apparatus for Sensing Coal-Rock Interface, U.S. 4,981,327. January 1, 1991.
  • Apparatus and Methods for Mapping of Entry Conditions in Remote Mining Systems, U.S. 4,884,847. December 5, 1989.
  • Method and Apparatus for Controlling a Flotation Cell, U.S.  4,797,559. January 10, 1989.
  • Fiber Optic Detector for Flotation Cell Processing, U.S. 4,797,550. January 10, 1989.

Publications

  • Nelson, M. G., and D. Lelinski, Design of Mechanical Flotation Cells, chapter in Mineral Processing Plant Design – Operating Practice and Control, Halbe, D. R., editor, SME, Littleton, Colorado, 2002.
  • Nelson, M. G., Underground Mining of Frozen Placers, chapter in Underground Mining Methods: Engineering Fundamentals and International Case Studies, SME, Littleton, Colorado, 2001.
  • Nelson, M. G., E. C. Packee, Jr., and D. J. Helm, Reclamation of an Abandoned Placer Mine Site: Birch Creek, Circle Mining District, Alaska, chapter in Remediation of Mining Waste, SME, Denver, Colorado, 1995.
  • Bakshi, A. K., and M. G. Nelson, Effect of Seasonal Work on Residual Cyanide Removal from Leach Heaps in Sub-Arctic Conditions, chapter in Remediation of Mining Waste, SME, Littleton, Colorado, 1995. 
  • Swainbank, R. C., T. K. Bundtzen, A. H. Clough, E. W. Hansen, and M. G. Nelson, Alaska's Mineral Industry 1992, Special Report 47, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., and M. G. Nelson (eds.), Mining in the Arctic, Proceedings of the Second International Symposium, A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 1992.
  • Nelson, M. G., Automatically Controlled Continuous Mining Machines - Computer Simulation of Control System Performance, chapter in Emerging Computer Techniques for the Minerals Industry, SME, Littleton, Colorado, 1993.
  • Nelson, M. G., Computer Simulation of Coal Thickness Sensor Performance in Machine Horizon Control, chapter in Emerging Computer Techniques for the Minerals Industry, SME, Littleton, Colorado, 1993.
  • Nelson, M. G., and J. T. Smit, Development of the Theory of Froth Flotation, Jameson, G. J. (ed.), Proceedings of the Centenary of Flotation 2005 Symposium, AusIMM, Victoria, Australia, pp. 895-904, 2005 (published on CD-ROM).
  • Lelinski, D., Redden, L. D., and M. G. Nelson, Important Considerations in the Design of Mechanical Flotation Machines, , Jameson, G. J. (ed.), Proceedings of the Centenary of Flotation 2005 Symposium, AusIMM, Victoria, Australia, pp. 217-224, 2005 (published on CD-ROM).
  • Nelson, M. G., Inspection and Rehabilitation of the Daly-Judge Tunnel, Park City, Utah, accepted for publication in the CIM Bulletin, June 2004 (to appear).
  • Nelson, M. G., and N. K. Riddle, Sampling and Analysis for Optimal Ore-grade Control, Engineering, volume 56, number 4, pp. 55-59, 2004.
  • M. Machina, and S. Goldstein, Projectile-Based Excavation its Application to the Mining Industry, Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, September 23-27, 2002, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Paper 28-2, 14 pp., (published on CD-ROM, ISBN 1-890977-19-5).
  • Nelson, M. G., and D. Lelinski, Hydrodynamic Design of Self-Aerating Flotation Machines, Minerals Engineering International, volume 13, number 10-11, pp. 991-998, 2000.
  • Gritton, K. S., D. Lelinski, M. G. Nelson, and H. B. Oblad, Recent Improvements in WEMCO Flotation Equipment, presented at Minerals Engineering '99, Falmouth, UK, September 22-24 1999.
  • Allen, J. P., M. G. Nelson, and K. S. Gritton, Automated Thickener Control:  Instrumentation and Strategy, in Leung, W., and T. Ptak (eds.), Advances in Filtration and Separation Technology, volume 13b, pp. 785-799, American Filtration & Separations Society, Northport, Alabama, 1999.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., M. G. Nelson, G. Chen, and V. Izaxson, Control of Water Infiltration in Arctic Mine Ventilation, Udd, J. E. and A. J. Keen (eds.): Mining in the Arctic - Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, June 14-17, Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1999.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., H. Wu, M. G. Nelson, and V. Izaxson, A Finite Element Model of Heat Transfer in a Shallow Placer Mine in the Arctic, Udd, J. E. and A. J. Keen (eds.): Mining in the Arctic - Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, June 14-17, 1998, Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1999.
  • Nelson, M. G., and D. Lelinski, Slurry Analysis Using a Laser-Heated Cavity Spectrometer:  EIMCO’S LaserSpEXä Analyzer, Proceedings of the XXXV Symposium on Physiochemical Problems of Mineral Processing, Zloty Stok, Poland, September 7 - 9, 1998, Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wroclawskiej, Wroclaw, Poland, 1999.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., H. Wu, and M. G. Nelson, Ventilation Design Alternatives for Underground Placer Mines in the Arctic, Proceedings of the 6th International Mine Ventilation Congress, R. V. Ramani (ed.), SME, Littleton, Colorado, 1997.
  • Nelson, M. G., E. B. Kroeger, and P. J. Arps, Chemical and Biological Destruction of Cyanide:  Comparative Costs in a Cold Climate, Third International Conference on Bioprocessing and Biorecovery/Bioremediation in Mining, Big Sky, Montana, August 25-30, 1996, Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, February, 1997.
  • Nelson, M. G., and L. D. Redden, Power Consumption in a Large Flotation Machine, the 127.5 m3 WEMCO SmartCellÔ, Proceedings of the X International Mineral Processing Congress, vol. 3, GMDB Gesellschaft fur Bergbau, Metallurgie, Rohstoff- und Umwelttechnik, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany, 1997.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., X. Wang, and M. G. Nelson, Roof Span Stability in an Underground Placer Mine in the Arctic, Myrvang, A. (ed.): Mining in the Arctic - Proceedings of the 4th International symposium, Svalbard, Norway, July 1996.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., X. Wang, and M. G. Nelson, Effect of Roof Bolting Parameters on the Stability of an Opening in a Frozen Ground Placer Mine, Transactions of SME-AIME, vol. 300, pp. 140-145, 1996.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., H. Wu, M. G. Nelson, and V. Izaxson, Thermosyphons for Removal of Ventilation-Induced Heat in an Underground Place Mine in the Arctic, Transactions of SME-AIME, vol. 300, pp. 1915-1921, 1996.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., X. Wang, and M. G. Nelson, Analysis of Temperature, Stress, and Displacement in Mine Development Openings in Alluvial Permafrost, Transactions of SME-AIME, vol. 300, pp. 1805-1811, 1996.
  • Packee, E. C., and M. G. Nelson, The Utility of Fluvial Processes for the Assessment of Reconstructed Channel Stability, Proceedings, 12th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surface Mining and Reclamation, Gillette, Wyoming, June 3-8, 1995.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., H. Wu, M. G. Nelson, and V. Izaxson, Design of Ventilation Systems for Underground Placer Mines in the Arctic:  Analysis of Mine Thermal Regime, Proceedings of the 7th U. S. Mine Ventilation Symposium, A. Wala (ed.), SME, Littleton, Colorado, 1995.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., K .Biswas, and M. G. Nelson, Evaluation of a Roof Bolt Support System in Arctic Placer Mines, Transactions of SME-AIME, vol. 298, pp. 1801-1808, 1995.
  • Arps, P. J., and M. G. Nelson, Pseudomonas pseudoalacligenes (UA 7):  Isolation and Preliminary Characterization of a Cyanide-Degrading Strain, International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium, Biohydometallurgical Technologies, A. E. Torma (ed.), vol. 1, pp. 531-543, TMS, Warrendale, Pennsylvania, 1995.
  • Bessinger, S. L., and Nelson, M. G., Remnant Roof Coal Thickness Measurement with Passive Gamma Ray Instruments in Coal Mining, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, vol. 29, no. 3, 562-565, May/June, 1993.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., and M. G. Nelson, Multiple Criteria Group Decision Support System with and Application to a Surface Mine Equipment Selection Problem, Proceedings of the Indo-U.S. International Symposium on Computers in Mineral Industry, Dhanbad, India, November, 1991.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., and M. G. Nelson, A Multicriteria Analysis for the Selection of Surface Mining Systems, Proceedings of the International Symposium on Surface Mining (in Russian), Y. I. Anistratov, (ed.), 1991.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., M. G. Nelson, and P. Venkatasubramanian, A Knowledge-Based Decision Support System for Mining Method Selection for Ore Deposits, Transactions of SME-AIME, vol. 290, pp. 1942-1946, 1991.
  • Bessinger, S. L., and M. G. Nelson, Roof Coal Thickness Sensing for Improved Continuous Miner Operation, Transactions of SME-AIME, vol. 220, pp. 1808-1810, 1991.
  • Bessinger, S. L., and M. G. Nelson, Analysis of Airflow Resistance on Longwall Faces, Transactions of SME-AIME, vol. 220, 1849-1855, 1991.
  • Nelson, M. G., and S. L. Bessinger, Measurement of boundary coal layer thickness after mining, Journal of Mineral Resources Engineering, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 19-32, 1989.
  • Shoop, S. A., and M. G. Nelson, Geomechanics Monitoring of a Coal Mine Longwall Face for Ground Control Effects Caused by Increasing Face Length, Proceedings, 27th U.S. Symposium on Rock Mechanics, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 1987. 
  • Bandopadhyay, S., H. Wu, M. G. Nelson, and V. Izaxon, Engineering Control of Mine Thermal around a Mine Airway in Permafrost, Olsen, H. K., L. Lorentzen, and O. Rendal (eds.), Mining in the Arctic - Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium, Nuuk, Greenland, May 28-31, Balkema, Lisse, 2001.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., H. Wu, M. G. Nelson, and V. Izaxon, Analysis of Thermal Regime of a Deep Mine Airway in Permafrost, Olsen, H. K., L. Lorentzen, and O. Rendal (eds.), Mining in the Arctic - Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium, Nuuk, Greenland, May 28-31, Balkema, Lisse, 2001.

Invited Conference Proceedings & Presentations

  • Nelson, M. G., Advanced Control Systems for Mines and Mills - An Opportunity for Increased Profits, Keynote Speech at the Brazilian Mining Industry Opportunities Orientation Visit, sponsored by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 1-5, 2001.
  • Nelson, M.G., The Hydrodynamic Design Basis of the Floatability Characterisation Test Rig (FCTR), presented to the Semi-Annual Sponsors’ Meeting for Project P9L, Flotation Modelling, of the Australian Mineral Industries Research Alliance, Brisbane, Australia, June 1999.
  • Nelson, M.G., The Future of Flotation Equipment, presented to the Semi-Annual Sponsors’ Meeting for Project P9L, Flotation Modelling, of the Australian Mineral Industries Research Alliance, Cape Town, South Africa, August 1997.
  • Nelson, M. G., and L. B. Hales, Process Control Technology - Application to Mining Control Systems, presented to the Kennecott Mine Automation and Optimization Conference (proceedings privately published and distributed), Midway, Utah, April 17, 1996.
  • Nelson, M. G., Supervisory Control for Milling Processes:  Methods and Cost Savings,  Proceedings, Mining Automation and Information Systems, Institute for International Research, New York, 1996.
  • Arps, P. J., and M. G. Nelson, The Use of Microbial Methods to Treat Mining Wastes Containing Cyanide, Keystone Symposium on Environmental Biotechnology, Lake Tahoe, California, March 16-22, 1995.
  • Nelson, M. G., The Use of Cyanide in the Mining Industry, Dawson Gold Show, Dawson City, Yukon, May 4-6, 1994.
  • Nelson, M. G., Cyanide Destruction Techniques - Current Industrial Practice and Alaskan Research, Alaska Miners’ Association Annual Meeting, Anchorage, Alaska, November 1991.
  • Nelson, M. G., Reclamation Requirements and Mine Permitting for Placer Mining in Alaska, 9th Annual Dredging and Placer Mining Conference - Workshop on New Placer Mining Technology and Successful Reclamation Planning, Sparks, Nevada, May 18-20, 1992.
  • Lelinski, D., M. G. Nelson, L. D. Redden, B.H. Oblad, and K. S. Gritton, Advances in the Design and Operation of Self-Aerating Flotation Equipment, Minerals Engineering '99, Cape Town, South Africa, August 5-6, 1999.

Conference Proceedings, Preprints, and Presentations

  • Nelson, M. G., and D. Lelinski, Design of Mechanical Flotation Cells, presented at Mineral Processing Plant Design – Operating Practice and Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, October 22-24, 2002.
  • Peterson, B., and M. G. Nelson, Simulation of Truck/Shovel Operations with Realistic Haul Roads and
  • 3-D Animation, to be presented and the 30th International APCOM Symposium, in conjunction with
  • SME ’02, Phoenix Arizona, February 25-27, 2000.
  • Nelson, M. G., N. K. Riddle, and S. J. Gebo, Extended Operating Tests of a Laser Analyzer for Grading Phosphate Ore, to be presented and SME ’02, Phoenix Arizona, February 25-27, 2000.
  • Nelson, M. G., N. K. Riddle, and S. J. Gebo, In-Pit Laser Analysis for Ore-grade Control, SME ’01, Denver, Colorado, February 25-26, 2001, Preprint 01-2001, SME Littleton, Colorado.
  • Nelson, M. G., K. Rahal, D. Lelinski, and K. S. Gritton, Design and Operation of a Flotation Characterization Test Rig, SME ’00, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 28-March 1, 2000, Preprint 00-167, SME, Littleton, Colorado.
  • Gritton, K. S., D. Lelinski, and M. G. Nelson, Recent Improvements in WEMCO Flotation Equipment,
  • SME ’00, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 28-March 1, 2000.
  • Nelson, M. G., and K. S. Gritton, Slurry Analysis Using a Laser-Heated Cavity Spectrometer:
  • The LaserSpEXä Analyzer, SME ’99, Denver, Colorado, March 1 - 3, 1999.
  • Nelson, M. G., Slurry Analysis Using a Laser-Heated Cavity Spectrometer:  EIMCO’S LaserSpEXä Analyzer SME ‘98, Orlando, Florida, March 8-12, 1998.
  • Nelson, M. G., On-line Tests of a Laser-heated Cavity Spectrometer:  EIMCO’S LaserSpEXä Analyzer, NWMA Annual Meeting, Spokane, Washington, December 3-5, 1997.
  • Gritton, K. S., M. G. Nelson, and J. P. Allen, Adaptive Control of Mineral Processing - The Next Generation of Control Systems, CIM District 5 Mining Conference and 7th Canadian Symposium on Mining Automation, Fort McMurray, Alberta, September 17-19, 1997.
  • Nelson, M. G., Klepper, R. P., and K. S. Gritton, Design of an Expert Control System for Thickeners, SME ’97, Littleton, Colorado, February 27, 1997.
  • Nelson, M. G., Vehicle Mobility Testing on Frozen and Thawing Surfaces, SME Preprint 95-13, SME, Littleton, Colorado, 1995.
  • Nelson, M. G., E. C. Packee, Jr., and D. J. Helm, Reclamation of an Abandoned Placer Mine Site:  Birch Creek, Circle Mining District, Alaska, Mining Engineering, March1995, pp. 240-242.
  • Nelson, M. G., Placer Mine Reclamation in Alaska:  Current Practice and Research in Progress, Third International Symposium on Arctic Mining, St. Petersburg, Russia, 1994.
  • Nelson, M. G., and Arps, P. J., Destruction of Cyanide in Mine Wastewaters:  Alaskan Testing of Biological Methods, Third International Symposium on Arctic Mining, St. Petersburg, Russia, 1994.
  • Nelson, M. G., Test Processing of Red Mountain Chrome Ore in a Plasma Furnace, Alaska Miners’ Association Annual Meeting, Anchorage, Alaska, October 31 - November 4, 1994.
  • Arps, P. J., and M. G. Nelson, Cyanide Degradation by a Bacterium Isolated from Mine Wastewater:  Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes (UA 7), SME Preprint 94-162, SME, Littleton, Colorado, 1994.
  • Sporleder, L., Nelson, M. G., and Arps, P. J., Effects of a Sub-Arctic Climate Cycle on the Survival and Efficacy of Non-native, Cyanide- Degrading Bacteria, SME ‘94, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1994.
  • Nelson, M. G., Discounted Cash Flow Methods for Analysis of Mining Projects. Placer Mining Workshop, March 8-9, 1991, Fox, Alaska.
  • Nelson, M. G., Gold Cyanidation Research at UAF School of Mineral Engineering, 17th Annual Yukon Geoscience Forum, November 25-28, 1991, Whitehorse, Yukon.
  • Nelson, M. G., and S. L. Bessinger, Operating Tests of Cadmium Telluride Coal Thickness Sensors, Proceedings, 4th Canadian Symposium on Mining Automation, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, September 16-18, 1990.
  • Bessinger, S. L., and M. G. Nelson, Remnant Roof Coal Thickness Measurement with Passive Gamma Ray Instruments in Coal Mining, Proceedings, 10th WVU International Mining Electrotechnology Conference, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1990.
  • Bessinger, S. L., M. G. Nelson, and J. N. Magro, Design and Behavior of Longwall Roof Supports under a Thick Sandstone Roof.  Proceedings, Longwall USA, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1989.
  • Nelson, M. G., and H. B. Oblad, Control of Fine Coal Flotation Using and Optoelectronic Tailings Ash Detector, Proceedings, 6th International Coal Preparation Exhibition & Conference, Lexington, Kentucky, 1989.
  • Nelson, M. G., and S. L. Bessinger, Control of Longwall Face Alignment.  Proceedings, Longwall USA, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1988. 
  • Nelson, M. G., and S. L. Bessinger, Instruments for Coal/Rock Interface Detection.  Proceedings, 3rd Canadian Symposium on Mining Automation, Montreal, Quebec, September, 14-16, 1988. 
  • Nelson, M. G., and S. A. Shoop, Ground Control Instrumentation on an Operating Longwall Face.  Proceedings, 13th Mining and Metallurgy Industries Symposium (ISA), Salt Lake City, Utah, 1985.
  • Bandopadhyay, S., H. Wu, M. G. Nelson, and V. Izaxon, Engineering Control of Mine Thermal around a Mine Airway in Permafrost, Mining in the Arctic - Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium, Nuuk, Greenland, May 28-31, 2001.

Awards & Honors

  • Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, 2003-2004, College of Mines & Earth Sciences, University of Utah
  • Outstanding Faculty Member, Dept. of Mining and Geological Engineering, UAF, 1994
  • Outstanding Faculty Member, Dept. of Mining and Geological Engineering, UAF, 1991
  • Meritorious Service Award, School of Mineral Engineering, UAF 1990
  • Engineering Foundation Research Initiation Grant, American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, 1990.

Last Updated: 8/18/21