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Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM)

Center Overview

The Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM) aims to transform the way that geoscience data are used in the mineral resource industry. Research focuses on the integration of diverse geoscience data to improve decision-making across the mine life cycle, beginning with exploration for subsurface earth resources and continuing through mine operation as well as closure and environmental remediation. CASERM also addresses the critical need for training and preparation of graduates and young professionals by educating the next generation of scientists and engineers working in the mining sector. The Center’s vision is to become a globally recognized center of excellence, spearheading the future of mineral discovery, extraction, and reclamation.

CASERM focuses on the research and development needs of the mining industry, which provides the building blocks on which the U.S. economy depends. Precompetitive research within CASERM serves an industrial sector that currently produces minerals and materials valued at $90.4 billion per year (U.S. Geological Survey 2022) and provides direct employment for 181,000 miners, geologists, and mining engineers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022). With the value added through processing of the raw materials, activities within CASERM impact an industry that accounts for ~15% of the nation’s gross domestic product (U.S. Geological Survey 2022).

Universities

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Colorado School of Mines

View Center Website

Center Personnel

Thomas Monecke
Center Director
+1 303 273 3841
tmonecke@mines.edu

Erik Westman
Site Director (Virginia Tech)
+1 540 231 7510
ewestman@vt.edu

Elizabeth Holley
Site Director (Colorado School of Mines)
+1 303 273 3409
eholley@mines.edu

Lauren Terry
Center Manager
+1 303 229 3161
lauren_terry@mines.edu

Research Focus

The future of mining is shaped by advances in technology that rely on geoscience data as a fundamental link in the mining value chain.

The first step in the mining life cycle is exploration for a resource feasible for economic exploitation. During the exploration and discovery stage, economic geologists identify mineral resources through geological mapping as well as geochemical and geophysical surveys. Discovery fundamentally relies on understanding of mineral system models.
Next, the technical feasibility and the economic viability of a project are assessed, through characterization, geological modeling, and geostatistical evaluation. The timeline for permitting and community approval varies, typically requiring between 10 to 20 years between discovery and mine construction.
Resource extraction occurs by open pit or underground mining, or less commonly by solution mining. The mine design and all operational aspects of the mine are strongly governed by the geological, mineralogical, and geomechanical characteristics of the resource.
The last step in mining operations is closure and reclamation. Rehabilitation of the mine site to a stable and self-rejuvenating state necessitates understanding of surface geological, geochemical, and hydrological processes.

Each step in the mining life cycle requires science, engineering, technology, community involvement, and careful planning, and in the U.S. each step is governed by stringent state and federal environmental protection regulations, as well as financial assurance obligations.

Awards

1822108

Phase I IUCRC at Virginia Tech: Center for Advanced Subsurface Earth Resource Models (CASERM)

Mining is intrinsic to modern society's transition to a sustainable existence. Meeting the global demand for earth resources represents a grand challenge. The Industry-University Cooperative Research Center for Advanced Subsurface Earth Resource Models is a collaborative effort between Virginia Tech, Colorado School of Mines, and industry partners. The Center's activities will transform the way geoscience data are used in the exploration and mining industry sector, beginning with the mineral exploration stage and continuing through mine closure and environmental remediation. Research activities of the Center will fundamentally change the way global exploration and mining of natural resources is done, replacing industry experience- and empiricism-based decisions with innovative science and technology-based solutions that inform decision making, increase the chances of exploration success, and reduce financial risk. The goals of the Center will promote socio-economic prosperity and help to reduce the environmental impact of mining. Workforce development is an essential component of the Center activities and will include graduate and undergraduate students, and industry employee participation in research activities and training opportunities. The Center will strengthen and promote cross-disciplinary discoveries in geophysics, geochemistry, mineralogy, computational science and statistics. Knowledge transfer to the geothermal industry sector will form one of the Center?s key activities.

The Center for Advanced Subsurface Earth Resource Models is focused on advancing the exploration/mining industry sector through the establishment of a cooperative partnership that conducts pre-competitive research and workforce development of benefit to industry, academia, and society. The purpose and long-term vision of this Center is directed toward research challenges in the development of 3-D subsurface geologic models for mineral deposits, integrating diverse geoscience data, to inform decision making and minimize geological risk. Four research thrusts are envisioned: (1) development of geophysical and geochemical instrumentation, analysis and interpretation methods for enhanced characterization of rock properties; (2) integration, scaling, and inversion of diverse geological, petrophysical, and geophysical data of dissimilar spatial resolution and distribution to identify and characterize subsurface earth resources; (3) development of information methodologies for reducing risk associated with decision making; and (4) computational imaging and development of graphical and exploratory data analysis solutions and visualization tools. Achieving this broad vision requires collaborations from a broad range of disciplines. Virginia Tech's broad expertise in computational methods, high performance computing, mining engineering, fluids, seismic acquisition, imaging and inversion, tomographic imaging, and petrophysics combined with industry experience will allow for further mining-related advancements.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. Read More >

1822146

Phase I IUCRC at Colorado School of Mines: Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM)

Mining is intrinsic to modern society's transition to a sustainable existence. Meeting the global demand for earth resources represents a grand challenge. The Industry-University Cooperative Research Center for Advanced Subsurface Earth Resource Models is a collaborative effort between Colorado School of Mines, Virginia Tech, and industry partners. The Center's activities will transform the way geoscience data are used in the exploration and mining industry sector, beginning with the mineral exploration stage and continuing through mine closure and environmental remediation. Research activities of the Center will fundamentally change the way global exploration and mining of natural resources is done, replacing industry experience- and empiricism-based decisions with innovative science and technology-based solutions that inform decision making, increase the chances of exploration success, and reduce financial risk. The goals of the Center will promote socio-economic prosperity and help to reduce the environmental impact of mining. Workforce development is an essential component of the Center activities and will include graduate and undergraduate students, and industry employee participation in research activities and training opportunities. The Center will strengthen and promote cross-disciplinary discoveries in geophysics, geochemistry, mineralogy, computational science and statistics. Knowledge transfer to the geothermal industry sector will form one of the Center's key activities.

The Center for Advanced Subsurface Earth Resource Models is focused on advancing the exploration/mining industry sector through a cooperative partnership conducting pre-competitive research and workforce development programs that benefit industry, academia, and society. The purpose and long-term vision of this Center is directed toward challenges in developing 3-D geologic models for mineral deposits, integrating diverse geoscience data, to inform decision making and minimize geological risk, beginning with locating and mining subsurface earth resources and continuing through mine closure and environmental remediation. Four research thrusts are envisioned: (1) development of geophysical and geochemical instrumentation, analysis, and interpretation methods for enhanced characterization of rock properties; (2) integration, scaling, and inversion of diverse geological, petrophysical, and geophysical data types of dissimilar spatial resolution and distribution to identify and characterize earth resources; (3) development of information methodologies for reducing risk associated with decision making; and (4) computational imaging and development of graphical and exploratory data analysis solutions and visualization tools. Achieving this broad vision requires interdisciplinary collaborations: Mines' expertise in economic geology, geochemistry, mineralogy, petrophysics, high performance computing, and applied mathematics, including geo-statistics, spatial statistics, inversion, and numerical methods, and strong traditional ties to mineral resource industry sectors will promote Center success.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. Read More >

2310920

IUCRC Phase II+ Colorado School of Mines: Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM)

Mining is essential to modern society's transition to a sustainable future. Meeting the global demand for earth resources is a grand challenge. The Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM) is a collaborative effort between Colorado School of Mines, Virginia Tech, industry partners, and government agencies. The Center is interdisciplinary. It strengthens and promotes cross-disciplinary discoveries in geophysics, geochemistry, mineralogy, computational science and statistics. Knowledge transfer to all areas of the mining and related geoscience sectors is a core Center mission. The Center's activities transform the way geoscience data are used in the exploration and mining industry sector beginning with the mineral exploration stage and continuing through mine closure and environmental remediation. Center research activities focus on dramatically improving the way global mineral exploration and mining of ores and other natural resources are done, replacing industry experience- and empiricism-based decisions with innovative science and technology-based solutions that inform decision making, increase the chances of exploration success, and reduce financial risk. Center goals include promoting socio-economic prosperity and helping reduce the environmental impact of mining. Broader impacts include workforce development, an essential element of Center activities. It includes not only graduate and undergraduate students training and involvement in industry-relevant research but also invites industry participation in university research activities focused on advancing the state of the mining sector of the economy; and not simply responding to the needs of a single company. The Center also engages with community college instructors and students who work with university faculty and students on projects of mining sector importance further advancing its workforce training goals by engaging students working toward two-year degrees or certificates.

The Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM) is focused on advancing the exploration/mining industry sector through the establishment of a cooperative partnership with industry that conducts pre-competitive research and workforce development of benefit to the mining industry, academia, and society. The purpose and long-term vision of the Center is for addressing serious research challenges and providing an engine of knowledge creation in the development of 3-D subsurface geologic models for mineral deposits; integrating diverse geoscience data to inform decision making and minimize geological risk; devising new, faster, and more accurate assessments of the economic potential of drill core and other geological specimen taken from the field; advancing the science of mineral exploration; and improving mining operations and safety. It has five industry-driven research thrusts: (1) mineral exploration and mineral system models; (2) geological modeling and resource characterization; (3) advanced technology solutions; (4) mine development and operations; and (5) social and environmental impacts of mining. The Center's vision requires collaborations across a broad range of disciplines. For the Colorado School of Mines Site, the intellectual foundation stems from its unique, cross-disciplinary collaborations and outstanding faculty across the mining value chain. Its collaboration with its partner Site, Virginia Tech, brings expertise in AI and machine learning, mining engineering, novel geophysical techniques to increase mine safety, and mining operations.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. Read More >

2310948

IUCRC Phase II+ Virginia Tech: Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM)

Mining is essential to modern society's transition to a sustainable future. Meeting the global demand for earth resources is a grand challenge. The Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM) is a collaborative effort between Virginia Tech and the Colorado School of Mines, industry partners, and government agencies. The Center is interdisciplinary. It strengthens and promotes cross-disciplinary discoveries in geophysics, geochemistry, mineralogy, computational science and statistics, and mining operations and engineering. Knowledge transfer to all areas of the mining and related geoscience sectors is a core Center mission. The Center's activities transform the way geoscience data are used in the exploration and mining industry sector beginning with the mineral exploration stage and continuing through mine closure and environmental remediation. Center research activities focus on dramatically improving the way global mineral exploration and mining of ores and other natural resources are done, replacing industry experience- and empiricism-based decisions with innovative science and technology-based solutions that inform decision making, increase the chances of exploration success, and reduce financial risk. Center goals include promoting socio-economic prosperity and helping reduce the environmental impact of mining. Broader impacts include workforce development, an essential element of Center activities. It includes not only graduate and undergraduate students training and involvement in industry-relevant research but also invites industry participation in university research activities focused on advancing the state of the mining sector of the economy; and not simply responding to the needs of a single company. The Center also engages with community college instructors and students who work with university faculty and students on projects of mining sector importance further advancing its workforce training goals by engaging students working toward two-year degrees or certificates.

The Center to Advance the Science of Exploration to Reclamation in Mining (CASERM) is focused on advancing the exploration/mining industry sector through the establishment of a cooperative partnership with industry that conducts pre-competitive research and workforce development of benefit to the mining industry, academia, and society. The purpose and long-term vision of the Center is for addressing serious research challenges and providing an engine of knowledge creation in the development of 3-D subsurface geologic models for mineral deposits; integrating diverse geoscience data to inform decision making and minimize geological risk; devising new, faster, and more accurate assessments of the economic potential of drill core and other geological specimen taken from the field; advancing the science of mineral exploration; and improving mining operations and safety. It has five industry-driven research thrusts: (1) mineral exploration and mineral system models; (2) geological modeling and resource characterization; (3) advanced technology solutions; (4) mine development and operations; and (5) social and environmental impacts of mining. The Center's vision requires collaborations across a broad range of disciplines. For the Virginia Tech Site, the intellectual foundation stems from its unique focus on AI and machine learning that it applies to mine exploration and development needs. Its part in the Center is to develop new and novel means of increasing safety of underground mining, improving yields requiring blasting, and exploring the use of digital twins in the mining sector. Its collaboration with its partner Site, the Colorado School of Mines, brings expertise in mineral exploration, sample analysis, and integration of new knowledge into established models of ore generation that increase the possibility of finding new ore deposits and harvesting essential elements from mine waste dumps and remediating them to bring them back to environmental health.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. Read More >

Member Organizations

IUCRC affiliated member organizations are displayed as submitted by the Center. Non-federal organizations are not selected, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the U.S. National Science Foundation.

The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the Center author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation.