Mining Engineering Overview

Principles

Definition

Mining engineering is the engineering discipline applying scientific and technical principles to the exploration, extraction, processing, and management of mineral resources from the Earth, integrating economic, safety, environmental, and societal considerations to meet global resource demands responsibly.

Ontological type

Core Subdisciplines

Key Design Methods

Environmental Management

Key developments

Key Figures

Geotechnical Characterization Era era

James P. Evans[1] was active across Texas A&M University[3] and Utah State University[4] in this Geotechnical Characterization Era. In the 1996 paper 'Fault zone architecture and permeability structure'[7], Evans[1] highlighted fault zone architecture and permeability structure, providing a quantitative basis for site screening and rock-mass classification that underpinned underground stability analyses. William R. Dickinson[2] conducted work across Stanford University[5] and University of Wisconsin–Madison[6] in this era. In the 1983 paper 'Provenance of North American Phanerozoic sandstones in relation to tectonic setting'[8], Dickinson[2] provided insights into sandstone provenance and tectonic setting, informing geologic mapping and the interpretation of rock masses that supported systematic subsurface characterization in mining engineering.

Predictive Geomechanics Modeling era

Yaodong Jiang [1], affiliated with Sichuan University [3] and China University of Mining and Technology [4] during this era, contributed to predictive geomechanics modeling in the 2000–2010 period. His key contributions include the 2005 paper STUDY ON ROCK MECHANICS IN DEEP MINING ENGINEERING [7], which advanced empirical understanding of rock mass behavior and informed pillar strength and support design for deep excavations, enabling more reliable predictive models. Jonny Rutqvist [2], affiliated with University of California, Berkeley [5] and University of Tübingen [6], contributed to this era through the 2007 paper Estimating maximum sustainable injection pressure during geological sequestration of CO2 using coupled fluid flow and geomechanical fault-slip analysis [8]. This work's integration of coupled fluid flow and geomechanical fault-slip analysis [8] advanced predictions of deformation, subsidence, and fault reactivation, supporting risk-informed design and probabilistic planning frameworks in deep mining and related subsurface operations.

Data-Driven Geomechanics Integration era

Manchao He [1], with affiliations at Jilin University [3] and Pennsylvania State University [4], contributed to data-driven geomechanics integration in mining. Key contributions in this era include the study of a no-pillar mining technique with automatically formed gob-side entry retaining for longwall mining in coal mines [7] and the meso- and macroeffects of roof split blasting on the stability of gateroad surroundings in an innovative nonpillar mining method [8], which underpin safer, more adaptable longwall designs in stressed rock and complex hydrogeological conditions. Jun Yang [2], affiliated with Southeast University [5] and China University of Geosciences [6], contributed to data-driven geomechanics integration in mining. Her contributions, as reflected in the 2018 [7] and 2019 [8] studies, advanced understanding of no-pillar mining and roof split blasting effects, enabling safer, more resilient longwall configurations and risk-informed design in this era.