Module 1 Overview
Module 1 OverviewOverview Video: Why and where do we mine? (6:14)
Transcript: Why and where do we mine? (6:14)
[Dr. Sekhar Bhattacharyya, Associate Teaching Professor, Mining Engineering]: Hello and welcome to the first module of Mining Engineering - Introduction. I'm your instructor, Dr. Sekhar Bhattacharyya.
In our welcome session, we introduced how mining is central to modern life. Today we are going to take that discussion further by exploring specific data and national trends that show how mining connects directly to your everyday life, national priorities, and the technologies that drive the future. Let us recap very briefly why mining matters.
Mining enables nearly every aspect of our daily existence. If it is not grown, it must be mined. This course is your entry point to the world of mining engineering--from how we find mineral deposits to how we safely and sustainably extract them.
[On-screen text: Mining enables infrastructure, energy, and technology. If it is not grown, it must be mined. The course covers methods, safety, sustainability, and the future of mining.]
Now, mining role in a high-tech economy: think about electric vehicles, smartphones, satellites, solar panels, and wind turbines. All of these rely on materials that come from the earth, many of which are classified are critical minerals due to their importance and scarcity. Critical minerals are essential. The U.S. Geological Survey tracks over 50 minerals that are deemed critical for the economy and national security. Examples include rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, and nickel, materials essential for batteries, electronics, defense systems, and more.
The challenge is that many of these minerals are not produced or even processed domestically in the US. For example, China dominates the rare earth supply chain while cobalt largely comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This creates vulnerabilities in the global supply chain and increases dependence on foreign nations.
And going through the USGS data, US net import reliance for key minerals, this chart that is in front of you shows how dependent the United States is on foreign sources for critical minerals. For example, the import reliance on rare earth is 100%, cobalt is 76%, lithium is 55%, graphite is 100 percent nickel 49 manganese 100 percent again.
The challenges and opportunities how import reliance is not just an economic issue; it's a strategic one. Supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and environmental concerns make it imperative that we explore sustainable domestic options. This is where mining engineers come in. We need innovations, policy, and technology to work together to reduce dependency and improve security.
Now your role as future engineers, whether you go into mining or another field, understanding where materials come from and how they're produced is very critical. As future professionals and leaders, you have a role to play in shaping the resource strategies for tomorrow. Mines are all around us. Mining is not something that happens far away. The U.S. has thousands of active mines across the country, from copper in Arizona, sand in Wisconsin, coal in Appalachia, rare earth in California. Mining is part of our local and national landscape, and its presence is often closer than we think about.
We also need to think about the energy materials and coal in particular. Energy materials like coal, uranium, and geothermal resources continue to power much of our nation. Coal alone still contributes about 20% of U.S. electricity generation, and it remains vital for industrial such as steelmaking and other related industries. These materials are foundational to both economic development and energy resilience.
Government institutions support mining very, very closely. Several federal agencies support safe and responsible mining in the US. The US Geological Survey, which is called the USGS, provides essential data on mineral resources and import dependencies. The Mine Safety and Health Administration, which is called MSHA, endorses safety standards and it does the inspections. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which is called the NIOSH, it leads the cutting-edge research for improvement of mine safety and technology. These institutions help ensure that mining in the US is safe, well-regulated, and informed by science.
Thank you for watching this, and I hope this module deepened your understanding of the strategic and societal
importance of mining. I'll see you in the next module to come soon. Till then, keep learning and be safe.
Learning Outcomes
At the successful completion of this module, you should be able to:
- describe the importance of mining in terms of the number of commodities mined, the number of mines, and the economic impact of mining;
- cite examples (at least 12) of nonfuel mineral commodities and the commercial use of these commodities;
- use the USGS Mineral Commodities Summary to obtain data on the commodities;
- describe, in general terms, the makeup of coal, the more important constituents or properties that affect its market value, and why those constituents or properties are of interest;
- define the rank of a coal and the four ranks of coal; and explain the chart commonly used to illustrate the classification of coals by rank;
- explain in general terms the location of the areas in which coal, metals, and industrial minerals are mined. Further, give examples of specific commodities and where they are mined;
- locate major coal basins in the U.S., and describe one or two characteristics that differentiate the coal regions (other than location);
- explain the relationships between an operating mine and the various public and private stakeholders. List three federal government agencies with a major role in mining and their primary function, two labor unions with significant interest in mining, three national trade associations for mining; and for each of these, explain their role;
- cite an example of a state regulatory agency and a state trade association. Explain the relationship between the state and federal entity that has the same general role;
- explain how the U.S. Congress becomes involved in mining and how mining stakeholders interact with Congress;
- explain what is meant by an administrative agency;
- explain the positive benefits of mining in a community or region.
What is due for Module 1?
This module will take us two weeks to complete. Please refer to the Course Syllabus for specific time frames and due dates. Specific directions for the assignment below can be found within this lesson.
| Activity | Location | Submitting Your Work |
|---|---|---|
| Read | Pages 1-15 in the course textbook | No Submission |
| Complete |
| Canvas |
Questions?
Each week, an announcement is sent out in which you will have the opportunity to contribute questions about the topics you are learning about in this course. You are encouraged to engage in these discussions. The more we talk about these ideas and share our thoughts, the more we can learn from each other.