Tailings Engineering Certificate Program

Program Description

The Tailings Engineering Graduate Certificate is for those who wish to specialize in interdisciplinary fields that include understanding emerging technical and social issues in this discipline. This Certificate is open to students with mining or non-mining engineering undergraduate degrees who are interested in scholarship and research on topics including, but not limited to, geology, geotechnical engineering, water, soil mechanics, tailing valorization, mineral processing and extractive metallurgy, environmental engineering, and social governance.

Contact the Tailings Engineering Certificate Program

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Tailings and the proper management of them are essential.   The Tailings Engineering Graduate Certificate Program at Mines provides curriculum that will be beneficial to engineers and other professionals involved in the mining industry.

Program Requirements

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of this degree program, students will be required to take two (2) required courses in the Department of Mining Engineering and then choose two courses related to their area of interest offered by mining, as well as other departments across campus. The certificate program can be completed by taking 12 credit hours of graduate coursework.

Program Prerequisites

Students entering the Tailings Engineering Graduate Certificate Program are expected to have completed the equivalent of an undergraduate ABET-accredited BSc degree in some discipline of engineering, science or related field.  Deficiencies if any will be determined by the Department of Mining Engineering based on a student’s academic record and experience. 

Program Required Curriculum

REQUIRED COURSES

MNGN581. FUNDAMENTALS OF TAILINGS ENGINEERING I. 3.0 Semester Hrs.

This course provides a broad overview of tailings storage facility (TSF) operation and governance. Topics covered include mineral processing and tailings generation (volume vs. commodity produced; tailings physical, mineralogical, and geochemical) characterization; tailings continuum and rheology (including solid-liquid separation, dewatering, thickening, and filtering); introduction to tailings geotechnics; TSF Design and Operations; tailings innovations in the mining industry. Prerequisite: BSc in Mining Engineering, Geosciences, or related fields.

MNGN582. FUNDAMENTALS OF TAILINGS ENGINEERING II. 3.0 Semester Hrs.

This course provides a framework for engineering design and decisions regarding tailings storage facility (TSF) water systems, multi-stakeholder risk management and operations, and TSF closure. Topics covered include TSF Water Management, TSF Operations and Compliance and TSF Closure and Reclamation. Prerequisite: BSc in Mining Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geosciences or related engineering fields.

 

ELECTIVES

Elective 1

Elective 2

 

Elective Clusters

 

Mining/Mineral Processing & Extractive Metallurgy

MNGN532. PARTICULATE MATERIAL PROCESSING I – COMMINUTION AND PHYSICAL SEPARATIONS

MNGN533. PARTICULATE MATERIAL PROCESSING II – APPLIED SEPARATIONS.

MNGN537. EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY OF COPPER, GOLD AND SILVER

MNGN582. FUNDAMENTALS OF TAILINGS ENGINEERING II

MNGN563. WATER WASTE AND MINE CLOSURE

MNGN556 MINE WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT

 

Civil & Environmental Engineering

CEEN515. HILLSLOPE HYDROLOGY AND STABILITY

CEEN519. RISK ASSESSMENT IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

CEEN581. WATERSHED SYSTEMS MODELING

CEEN573. RECLAMATION OF DISTURBED LANDS

 

Geochemistry

GC503. INTRODUCTION TO GEOCHEMISTRY

CHGC504. METHODS IN GEOCHEMISTRY

CHGC508. ANALYTICAL GEOCHEMISTRY

CHGC509. INTRODUCTION TO AQUEOUS GEOCHEMISTRY

 

Geophysics

GPGN530. APPLIED GEOPHYSICS

GPGN570. APPLICATIONS OF SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING

 

ESG

MNGN503. MINING TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

MNGN562. MINING ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

MNGN567. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND EARTH RESOURCES

MNGN571. ENERGY, NATURAL RESOURCES AND SOCIETY

 

Geological Engineering

 

GEGN542. ADVANCED DIGITAL TERRAIN ANALYSIS

GEGN573. GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING SITE INVESTIGATION

GEGN575. APPLICATIONS OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

GEGN580. APPLIED REMOTE SENSING FOR GEOENGINEERING

GEGN582. INTEGRATED SURFACE WATER HYDROLOGY

Questions? Consult the catalog.

In 2024, the year of our 150th anniversary, we will celebrate Colorado School of Mines’ past, present and possibilities. By celebrating and supporting the Campaign for MINES@150 you will help elevate Mines to be an accessible, top-of-mind and first-choice for students, faculty, staff, recruiters and other external partners. The Mining department’s goals for Mines@150 include upgrading facilities, scholarships, and continuing to build on student experiences both in the classroom and out in the field. When you give, you are ensuring Mines becomes even more distinctive and highly sought-after by future students, alumni, industry, and government partners over the next 150 years. We look forward to celebrating Mines’ sesquicentennial with you and recognizing the key role you play in making the MINES@150 vision a reality through your investments of time, talent and treasure. Give now