Earth Exploration

Understanding our planet & responsibly developing its resources

Earth Exploration

Earth is more than our home — its natural resources are critical to every aspect of human life. Mines researchers are building our understanding of the earth’s structure, natural processes, and changing environments. We are using our knowledge to better predict and mitigate natural hazards, understand environmental cycles, address climate change, locate new reserves of critical resources, and develop methods of accessing these natural resources in a way that minimizes our impact on the planet. Explore our Earth research by focus area:

Exploring the Subsurface through Modeling & Mapping

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Exploring the Subsurface through Modeling & Mapping

Developing techniques to characterize and explore the earth’s subsurface.

View the researchers working on Exploring the Subsurface through Modeling & Mapping or find researchers by topic:

3D Geological Models
Borehole Data Interpretation
Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing
Geologic Hydrogen
Geomechanics & Geomaterials
Geophysical Data Acquisition
Geophysical Modeling
Geospatial Data Analysis & Mapping
Geothermal Exploration & Energy Technologies
Gravity Exploration
Ground Penetrating Radar
Hydrogeological Systems
Landscape Evolution
Magnetic Exploration
Mineral Exploration & Mapping
Modeling & Simulation
Natural Gas Exploration
Reservoir Modeling
Seismic Imaging
Structural Geology Mapping
Subsurface Fluid Dynamics
Subsurface Imaging & Mapping
Subsurface Inversion & Tomography

Advanced Resource Extraction, Production, & Processing

Utilizing Mines’ expertise across petroleum and mining to find and access new resources in a sustainable way.

View the researchers working on Advanced Resource Extraction, Production, & Processing or find researchers by topic:

Advanced Recycling Technologies
Advanced Resource Recovery
Autonomous / Robotic Mining Systems
Critical Materials / Minerals / Metals
Enhanced Mineral Extraction
Enhanced Oil & Gas Recovery
Extractive Metallurgy & Chemical Processing
In-Situ Recovery
Mine Waste / Tailings to Resources
Mineral Exploration & Mapping
Mineral Processing Innovation
Resource Recovery from Wastewater
Space Mining Technologies
Space Resources Development
Subsurface Imaging & Mapping
Supply Chain Resilience
Sustainable Resource Management
Waste Minimization
Waste to Resource
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Advanced Resource Extraction, Production, & Processing

Earth & Planetary Processes

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Earth & Planetary Processes

Building our understanding of Earth’s evolving systems and processes, and leveraging that knowledge to benefit society.

View the researchers working on Earth & Planetary Processes or find researchers by topic:

3D Geological Models
Climate Change
Climate Variability
Earth System Modeling & Prediction
Evolution of Mountain Belts
Formation of Mineral & Hydrocarbon Resources
Geologic Mapping
Geophysical Modeling
Glaciology
Hydrogeological Systems
Hydrology
Landscape Evolution
Natural Hazard Prediction & Mitigation
Oceanography
Planetary Geology
Plate Motions / Tectonics
Remote Sensing
Seismic Imaging
Seismology
Structural Geology Mapping
Subsurface Fluid Dynamics
Subsurface Imaging & Mapping
Turbulence & Mixing
Volcanology

Managing Earth's Water Resources

Understanding water resources and cycles to build sustainable use practices.

View the researchers working on Managing Earth’s Water Resources or find researchers by topic:

Climate-Resilient Water Management
Coastal Groundwater Systems
Desalination
Direct Potable Water Reuse
Emerging Contaminants
Energy-Water Nexus
Glaciology
Hydrogeological Systems
Hydrology
Hydropower
Industrial Water Treatment & Reuse
Integrated Water Resource Management
Mine Water
Nature-Based Solutions
Near-Surface Geophysics
Resource Recovery from Wastewater
Snowpack & Runoff Dynamics
Subsurface Fluid Dynamics
Turbulence & Mixing
Water Quality Monitoring
Water Reuse & Recycling
Water Treatment Technologies
Watershed Management
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Managing Earth's Water Resources

Engineering Solutions for a Safer Planet

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Engineering Solutions for a Safer Planet

Applying Earth science principles to support the built environment and design safer structures.

View the researchers working on Engineering Solutions for a Safer Planet or find researchers by topic:

Earthquake-Resistant Design
Electrical Grid Resilience
Geomechanics & Geomaterials
Geotechnical Engineering
Natural Hazard Assessment & Risk Reduction
Resilient Building Design
Resilient Infrastructure
Risk Assessment & Management
Rock & Soil Mechanics
Structural & Construction Materials
Structural Engineering
Structural Monitoring
Subsurface Imaging & Mapping
Underground Safety

Underground Infrastructure Development

Analyzing, designing, building, and monitoring underground infrastructure.

View the researchers working on Underground Infrastructure Development or find researchers by topic:

Geotechnical Engineering
Hydrogeological Systems
Modeling & Simulation
Risk Assessment & Management
Rock & Soil Mechanics
Structural Monitoring
Subsurface Fluid Dynamics
Subsurface Imaging & Mapping
Underground Construction & Tunnel Engineering
Underground Safety
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Underground Infrastructure Development

Critical Materials & Supply Chains

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Critical Materials & Supply Chains

Developing strategies to ensure access and manage supply of technology- and energy-critical minerals and metals.

View the researchers working on Critical Materials & Supply Chains or find researchers by topic:

Conflict & Resource Management
Critical Materials / Minerals / Metals
Energy Policy
Environmental Policy
Geopolitics
Global Supply Chains
Integrated Resource Planning
International Trade & Energy Markets
Mine Waste / Tailings to Resources
Mineral Economics
Mineral Exploration & Mapping
Mineral Processing Innovation
Mineral Resource Assessment
National Security
Regulatory Policy
Resource & Sustainability Policy
Resource Economics
Supply Chain Resilience
Waste to Resource

Natural Resource Geopolitics & Economics

Studying the geopolitical and economic factors that shape natural resource development and management.

View the researchers working on Natural Resource Geopolitics & Economics or find researchers by topic:

Conflict & Resource Management
Critical Materials / Minerals / Metals
Economic Modeling
Energy Economics
Energy Policy
Geopolitics
Global Energy Markets
Global Supply Chains
Integrated Resource Planning
International Trade & Energy Markets
Mineral Economics
National Security
Resource & Sustainability Policy
Resource Economics
Strategic Mineral Supply Chains
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Natural Resource Geopolitics & Economics