2021 Metallic Student Design Competition

Competition Overview
The Metallic Student Design Competition (SDC) is a hard rock competition focused on the evaluation of a mineral deposit (precious/base metal or industrial mineral) and the development of a potential flowsheet and process design. The new Metallic SDC is modeled after the SME/NSSGA competition, which is based on an aggregate mining industry design problem.
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Key Facts
  • 2021 was the 1st year of the competition
  • Eighteen teams entered Phase 1 of the competition, with 6 teams advancing to Phase 2
  • The 18 teams represented 5 continents and 8 countries.
  • The Metallic competition was made possible through the sponsorship of Rio Tinto.

2021 Competition
Eighteen teams competed in Phase 1 of the 2021 Metallic competition in the Fall of 2020. Six teams were selected to compete in Phase 2 of the virtual SME/NSSGA Student Design Competition (SDC) on Sunday, February 14, 2021. The teams presented their plan for a copper-molybdenum mine to a panel of five judges from the mining industry. 

Phase 2 Teams
Congratulations to the six Phase 2 teams! Watch the presentations: 
 
1st Place: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos – RTC Mining Consulting

 
2nd Place: Universidad Nacional de Ingeniera – UNI Mining Peruvian Consulting

 
3rd Place: University of Arizona – Wildcat Junior Team

 

Remaining Phase 2 teams, in alphabetical order:

Middle East Technical University (METU) – The Hocams

 
Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa – Qhuya Team UNSA

 
Universidad Nacional de San Agustin de Arequipa – Planning Team UNSA

 


Competition Support
Many thanks to the sponsors, judges and committee members who made the 2021 competition possible. Your planning, collaborative work, and financial and volunteer support are much appreciated.

Sponsors:

 

Innovator:

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Resource Supporters:

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Phase 1 Judges:
  • Dr. Saskia Duyvesteyn, Rio Tinto
  • Brandon MacDougall - Coeur Rochester
  • Dan Palo – Barr Engineering
  • Jordan Rutledge - Tomra

Phase 2 Judges:
  • Dr. Saskia Duyvesteyn, Rio Tinto
  • Nick Gow, Forte Analytical
  • Jennifer Leinart, CostMine
  • Brandon MacDougal, Coeur Rochester
  • Richard LaDouceur, Montana Tech
 Committee:
  • Nick Gow, Chair
  • Denise Levitan
  • Dr. Saskia Duyvesteyn
  • Jennifer Leinart
  • Dan Palo 
  • Luis Velasquez
  • Alyssa Kendir
  • Tom Rauch
  • Angel Mondragon
  • Jennifer Reichart
  • Mona Vandervoort, SME
  • Emma Salditt, SME

Phase 1 Teams
In addition to the six teams that participated in Phase 2, 12 other teams participated in Phase 1 of the competition.
  • Universidad Central del Ecuador – SME-UCE
  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia – Metallum
  • IIT (ISM) Dhanbad -  Metallic Revolution
  • Universidad Nacional Micaela Bastidas de Apurmac
  • Universidad Nacional de Moquegua – UNAM
  • Middle East Technical University – METUneers
  • Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico – Aztec Mining Company LTD
  • University of Utah – Utah Metallurgy Team
  • Haceteppe University – HKCS
  • The Federal University of Technology Akure – SME FUTA Chapter
  • Universidad Nacional del Altiplano
  • IIT (ISM) Dhanbad – Golden Sparrow