MICHAELG.NELSON_CV.doc

MICHAEL G. NELSON, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Mining Engineering
University of Utah
Professional Summary

CONTACT INFORMATION:

University of Utah
135 South 1460 East, Room 315
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0113
) 801 585-3064 (office); 801 262-6547 (home)
2 801 585-5410
È 801 652-9941
- [e-mail]
" http://www.mines.utah.edu/mining/mgn%20bio%20sketch.htm

Summary of Skills

Twenty-five years’ experience in mining, minerals, chemicals, and environmental industries.

Ten years’ experience in research, including nine years in research supervision, with a consistent record of delivering innovative results: seven patents granted; seven new technologies commercialized.

Excellent writing and speaking abilities: editor, author or co-author of five books, twenty peer-reviewed publications, and more than twenty other publications.

Accomplishments

Extensive record of research, publication, and industrial experience in the automation and control of mining and milling processes, and in the development of new processing equipment.

Palladon Ventures LLC
Responsible for all technical functions, including exploration, ore reserve analysis, mining, and processing. Currently supervising the design, construction, and operation of a 2-million ton-per-year magnetite mine and mill.

University of Utah Department of Mining Engineering
Conducting research in hydrodynamics of flotation, new mining methods, and safety training for small mines.

EIMCO Process Equipment Company
Developed new instruments for use in mining and process plant control, including laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for on-line analysis; developed new processing equipment, including SmartCellä flotation machines, E-Catä thickeners, and Deep-Coneä thickeners.

School of Mineral Industries, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Recognized the need for and established improved relations with Alaska's mining industry. Elected to the board of directors of the Alaska Miners Association. Secured direct donation of almost $200,000 to the school and research funding of over $1 million. Approximately $300,000 of that research funding was from private industry, the first mining industry funding the school had received in almost 10 years.

Consolidation Coal Company (now Consol Energy)
Developed the first working automation system for longwall coal mining systems, receiving five patents in the process. Similar systems are now operating in several mines, at an estimated increase in production of 1000 tons per day, per automated section.

Made the first successful installation of a natural-gamma coal thickness sensor on an operating continuous miner. Tested the sensor and established beyond doubt its accuracy, and worked with operators to ensure its acceptance. Investment in the sensor was recovered in less than 3 months, through increased production and reduced down time, an equivalent annual savings of over $200,000.

Developed and patented optical sensors for control of fine coal flotation. The patents’ marketing rights were sold by Consol, resulting in significant royalty income.
Education

University of West Virginia, Ph.D., 1989. Major Field: Mineral Engineering; Dissertation: Simulation of Boundary Coal Thickness Sensors

University of Utah, M.S., 1983. Major field: Instrumentation Physics; Research Topic:
A Device for Measuring the Thickness of the Froth Layer on Froth Flotation Cells

University of Utah, B.S. cum laude, 1975. Major field: Metallurgical Engineering

Academic Experience

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 1999 – present
Adjunct Associate Professor of Mining Engineering, 1999
Associate Professor of Mining Engineering, 1999 – present

Undergraduate courses taught Graduate courses taught
Materials Handling Simulation and Optimization of Complex Systems
Underground Mining Methods Ore Deposits Databases
Underground Mine Design Mining Methods in Latin American Countries

Funded research
Development of Training Materials for Small Mines, NIOSH, 2004-2009 (with Dr. Felipe Calizaya)
Hydrodynamic Testing and High-speed Imaging of a Froth Flotation Machine, FFE Minerals USA,
Inc., 2004-2006
Selection and Testing of Foam for Gas Control, San Juan Coal Company, 2003-04.
Application of Odor Sensors to Ore Sorting and Mill Feed Control, U. S. Department of Energy,
2003-2004
Carbon Dioxide Sequestration by Mechanochemical Carbonation of Mineral Silicates, U. S. Department
of Energy, 2002-2003
Underground Mining Feasibility Study: Brush Wellman, Inc., 2001-2002.
Development of a Mine Compatible Laser Instrument for Ore Grading: U. S. Department of
Energy, J.R. Simplot Co., Advanced Power Technologies, Inc., and Idaho National Engineering
and Environmental Laboratory
Reduced Energy Consumption through Projectile-based Excavation: U. S. Department of
Energy, LaFarge, Inc., Advanced Power Technologies, Inc.

University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 1989 - 1995
Professor of Mining Engineering, 1995
Associate Professor of Mining Engineering, 1992 - 1995
Assistant Professor of Mining Engineering, 1989 - 1992
Manager, Silver Fox Mine, 1989 - 1995

Undergraduate courses taught Graduate courses taught
Mine Design Cyanide in the Mining Industry
Mineral Preparation Automation of Heavy Equipment
Mine Safety and Operation Mine Electrical Systems
Mining Methods for Placer and Offshore Deposits Advanced Statistics and Simulation
Rock Mechanics Graduate Seminar
Mining and the Environment
Rock Fragmentation (Drilling and Blasting)
Mine Electrical Systems
Funded research
- Plasma Arc Processing of Red Mountain Chrome Ore
- Bacterial Inoculation of a Test Heap at Ryan Lode Mine
- Effects of Treated Gold Extraction Solutions on Plant Growth
- Innovative Design of Ventilation Systems for Underground Placer Mines in the Arctic
- Roof Support System for Development Openings in Alluvial Permafrost
- Vehicle Mobility Testing on Frozen and Partially Frozen Ground
- Treatment of Precious Metal Mine Waste Water – Alaskan Testing of Biological Methods
- Assessment of Preconcentration Methods for AJ Mine Ore
- Rinsing and Retention of Cyanide Leachant in Arctic and Sub–Arctic Conditions
- Conceptual Designs and Economic Analyses of Indoor Vat Leach Gold Recovery Plants
- Phenomenological Modelling of the Heap Leaching Process for Precious Metals
- Preliminary Investigation of the Use of Microorganisms in Precious Metal Recovery
- A Control Simulator for Continuous Mining Machines

Professional Experience

Palladon Ventures, LLC, Salt Lake City, Utah 2005 - present
Senior Vice President, Technology
I am responsible for all technical functions, including exploration, ore reserve analysis, mining, and processing. I am currently supervising the design, construction, and operation of a 2-million ton-per-year magnetite mine and mill.

EIMCO Process Equipment Company, Salt Lake City, Utah 1995 - 1999
Director of Research and Process Engineering
I directed the development of new technology for a $250 million company, supervising 15 engineers, one chemist, and four technicians. Development was in the areas of new instrumentation, advanced control systems applications, and new process equipment. Annual budget was approximately $3 million.

Pyramid Resources, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah 1994 - 1995
Manager of Special Projects
I investigated new business opportunities, in the areas of sonochemistry, accelerated leaching, interface of mine and mill control systems, and mine machine automation. I also developed new markets for the company’s existing expertise and products.

Magpie Minerals, Inc., Gooding, Idaho 1995 - present
Managing Partner
I participate in prospecting and exploration of gold and copper deposits in south-central Idaho. Activities include GPS surveys, determining status of existing and past mining claims, and conducting research into mining history. I prepare prospectus documents for private and corporate investors.

Alaska Mining Services, Fairbanks, Alaska 1990 - 1995
President and Chief Engineer
I provided consulting services to the mining industry, particularly in the areas of placer mine exploration and evaluation, gravity processing of placer and other ores, economic evaluation of mineral deposits and mining methods, instrumentation, and mine automation. Clients included more than 15 mining, construction, and technology companies.

Fairbanks Exploration Co., Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska 1991 - 1992
Director
I reviewed business agreements, evaluated prospective joint venture partners, and
prepared business plans for the development of the company’s mining claims.

Consolidation Coal Co., Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1983 - 1989
Senior Research Engineer
I initiated research into the automation of underground mining equipment, supervising another engineer and two technicians, with an annual budget of $400,000 - $600,000. This work resulted in the award of six patents. Automated systems have now been installed in several U.S. mines, and are being actively marketed worldwide.

Instrumentation Contractors, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah 1982 - 1983
Instrument Engineer

Rust International Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah 1981 - 1982
Metallurgical Process Engineer

Western Zirconium, Inc., Ogden, Utah 1978 - 1981
Senior Metallurgical Engineer

Kennecott Copper Corp., Magna, Utah 1975 - 1978
Metallurgical Engineer

Patents Granted

Optical Shutter Assembly for Trace Element Detector, U.S. 5,953,119, Sep 14, 1999.
Method and Apparatus for Controlling Froth Flotation Machines, Canada 2,257,158, December 4, 1997.
Methods and Apparatus for Maintaining Longwall Face Alignment, U.S. 5,020,860, Jun 4, 1991.
Method of Indirect Measurement of Cowl Position on a Longwall Shearer, U.S. 5,013,091, May 7,
1991.
Method and Apparatus for Sensing Coal-Rock Interface, U.S. 4,981,327, Jan 1, 1991.
Apparatus and Methods for Mapping of Entry Conditions in Remote Mining Systems, U.S. 4,884,847,
Dec 5, 1989.
Method and Apparatus for Controlling a Flotation Cell, U.S. 4,797,559, Jan 10, 1989.
Fiber Optic Detector for Flotation Cell Processing, U.S. 4,797,550, Jan 10, 1989.

Publications - Books, Book Chapters, and Books Edited

Nelson, M. G., and D. Lelinski, Design of Mechanical Flotation Cells, chapter in Mineral Processing Plant Design – Operating Practice and Control, Halbe, D. R., editor, SME, Littleton, Colorado, 2002.

Nelson, M. G., Underground Mining of Frozen Placers, chapter in Underground Mining Methods: Engineering Fundamentals and International Case Studies, SME, Littleton, Colorado, 2001.

Nelson, M. G., E. C. Packee, Jr., and D. J. Helm, Reclamation of an Abandoned Placer Mine Site: Birch Creek, Circle Mining District, Alaska, chapter in Remediation of Mining Waste, SME, Denver, Colorado, 1995.

Bakshi, A. K., and M. G. Nelson, Effect of Seasonal Work on Residual Cyanide Removal from Leach Heaps in Sub-Arctic Conditions, chapter in Remediation of Mining Waste, SME, Littleton, Colorado, 1995.

Swainbank, R. C., T. K. Bundtzen, A. H. Clough, E. W. Hansen, and M. G. Nelson, Alaska's Mineral Industry 1992, Special Report 47, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska.

Bandopadhyay, S., and M. G. Nelson (eds.), Mining in the Arctic, Proceedings of the Second International Symposium, A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 1992.

Nelson, M. G., Automatically Controlled Continuous Mining Machines - Computer Simulation of Control System Performance, chapter in Emerging Computer Techniques for the Minerals Industry, SME, Littleton, Colorado, 1993.

Nelson, M. G., Computer Simulation of Coal Thickness Sensor Performance in Machine Horizon Control, chapter in Emerging Computer Techniques for the Minerals Industry, SME, Littleton, Colorado, 1993.

Publications - Refereed Articles and Conference Proceedings
Nelson, M. G., and J. T. Smit, Development of the Theory of Froth Flotation, Jameson, G. J. (ed.), Proceedings of the Centenary of Flotation 2005 Symposium, AusIMM, Victoria, Australia, pp. 895-904, 2005 (published on CD-ROM).

Lelinski, D., Redden, L. D., and M. G. Nelson, Important Considerations in the Design of Mechanical Flotation Machines, , Jameson, G. J. (ed.), Proceedings of the Centenary of Flotation 2005 Symposium, AusIMM, Victoria, Australia, pp. 217-224, 2005 (published on CD-ROM).

Nelson, M. G., Inspection and Rehabilitation of the Daly-Judge Tunnel, Park City, Utah, accepted for publication in the CIM Bulletin, June 2004 (to appear).

Nelson, M. G., and N. K. Riddle, Sampling and Analysis for Optimal Ore-grade Control, Engineering, volume 56, number 4, pp. 55-59, 2004.

M. Machina, and S. Goldstein, Projectile-Based Excavation its Application to the Mining Industry, Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference, September 23-27, 2002, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Paper 28-2, 14 pp., (published on CD-ROM, ISBN 1-890977-19-5).

Bandopadhyay, S., H. Wu, M. G. Nelson, and V. Izaxon, Engineering Control of Mine Thermal around a Mine Airway in Permafrost, Olsen, H. K., L. Lorentzen, and O. Rendal (eds.), Mining in the Arctic - Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium, Nuuk, Greenland, May 28-31, Balkema, Lisse, 2001.

Bandopadhyay, S., H. Wu, M. G. Nelson, and V. Izaxon, Analysis of Thermal Regime of a Deep Mine Airway in Permafrost, Olsen, H. K., L. Lorentzen, and O. Rendal (eds.), Mining in the Arctic - Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium, Nuuk, Greenland, May 28-31, Balkema, Lisse, 2001.

NELSON, M. G., AND D. LELINSKI, HYDRODYNAMIC DESIGN OF SELF-AERATING FLOTATION MACHINES, MINERALS ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, VOLUME 13, NUMBER 10-11, PP. 991-998, 2000.

Gritton, K. S., D. Lelinski, M. G. Nelson, and H. B. Oblad, Recent Improvements in WEMCO Flotation
Equipment, presented at Minerals Engineering '99, Falmouth, UK, September 22-24 1999.

Allen, J. P., M. G. Nelson, and K. S. Gritton, Automated Thickener Control: Instrumentation and Strategy, in Leung, W., and T. Ptak (eds.), Advances in Filtration and Separation Technology, volume 13b, pp. 785-799, American Filtration & Separations Society, Northport, Alabama, 1999.

Bandopadhyay, S., M. G. Nelson, G. Chen, and V. Izaxson, Control of Water Infiltration in Arctic Mine Ventilation, Udd, J. E. and A. J. Keen (eds.): Mining in the Arctic - Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, June 14-17, Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1999.

Bandopadhyay, S., H. Wu, M. G. Nelson, and V. Izaxson, A Finite Element Model of Heat Transf