SDSM&T Geology & Geological Engineering

08/31/2026

Kudos to Cori!

We're continuing our countdown to the Heritage Awards by celebrating our Outstanding Recent Graduates: Hardrockers who are making an impact on their communities and industries early in their careers. Their accomplishments show what happens when curiosity, technical expertise, and a drive to keep learning come together, and we're proud to celebrate the paths they're forging.

Next up is Cori Rainwater.

A 2016 South Dakota Mines graduate with a bachelor's degree in geology, Cori has spent the past decade building a career in mining and mineral exploration. She began her career with four mineral resource internships, gaining hands-on experience that helped lay the foundation for her work today as a District Exploration Geologist at Nevada Gold Mines.

Throughout her career, Cori has focused her expertise on mine geology, reconciliation, resource estimation, and brownfields drill campaigns for both surface and underground Carlin-type gold deposits. Her work plays an important role in understanding and developing mineral resources, combining field experience, technical analysis, and geological expertise to support exploration and mining operations.

Cori's commitment to making an impact extends beyond her career. She serves as an Elko County Fair Board Member and volunteers at local elementary schools during Mining Week and Gold Fever, helping introduce young students to the world of mining and the opportunities within the industry.

Please join us in congratulating Cori Rainwater on being named an Outstanding Recent Graduate. From starting her career through hands-on internships to advancing into a leadership role in mineral exploration, Cori's journey is a great example of the opportunities and impact that can grow from a South Dakota Mines education.

Stay tuned as we continue celebrating this year's Outstanding Recent Graduates and the Hardrockers who are putting their knowledge to work, giving back to their communities, and shaping the future.

08/29/2026

The GGE Department Fall Kickoff Social was held again in the Nevada Gold Mines Atrium located on the second floor of the Nucor Mineral Industries building this afternoon with the annual photo contest and a huge spread of great food enjoyed by geologists of all sizes! A big thanks to Cleo for sharing her photos, setting up, and organizing the prizes for the top photos!
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08/28/2026

This week in lab...

Dr. Pederson's GEOL 331L (Stratigraphy and Sedimentation lab) students are starting off the Fall Semester with a bang!

The students learned field data skills right here on campus including measuring their pace, eye height as well as a stratigraphic section on Turbine Hill.
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08/13/2026

GGE Research Highlights...

Macy Sager, an undergraduate geology major, is using core samples collected from the Gulf of Mexico to help determine temperature conditions of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere over the past 10,000 years.

Each sediment layer within a core contains foraminifera, which are single-celled organisms that build their microscopic shells based on the ambient conditions of the water that they grow in. Using isotope analysis on forams, the ratio of oxygen to carbon in ancient oceans can be determined. This can provide information about ancient water temperatures, atmospheric temperatures, storm frequency, and even storm magnitude.

Macy is gathering enough forams to be sent for analysis. To collect enough, she must weigh each sample, sieve it, and separate the foraminifera from clay, sand, wood, and other debris to ensure the isotope analysis is done without contamination.
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08/11/2026

South Dakota Mines Proposed to Receive $25 Million to Build Next Generation of Mining Talent:

South Dakota Mines is slated to receive $25 million in federal funding to expand mining education and workforce development as the United States works to strengthen its domestic critical minerals supply chain and address a growing shortage of skilled professionals.

President Donald Trump announced Friday a combined federal investment of more than $180 million aimed at strengthening the nation’s critical minerals workforce and increasing domestic production of minerals essential to national security, energy technologies, advanced manufacturing and infrastructure.

As part of the investment, three universities, including South Dakota Mines, are set to receive a share of $80 million in Department of War funding to educate and train the next generation of geologists, metallurgists, and mining engineers.

Read the full story here: https://www.sdsmt.edu/news/releases/25millDoWaward.html

08/02/2026

Kudos to Seth Vandenberg (BS GEOL 19) for getting young future scientists excited about paleontology!

https://mammothsite.org/summer-dig-camps/

The Mammoth Site is holding a free week-long educational summer camps for local students. The final sessions will take place 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 3-7 and Aug. 10-14.

07/24/2026

Congrats to Dr. Ye and Dr. Roggenthen!

South Dakota Mines has been awarded a $3.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to lead a new research effort aimed at developing advanced technologies that could locate and map rare earth elements (REE) and critical minerals with gre...

07/18/2026

Kudos to Chance!

We're continuing our countdown to the Heritage Awards by celebrating some of our Outstanding Recent Graduates. These Hardrockers are already making an incredible impact through leadership, innovation, and public service, demonstrating that a South Dakota Mines education can open doors to influence far beyond the classroom.

Next up is Chance Costello.

A South Dakota Mines graduate with a bachelor's degree in geological engineering, Chance has built an impressive career at the intersection of transportation, infrastructure, energy, and public policy. After earning his master's degree in energy policy from Johns Hopkins University, he began his career on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation before joining the office of Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

During his time on Capitol Hill, Chance played an important role in shaping national policy, helping advance major pieces of legislation including the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, and the 2025 reconciliation package. Working closely with Senate committees, the House, and the administration, he developed a reputation as a trusted advisor on transportation, infrastructure, supply chain, energy, and emerging technology policy.

Today, Chance serves as Vice President of Global Government Affairs for Airlines for America (A4A), where he continues to help shape the future of aviation and transportation policy on a national and international scale. His leadership, strategic vision, and commitment to solving complex challenges are already leaving a lasting mark on industries that connect millions of people every day.

Please join us in congratulating Chance Costello on this well-deserved recognition as an Outstanding Recent Graduate. Stay tuned as we continue celebrating the Hardrockers who are shaping the future of science, engineering, technology, and public service.

06/06/2026

05/30/2026

Kudos to Dr. Paterson!

Our photo of the week comes from Josue R Laboy, one of the 2025 Photowalk winners, who captured this image of South Dakota Mines emeritus professor Colin Paterson, showing a set of minerals and rocks to a Neutrino Day attendee.

Mark your calendar for Neutrino Day 2026 on July 11 and explore all sorts of rocks, minerals, and fossils from the Museum of Geology at South Dakota Mines!