News Releases October 28, 2026
University partners on inaugural Intermountain Critical Minerals Summit
University of Utah Communications -
Event Overview
The Utah Mining Association is hosting its 111th annual convention next week.
In partnership with the University of Utah, the conference also will host the inaugural Intermountain Critical Minerals Summit.
On Nov. 4 and 5 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, leaders from industry, government, academia and national laboratories will gather to discuss the technologies, policy, workforce development and investment opportunities shaping the country’s critical minerals future.
“A convention that has endured for 111 years speaks to the lasting importance of this industry to Utah, and this year’s gathering comes at a pivotal moment for critical minerals,” said University President Taylor Randall. “Together with our partners, we are building the talent pipeline America needs. Built in Utah. Built for America.”
Register to attend here.
Utah's Mineral Importance
The Utah Mining Association was organized 105 years ago to advocate for and advance Utah’s mineral resources and related industries. Utah is home to 50 of the 60 minerals on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s 2025 Critical Minerals List, more than 600 permitted mineral operations, and one of only two copper smelters in the country. The state also is a national leader in critical minerals, producing 10 critical minerals in 2025 and serving as the nation’s sole producer of beryllium concentrate and potassium sulfate.
Industry Participants
Industry participants in the conference and summit include: Rio Tinto Kennecott, Mariana Minerals, Energy Fuels, Ionic Minerals, Lockheed Martin, and Intrepid Potash.
University Engineering Programs
The University of Utah is one of only six ABET-accredited universities nationwide with comprehensive programs in all three primary mining-critical engineering fields: geological, mining, and metallurgical engineering. Combined with materials science and other disciplines related to the minerals’ lifecycle, these programs give students proximity to active mines, processing facilities, and industrial partners creates opportunities for fieldwork, internships, applied research, facility visits, and real-world experience.
New Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals
This year, the university launched a new Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals focused on expanding sustainable, domestic critical minerals supply chains through education, workforce development and cutting-edge research. Building on more than a century of mining and metallurgy leadership, ICSM unites expertise across three colleges and disciplines spanning science, engineering, business, law, and policy. The Institute advances research across the full mineral lifecycle—from discovery to recycling—while expanding early student engagement, hands-on learning, and pathways into critical minerals careers.
Presidential Statement
“At the U, critical minerals aren’t something students simply study,” Randall added. “They’re something they experience—in labs, at mine sites and in processing facilities. Drawing on strengths from a variety of programs and career pathways across multiple colleges, we amplify research and prepare graduates to step into every stage of the critical minerals value chain. Efforts like the Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals help us accomplish this. The result: Graduates ready for impactful careers.”
MEDIA & PR CONTACTS
Rebecca Walsh
801-550-4930
Rebecca.walsh@utah.edu
