March 23, 2026
U of A to host Collegiate Mining Competition
- What: 48th Annual International Collegiate Mining Competition
- When: Thursday, March 26, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, March 27, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: San Xavier Underground Mining Laboratory, 6200 Ocotillo Ranch Rd., Sahuarita
TUCSON, Ariz. — More than 200 mining students will gather at the San Xavier Mine to compete in the 48th Annual International Collegiate Mining Competition.
"It’s like the Olympics of collegiate mining," said David W. Hahn, Craig M. Berge Dean of the College of Engineering.
The event, hosted by the University of Arizona student chapter of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, draws competitors from universities around the world to test technical skills and teamwork. Teams will compete across seven events that test traditional mining skills such as mucking, gold panning, jack legging and sawing.
Kray Luxbacher, Gregory H. and Lisa S. Boyce Leadership Chair and executive director of the School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources, and James Werner, director of the San Xavier Underground Mining Laboratory, will be available for interviews.
Media contact:
Sharon Arceneaux
School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources
520-401-7107
sarceneaux@arizona.edu
Established in 1885, the University of Arizona is the state's flagship, land-grant institution. The U of A ranks among America's top institutions, focusing on student access and success while driving a $1 billion research enterprise and engaging communities throughout the state, nation and world. As a leading Research 1 institution and member of the Association of American Universities, the U of A advances the frontiers of interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships. With two accredited medical schools, designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, recognition as a premier university for service members, distinguished programs in management information systems, planetary sciences, dance, photography, and public and applied humanities, the U of A offers the world to its students while uplifting Arizona.