Education & Experience
Education & Background
I hold degrees in Geological Engineering and Mining Engineering from Queen’s University and a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from the University of Queensland, for which I was awarded the Rocha Medal for outstanding doctoral thesis by the International Society of Rock Mechanics.
Cave Mining:
25 years of experience in sublevel, block and panel caving mines from concept to feasibility and operations. Specialized in rock mass characterization, undercut and extraction-level design, draw scheduling, forecasting of caveability, fragmentation, recovery, infrastructure stability and surface subsidence and the assessment of hazards related to induced seismicity and inrushes.
Caving consulting clients include Grasberg, Merdeka and Hu’u (Indonesia); Henderson and Resolution (United States); Oyu Tolgoi (Mongolia); Cadia, Northparkes and Ernest Henry (Australia); New Afton, Renard, Red Chris and Kemess (Canada); El Teniente and Chuquicamata (Chile); Kiruna and Malmberget (Sweden); Ghaghoo and Karowe (Botswana); Palabora and Cullinan (South Africa).
“Dr. Pierce is among the leaders in technical studies and operational support for mass mining….his ability to engage, educate, and galvanize our teams continues to provide novel and practical deliverables as well as building internal skillsets within our organization.”
—Ryan Campbell, Geomechanical Specialist (PT Freeport Indonesia)
Underground Mining:
Experience with open stoping, cut-and-fill, room-and-pillar and longwalling operations includes sequencing and dimensioning of excavations and pillars, stability analysis and design for shafts, access, and backfill, ground support design and the assessment of hazards related to induced seismicity, subsidence and liquefaction.
Consulting clients include Jansen, Red Lake, Niobec, Westwood, Goldex and Eleonore (Canada); Montanore, Solvay, General Chemical, Tronox, Sage Creek and Twin Metals (United States); La Encantada (Mexico); Kittila (Finland); Osborne (Australia).
“[Matt’s] work on the design of a hard rock room and pillar layout for our Montanore silver-copper project in Montana (the largest unmined silver-copper resource in the US) was invaluable. He was able to explain the 2012 progressive pillar failures at the nearby Troy Mine which was of concern in our studies as it is in the same geologic conditions.”
— Mark Board, Vice President Technical Services (ret), (Hecla Mining Company, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho)
Surface Mining:
Over 20 years of experience in open pit mining, specializing in rock mass characterization, inter-ramp and overall slope stability analysis, interaction with underground mining (including caving-induced instability) and sequencing.
Open pit consulting clients include Victor (Canada) as well as Bingham, Cresson, Lemont and McCook (United States).
Research:
Have pioneered methods for the estimation of rock mass properties and developed specialized tools and constitutive models for the study of mining-induced rock mass yield, fragmentation, collapse and gravity flow from tunnel-scale to mine-scale. Involved in the industry-funded International Caving Study and Mass Mining Technology research consortia for over 15 years.
Led and directed the Rio Tinto Center for Underground Mine Construction with the specific objective of creating value through the innovative application of rock engineering principles in Rio Tinto caving mines. Authored/co-authored over 80 technical papers.
“Working with Matt opened my eyes to what the future of geotechnical modelling can look like, taking rock strength test data and applying machine learning techniques to populate a wider dataset, then applying those results in integrated geotechnical block modelling.”
— Peter Stonestreet, Senior Structural Geologist (Newcrest Mining Limited)
Featured Clients
"Matt brings a dedicated and personal approach and clearly cares deeply about this work and the success of his clients."
— James Dendle, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development
(Triple Flag Precious Metals)