Rio Tinto geotechnical specialist Serdar’s expertise has taken him around the world. At our Kennecott operations in Utah, USA, he’s achieved incredible advancements in safety and efficiency while mentoring the next generation of engineers.

Joining Rio Tinto: From Conferences to Kennecott

Serdar is a RioExpert in our RioExcel program, a promotion pathway for our technical specialists, offering an alternative path for career progression other than leading large teams. RioExcel focuses on building and sharing RioExperts’ expertise while being recognized as leaders in their field.

“I’ve always sought out new challenges and opportunities to apply my expertise as a geotechnical engineer. Prior to joining Rio Tinto, I worked on projects for nine years in many countries, including China, Romania, Greece, and Turkey. Each stint broadened my understanding of geotechnical engineering and prepared me for the unique challenges at Rio Tinto Kennecott.”

While presenting a technical paper at international conferences, Serdar met specialists from Kennecott who saw potential in his skills. He was excited to join them, as the Bingham Canyon mine at Kennecott is the deepest open pit mine globally and presented an array of geotechnical challenges.

Rio Tinto , Serdar Ergun

Ensuring Slope Stability: A Critical Role

In his current role, Serdar oversees geotechnical studies for Kennecott. He finds satisfaction in bridging technical expertise with operational efficiency. Collaborating with various teams, both on-site and at our corporate office in Salt Lake City, allows him to contribute to the mine’s stability while enhancing safety protocols and operational efficiency.

“My role primarily revolves around ensuring slope stability, which is crucial given the mine’s depth. I’m part of the long-range geotechnical team, so I work on studies that shape the mine’s future and extend its lifespan, including expansion projects. I find projects pivotal to the mine’s future very satisfying to work on.”

Transformative Experience: The RioExcel Program

Participating in the RioExcel program as a RioExpert has been a transformative experience for Serdar. It’s not just about personal recognition; it’s about fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and mentorship.

Being a RioExpert means I’m able to help out in other areas of the business with challenges and connect with people to assist with their projects. It’s already provided some great networking opportunities for me, and it’s encouraged me to step up and give the best of myself, knowing I’m helping to potentially guide the next generation of Rio Tinto’s technical experts.”

Serdar Ergun, a geotechnical specialist, presents a paper at a mining conference for Rio Tinto.

Driving Positive Change: Innovations and Achievements

By sharing insights and best practices, Serdar believes they can collectively drive positive change within the mining industry and beyond. One of his proudest career achievements was developing and implementing the Geotechnical Verification Process at Kennecott.

“There was no previous benchmark for this kind of process, and I designed and implemented it myself, with help from colleagues. It’s now enhancing safety at Kennecott, and other operations around the world have started using it too, including Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia.”

Pioneering Projects: Modeling and Efficiency

Another project Serdar is particularly proud of was the Particle Flow Code Modeling of Failure Run-out Initiative. “We designed a new way to model a 500-meter slope failure at Bingham Canyon in 2021.”

In May 2021, Rio Tinto’s Bingham Canyon Mine experienced a 21 Mt slope collapse referred to as the ‘Leo’ failure. Early detection of the initial slope movement and prediction of the collapse by the mine’s integrated monitoring systems allowed for the safe evacuation of staff and equipment.

“The mine technical services manager at the time challenged us to model the progression and dynamics of the 21 million tons of runout to use it for rebuilding the ore control block model. We didn’t have enough data to model properly using existing methods, so I found a particle flow code heavily used in the space, nuclear waste storage, and process engineering industries. I collaborated with a French engineer working in these sectors who could help us apply it to a mining model. With a very limited budget for the project, we contributed to a big saving in operational efficiency at Kennecott.”

Serdar also presented this model at international conferences and other mine sites, including Escondida in Chile and Iron Ore Western Australia, which led to the model being adopted by other industry players, validating the impact of their work.

Future Aspirations: A Catalyst for Innovation

“Geotechnical engineering is all about trying to find efficiencies – looking for ways to increase mine safety while saving money in operations. By challenging existing norms and advocating for innovative solutions, I aim to establish safe and stable mine designs that optimize ore delivery and align with long-term mine plans. My goal is to continue to serve as a catalyst for industry innovation, now and in the future.”

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