Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration

Aims & Scope

The aim of this international peer-reviewed journal of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) is to provide a broad-based forum for the exchange of real-world and theoretical knowledge from academia, government and industry that is pertinent to mining, mineral/metallurgical processing, exploration and other fields served by the Society.

The journal publishes high-quality original research publications, in-depth special review articles, reviews of state-of-the-art and innovative technologies and industry methodologies, communications of work of topical and emerging interest, and other works that enhance understanding on both the fundamental and practical levels.

Topics covered include blasting, coal, data science, emerging technologies, environmental stewardship, equipment, geology, geomechanics/geotechnologies, health and safety, hydrometallurgy, industrial minerals, industrial processes such as comminution and flotation, rock/fracture mechanics, mine design/planning, mineral economics/resources, mineral processing, project management/finance, optimization, plant design, reclamation, sensing/geophysics, separation/purification of minerals and metals, simulation/modeling, social issues/law/policy, tailings, underground construction and tunneling, ventilation, and water management.

View Aims & Scope

---

Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	2
2024	1.50

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.457

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q2

h-index

Year	Value
2024	40

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	12479

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	1343

---

---

Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

---

Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Chemistry, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Engineering and Materials Science, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

---

Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• Innovation in the Mining Industry: Technological Trends and a Case Study of the Challenges of Disruptive Innovation

  Citation: 106

  Authors: Felipe, Philipp

• Mining 4.0—the Impact of New Technology from a Work Place Perspective

  Citation: 58

  Authors: Joel, Lena, Jan

• A Review of Nickel, Copper, and Cobalt Recovery by Chelating Ion Exchange Resins from Mining Processes and Mining Tailings

  Citation: 48

  Authors: Amilton Barbosa, David B., Denise C. R.

• Recovery of precious metals from electronic scrap by hydrometallurgical processing routes

  Citation: 42

  Authors: P., J., A.

• A Review of Digital Transformation in Mining

  Citation: 40

  Authors: Aaron, Pratt

• Automation in the Mining Industry: Review of Technology, Systems, Human Factors, and Political Risk

  Citation: 36

  Authors: W. Pratt, M. Mustafa, Frank A., Kody, Joel M., Yaxue, Kritika, Mohit

• A Review of Rare-Earth Elements Extraction with Emphasis on Non-conventional Sources: Coal and Coal Byproducts, Iron Ore Tailings, Apatite, and Phosphate Byproducts

  Citation: 34

  Authors: Meisam, Fahimeh, Louis, Azam, Justin, Jia, Manoj, Tathagata

• Extractive metallurgy of vanadium-containing titaniferous magnetite ores: a review

  Citation: 32

  Authors: P. R., S. A., E. E., J. C.

• The Occurrence and Concentration of Rare Earth Elements in Acid Mine Drainage and Treatment By-products: Part 1—Initial Survey of the Northern Appalachian Coal Basin

  Citation: 31

  Authors: Christopher R., Aaron, Paul F.

• An Integrated Entropy Weight and Grey Clustering Method–Based Evaluation to Improve Safety in Mines

  Citation: 29

  Authors: Izhar Mithal, Shuai, Atta Ur, Niaz Muhammad, Muhammad, Manzoor Ali

---