The activities of teaching, research and development (R&D) are carried out by the Department of Mining Engineering and Georresources in the scope of three scientific areas, namely:
• Geosciences
• Geo-engineering
• Natural Resources and Environment

To the Geosciences area, a group of fundamental disciplines of Earth Sciences (Mineralogy and Geology , Geochemistry and Pedology, Geophysics and Hydrogeology) is assigned. This area also includes disciplines with the fundamental methodologies to support the diagnosis and quantitative study of processes and mechanisms underlying the alteration of rocky materials in exogenous and endogenous environments.

Geo-engineering area groups the methodologies and techniques to deal with issues of design, sizing and execution of engineering projects in the scope of geotechnical constructions and mining exploitations, taking into account the sustainable appropriation of mineral and geological resources. The expert domains of knowledge embrace three sub-areas: Geotechnics, Quarrying and Mine Exploitation, Geophysical Exploration and Drilling.

The area of Natural Resources and Environment includes the mathematical tools to support the activities of modeling, planning and management of natural resources, keeping in mind the environmental constraints for the exploitation/conservation of those resources (sub-areas of Geo-Systems and Geomaths, and Planning & Management of Natural Resources and Environmental Systems), and the methodologies/technologies for valorization of ores (primary raw materials of mineral origin), recycling and treatment of solid wastes (sub-area: Valorization of Primary Raw Materials and Solid Wastes).