Prof. Dr.
Zongxian Zhang

Zong-Xian Zhang, PhD, is a Professor of Mining Engineering at the University of Oulu, Finland. He earned a BSci from Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, China, in 1982; MSci from the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), China, in 1986; PhD from Luleå University of Technology (LTU), Sweden, in 2001. From 1982 to 1983 he did research at Northwestern Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Technology, Baiying, China; from 1986 to 1997 he worked at the USTB as research assistant (1986–88), lecturer (1988–92), and associate professor (1992–97); from 2001 to 2002 he worked at the LTU as Senior Research Engineer; from 2002 to 2013 he worked at the mining company LKAB as Senior Research Engineer; in the year 2013 he joined the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) as associate professor and from 2014 as professor in Rock Mechanics.

He was one of earliest researchers who carried out a series of experimental studies on the effects of loading rates on rock fracture. During working at mining company LKAB he applied the theories of stress waves, shock waves, fracture mechanics etc. to underground mining, developed several methods for reduction of blast-induced vibrations, increase of ore recovery, improvement on mining safety, and successfully solved many mining problems in the Malmberget mine. After joining UNIS, he combined the theories mentioned above and mining practice, wrote and then published his monograph “Rock Fracture and Blasting: Theory and Applications” in Butterworth-Heinenmann (Elsevier). After joining the University of Oulu, his research has focused on reduction of mineral loss and energy consumption in mining industry by advanced mining and blasting sciences. He and his colleagues have conducted various laboratory blasting tests. At the same time they have markedly improved ore fragmentation in two open pit mines in Finland. Dr. Zhang has published two monographs and 150 articles. He is currently the Member of the Fragblast International Organising Committee (FIOC), Rock dynamics commission member of ISRM (International Society of Rock Mechanics), and Editorial board member of International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences.