Introduction
“History.” History | Mining and Metallurgical Engineering | University of Nevada, Reno, University Of Nevada, www.unr.edu/mining/about-the-department/history.
This is the school website of the University of Nevada Reno. UNR is famous for it's mining and geology program. This website was made to entice young miners into coming to the University of Nevada. The school’s site talks about the University of Nevada being internationally recognized and academically renown. There are factoids provided that there’s a starting salaries above $60k and almost downright brags about one of the largest endowments in the United States and the Industry Famous Faculty. The site concludes it’s elevator pitch of the opportunities for aspiring miner engineers and geologist with saying that there are ample job opportunities awaiting University of Nevada Reno Alumni when they graduate from the university and venture out into the american workforce. The UNR campus is filled with just as much visual rhetoric of the website. So lets go on a quick tour of our campus
The Argument
An In Depth Explanation
Mackay decided he couldn’t wait 25 years for silver as an anniversary gift and instead sent a half ton of silver to New York to make a 1274 piece set being the 5th largest in the world. Being made of one and a half ton of Nevada sliver from Mackay’s Comstock Lode this collection is entirely unique due to him due to Mackay’s additional purchase of the dies. The set has many home all around the nation though the largest collection of the Mackay Silver Set is right here at the University of Nevada Reno. The individual piece require their own study.
“Mackay Silver Collection.” Mackay Silver Collection | Keck Museum | University of Nevada, Reno, University Of Nevada, www.unr.edu/keck/mackay-silver-collection.
John Mackay Statue
The statue to John Mackay overlooking our quad looking south towards Morrill Hall has stood in the late miner’s likeness since 1908. The statue was crafted by Gutzon Borglum who was famous for carving Mount Rushmore between 1927-1941. Mackay stands so liberated holding a pick axe for that is how the silver baron made his fortune. He looks south towards the Comstock Lode and up at a bright future. Mackay’s presence is more recognized by the student body than the statue of Richard Bryan because students don’t put empty bottles of booze at the base of Bryan’s statue in order for successful on their finals. The statue was donated by John Mackay’s son Clarence Mackay.
Buell, Amanda, and Reno Historical Team. “John Mackay Statue.” Reno Historical, renohistorical.org/items/show/68?tour=6&index=4.
Naming the school of mines
John Mackay’s son who was famous for being President of the Mackay Radio and Telegraph Company and chairman of the board of the Postal Telegraph and Cable Corporation. Clarence donated large sums of money to the university which lead to a revolution for our young school. Clarence's donations to our school not only forwarded the cost of the Mining building but paid the salaries of the staff. Due to his donations mining at the University of Nevada Mackay School of Mines. The building was able to teach mining as well as house The W. M. Keck Earth Science and Mineral Engineering Museum.
“Link to Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering.” Mackay School of Earth Sciences & Engineering | University of Nevada, Reno, www.unr.edu/mackay.
A treasure from the past
As you walk through the grand doorway you'll see the words (if you have good eyesight) Cody's Wyoming Coal Company in a display case to protect it from time. Signed twice by William T. Cody. William T. “Buffalo Bill” Cody is the wild west legend that is known by all young boys when they play Cowboys and Indians. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his role as a scout in the Indian Wars (Cody’s Medal of Honor was revoked a few years before he died then re-awarded posthumously). Famously put on wild west shows with peoples from around the world for people in America and Europe. However William “Buffalo Bill” Cody was lesser known as a miner founding Cody's Wyoming Coal Company. The charter for that company rests in the Mackay school of Mines not in New Jersey where it was issued or in wyoming where the company was located but the University of Nevada Reno because of our excellent mining program.
Bonner, Robert, 1938-William F. Cody's Wyoming empire : the Buffalo Bill nobody knows / Robert E. Bonner Norman : University of Oklahoma Press, ©2007
Museum
In The W. M. Keck Earth Science and Mineral Engineering Museum we have a large collection of minerals and elements on long display cases. Each mineral has a name tag to be able to identify itself to patrons and guests who may not be familiar. A rough estimate by the museums curator says that 60-70% of the minerals are from Nevada showing the wide range of rocks that can be found in this state. The entire collection is over 100,000 rocks and minerals with only 15% being on display. The rest are kept in storage for safe keeping to be observed for educational purposes.
Barker, Andrew J. A Key for Identification of Rock-Forming Minerals in Thin-Section. CRC Press/Balkema, Leiden, The Netherlands, 2014.
Minecarts
In front of the Paul Laxalt Mineral Engineering building there are two connected minecarts.The first cart has a front loader that functions as a way to pick things up from the front and dump them into the cart. Seeing the mine chart functions as a non verbal identifier to the building’s purpose. The cart accomplishes this function very well. The carts are clean, dentless, and painted a grey color. They were undoubtedly repainted to advertise a positive appearance to life in the mines. This is not as effective because it’s clear it’s displaying a false reality in order to boost admissions.
“History of Mining Equipment & Practices.” Metallurgist & Mineral Processing Engineer, 11 Apr. 2017, www.911metallurgist.com/history-mining-equipment-practices/.
Nevada Constitution
In the front of the cart’s there is a large stone, no doubt an illusion to mining, on it is a plack. Transcribed on the plaque contains a quote from the Nevada Constitution Article 11, Section 4. That section states “Establishment of state university; control by Board of Regents. The legislature shall provide for the establishment of a State University which shall embrace departments for Agriculture, Mechanic Arts, and Mining to be controlled by a Board of Regents whose duties shall be prescribed by law.” As stated in front of the Mining Building it is required by law on the authority of President Lincoln for the University to teach mining.
“Nevada State Constitution .” THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, www.leg.state.nv.us/Const/NVConst.html#Art11.
Mackay Science
If you continue to walk south down the quad you’ll see a building with roman columns with Mackey science carved into the limestone. You may immediately assume that the namesake of the classically inspired building is John Mackay. You would be right because the building is named by Clarence Mackay. The building has Greek/Roman roots with pillars. It's to display class, elegance, and resiliency through the years that the Mackay Science will stand in 2600 years like the Parthenon before it. Whoever it’s Clearance Mackay’s picture is the first thing you’ll see when you enter with a plack below it. The plack is quoted "to provide education for the future generations in those sciences which are fundamental to mining."
Latimer, Carter. “Clarence H. Mackay: The Man Behind the University of Nevada.” Clarence H. Mackay: The Man behind the University of Nevada, knowledgecenter.unr.edu/digital_collections/exhibits/university_history/campus/mackay.aspx.
Geological Science
Within University of Nevada houses Geological Science. Geological science is the sister school to mining. The study of what lies below our feet is essential for mining. The UNR website understandably has a section for geological science to entice applicant’s just like the UNR website for mining. The website has 6 click off points showing a lot of time has gone into making this. It give off an effect that a lot is happening in the program. Geology has to fight the stigma of being a class kids take when they need to fill a credit and nothing more. I think this website shows it as an exciting opportunity rather than the easy way out.
“Link to Geological Sciences & Engineering.” Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering | University of Nevada, Reno, www.unr.edu/geology.
Conclusion
The University must teach mining so they don't kick us off the land and cause a bunch of legal issues with the state, and it's shady founding. So we might as well be the best mining college.