Mansanti to Receive Montana Tech Honorary Doctorate Degree

Mr. John Mansanti President and CEO of Crystal Peak Minerals will receive an honorary doctor of science degree from Montana Tech during the university’s 118th commencement ceremony.

Montana Tech has awarded four previous honorary doctor of science degrees. The award was presented to K. Mark LeVier in 2015; alum Bill Madison in 2012; alum Tom Dyk in 2011, and Frank Gardner in 2010. The award is presented to individuals who:
• Have achieved a level of distinction which merit comparable recognition in his or her profession or area of excellence.
• Have an association with the State of Montana. This association may be by virtue of birth, of residence, of education, of service to the state, the Montana University System, or one of the campuses of the System.
• Reflect favorably on Montana Tech, the Montana University System, and the State of Montana.

“Our campus is honored to present Butte native John Mansanti with the highest honor Montana Tech bestows,” noted Montana Tech Chancellor Don Blackketter, “Mr. Mansanti has made significant impacts in the mining industry, through scholarly publications, and academic contributions that make him highly deserving of the Honorary Doctorate.”

John Mansanti is a graduate of Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology with a B.S. in Chemistry and Master’s degree in Mineral Processing Engineering. He has almost 40 years of mine operations experience. Mansanti began his career processing copper in Utah, soon followed by the processing of lead and zinc in Missouri. He spent most of his career in the gold fields of Nevada. More recently, he developed and managed potash operations in Utah and New Mexico. He is currently the President and CEO of Crystal Peak Minerals in Salt Lake City, Utah. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Rye Patch Gold.

Mansanti is a Professional Engineer in the state of Nevada. In 2017, he was the President of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME). He has received several technical awards, most notably the Richard’s Award from SME’s Mineral Processing Division. In 2012, the Director of the Department of the Interior recognized Mansanti and his co-chair for their leadership in the collaboration between the oil and gas industry and the potash industry. This resulted in a new Order under Secretary Salazar for the co-development of resources in New Mexico.

Mansanti has been involved in youth and educational matters for most of his adult life. He was a school board trustee for eight years, a youth group leader and has served on numerous college advisory boards, including Montana Tech’s Metallurgical and Materials Industrial Advisory Board. He thanks the Sisters of Charity, the Butte Public Schools System and Montana Tech for the education he received.

Mansanti met his wife Margaret Melvin at Montana Tech; they are celebrating their 36th year of marriage. John & Margie have three children and six grandchildren.

Montana Tech’s commencement is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2018 in the Butte Civic Center.