John Mansanti, president and chief executive officer of Crystal Peak Minerals and 2017 president of SME received an honorary doctor of science degree from Montana Tech during the university’s 118th commencement ceremony, the Montana Standard reported.

“Our campus is honored to present Butte native John Mansanti with the highest honor Montana Tech bestows,” noted Montana Tech Chancellor Don Blackketter in a press release. “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.”

A graduate of Montana Tech with a bachelor's of science in chemistry and a master’s degree in mineral processing engineering, Mansanti has almost 40 years of mine operations experience. He 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 chief executive officer of Crystal Peak Minerals in Salt Lake City, UT. He also serves on the board of directors for Rye Patch Gold.

Mansanti has received several technical awards from SME, most notably the Richard’s Award from the society'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.

ontana Tech has awarded four previous honorary doctor of science degrees. The award is presented to individuals who have achieved a level of distinction which merits comparable recognition in their profession or area of excellence; have an association with the state of Montana; and reflect favorably on Montana Tech, the Montana University System, and the state of Montana.