Ahrens, CaitlinCaitlinAhrensGiovanni LeoneJoutsenvaara, JariJariJoutsenvaaraKereszturi, AkosAkosKereszturiCalabrese, GiuseppeGiuseppeCalabreseSchmidt, Gene WalterGene WalterSchmidtBernal, AlbertoAlbertoBernalPalanco, SantiagoSantiagoPalanco2026-07-072026-07-072026-04Ahrens, Caitlin; Leone, Giovanni; Joutsenvaara, Jari; Kereszturi, Akos; Calabrese, Giuseppe; Schmidt, Gene Walter; et al. (2026). Test mining sites at the moon: A review of resource extraction opportunities and challenges at de Gerlache, Shackleton, and Sverdrup-Henson Regions. ENGINEERING GEOLOGY, 365, 108628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2026.1086280013-79521872-6917https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12740/24556Engineering geology is the application of geological principles to the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of civil engineering projects, with particular emphasis on site planning and mining. This involves understanding the interactions between geological materials and engineering structures to ensure stability, safety, and sustainability. Recent theoretical and observational studies indicate that lunar south polar regions host significant volatile resources; however, uncertainties remain regarding their spatial distribution, physical state, and accessibility at engineering-relevant scales. This study presents a site feasibility assessment of nine candidate locations in the de Gerlache-Shackleton region of the lunar south pole, evaluated for their potential to support future mining and extraction activities. Geological characteristics, surface slopes, illumination conditions, permanently shadowed regions, thermal environments, and communication constraints are comparatively analyzed with respect to mining operations and equipment deployment. A preliminary optimization-based scoring framework is introduced to compare sites based on resource potential, engineering constraints, and geologic hazards, providing an initial tool for mining planning and site prioritization. The results identify key trade-offs between resource accessibility and operational risk across the study area and highlight locations that may serve as effective testbeds for early-stage lunar mining demonstrations and technology development. By framing lunar site selection within an engineering geology perspective, this work aims to advance environmentally informed planning methodologies for lunar resource extraction and contribute to the development of transferable site assessment strategies applicable to future exploration and utilization of the Moon.Moon surfaceVolatiles, Lunar polesISRUExploration RoadmapReviewhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2026.108628