Mining is one of our most important endeavours. We have been engaged in mining since time immemorial. And naturally it’s about money and wealth – because anything we dig in, dig up, or dig out, is related to something someone desperately wants. Mines provide the natural resources that create the everyday necessities we need, including clothing, food, and housing.
The key focus of a mining engineer is to see that mines are competently designed and operated. It’s a discipline chiefly engaged in the development of new technology and mining equipment to efficiently and safely extract minerals or metals from above or below ground.
- A mining engineer works with various teams of other scientists and engineers, usually specialising in a particular mineral or metal, such as coal, copper, iron, tungsten, gold, silver and diamonds.
- Mining engineering is associated with many other disciplines, such as mineral processing, exploration, excavation, geology, and metallurgy, as well as geotechnical engineering and surveying.
- A mining engineer may manage any phase of a mining venture, from exploration and discovery of the mineral resources, through feasibility studies, mine design, development of plans, production and operations, to the eventual mine closure.
- Mining activities by their nature can impact the environment negatively – and with the process of mineral extraction, some amounts of waste may be generated, becoming a source of pollution. Therefore, mining engineers must be engaged with not only the production and processing of mineral commodities, but also the mitigation of damage to the environment both during and after mining.
- Mining engineers can also be involved in the training and management staff to ensure planned processes are adhered to.From a financial point of view, mining engineers are tasked with extracting natural resources from a mine through the most cost-effective operations. They also have to work in harmony with the environment as much as possible, limiting the amount of water the mine uses for instance, as well as various aspects of pollution.
Drilling down tasks and duties
A mining engineer has a range of responsibilities and areas of involvement that invite focus, innovation, attention to detail, and passion for the job. It’s a profession that offers a great deal of variation and demands a considerable range of skills. A qualified mining engineer can stretch across a number of duties, including:
- Conducting sub-surface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential mining development sites.
- Investigating mineral deposits and working with geologists and economists to evaluate whether they can be mined, and mined profitably.
- Looking at the depth and characteristics of the mineral deposit to work out the most suitable method of mining.
- Designing the layout of a mine, along with the necessary equipment and concomitant safety programmes.
How to become a mining engineer
The minimum qualification to begin your career is a Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering sphere that covers the fundamentals of engineering and structural design, weaving in the threads of civil, mechanical, electrical, or structural engineering. Apart from the essential maths and physics, courses should encompass: geomechanics, mineralogy, structural geology, geochemistry, extraction operations, safety and ventilation systems.
To qualify as a professional mining engineer, you should select positions that will add solid practical experience in the mining field to your portfolio – including design, operations, safety and inspection.
However, technical know-how will have to be backed by: well-developed problem-solving and analytical abilities, practical decision-making and logical thinking, organisational efficiency, team spirit and sound verbal and written communication skills.
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