Mining
and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers, find,
extract, and prepare coal, metals, and minerals for use by manufacturing
industries and utilities. Mining and geological engineers design mines to safely and efficiently remove minerals for use in manufacturing and utilities. As examples, they design open-pit and underground mines,
supervise the construction of mine shafts and tunnels in underground
operations, and devise methods for transporting minerals to processing
plants.
Mining engineers are responsible for the safe, economical, and
environmentally sound operation of mines. Some mining engineers work
with geologists and metallurgical engineers to locate and appraise new
ore deposits. Others develop new mining equipment or direct
mineral-processing operations that separate minerals from the dirt,
rock, and other materials with which they are mixed. Mining engineers
frequently specialize in the mining of one mineral or metal, such as
coal or gold.
With
increased emphasis on protecting the environment, many mining engineers
are working to solve problems related to land reclamation and to water
and air pollution.
Mining
safety engineers use their knowledge of mine design and practices to
ensure the safety of workers and to comply with regional or federal safety
regulations. They inspect the surfaces of walls and roofs, monitor air
quality, and examine mining equipment for compliance with safety
practices
To understand the differences between some common job titles in the field:
-- Geological engineers search for mineral deposits and evaluate possible sites. Once a site is identified, they plan how the metals or minerals will be extracted in efficient and environmentally sound ways.
-- Mining engineers often specialize in one particular mineral or metal, such as coal or gold. They typically design and develop mines and determine the best way to extract metal or minerals to get the most out of deposits. Some mining engineers work with geoscientists and metallurgical engineers to find and evaluate ore deposits. Other mining engineers develop new equipment or direct mineral-processing operations to separate minerals from dirt, rock, and other materials.
-- Mining safety engineers use best practices and their knowledge of mine design to ensure workers' safety and to maintain compliance with state and federal safety regulations. They inspect the walls and roofs of mines, monitor the air quality, and examine mining equipment for possible hazards.
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Mining Engineering Resources |
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Online |
Overview:
Overview of Mining Engineering |
Preparation:
Admission Requirements, Accredited Programs |
Day in the Life:
Teams and Coworkers,
Tasks, the Workplace |
Earnings:
Salary Ranges |
Employment:
Statistics, Industries, Types of Employers |
Career Path Forecast:
Predictions |
Professional Organizations:
Resources, Networking, Support |
Internet Resources:
 American
Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers
Government,
Education and Mining (GEM) Program
The
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration |
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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