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Mining Engineering Material

Mining engineers are responsible for managing and overseeing mining operations, making critical decisions, and ensuring safety and environmental compliance. They face diverse challenges daily, including budget management and equipment assessments, and their education includes various engineering and environmental courses. Mining has historically been essential to civilization, providing resources that drive economic growth and cultural milestones, while organizations like OPEC attempt to control mineral markets for profit.

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14 views5 pages

Mining Engineering Material

Mining engineers are responsible for managing and overseeing mining operations, making critical decisions, and ensuring safety and environmental compliance. They face diverse challenges daily, including budget management and equipment assessments, and their education includes various engineering and environmental courses. Mining has historically been essential to civilization, providing resources that drive economic growth and cultural milestones, while organizations like OPEC attempt to control mineral markets for profit.

Uploaded by

amedinac241
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Read the text and answer the questions after the

text.
WHAT DO MINING ENGINEERS DO?
Mining engineers spend most of their time in meetings, listening to
consultants and staff and making hard decisions about the mine they work
for or manage. When they are not in meetings, the mining engineers drive
around the open pit or descend the underground workings where they walk
around to see if things are going as they should. And if things are not going
as they should, they talk to the people who are supposed to be making
things go properly. The mining engineers remind them of their duty and the
consequences of failing to live up to their commitments.

Sometimes the mining engineers leave the mine and go to the office
building in some distant city where the head office is located. There they
meet with even more senior mining engineers, accountants, and lawyers to
discuss the legal and financial operation of the mine they manage. Then
they go to a fine restaurant for supper and anight in an expensive hotel to
fly back, first-class, to the mine the next day.

The variety of challenges lie in the diversity of topics and issues the
miningengineer will face each day in those meetings and round-the-mine
travels. Today the mining engineer will be faced with a decision to purchase
or not to purchase land next to the mine where there may or may not be
additional ore to expand the [Link] next day the mining engineer will be
asked by the chief exploration geologist for an increase in budget to enable
more drilling to be undertaken on the land that was purchased the day
before.

To check if the mill superintendent really does need new equipment, the
mining engineer takes a trip to the mill. He has never really understood the
intricacies of this mill and he knows the mill super is smarter than he is and
has been around a lot
longer. They banter good-naturedly for a while. They walk around the
equipment which all seems unrusted and humming. The mining engineers
that I write of here, may have studied, like most engineers, basic maths,
physics, chemistry, and calculus. Then a few courses in basic mining theory:
what makes an underground mine; the essence of open pits; basic blasting
theory; and maybe a bit of finance and accounting. Maybe a short course on
environmental studies, social policy, sustainable propaganda, and
community relations.

The mining engineer, however, is the boss, the mine manager, the chief
mine planner, the executive officer, the primary decision-maker. The mining
engineer aim is to leave the management of the mine to a younger soul and
move up the ladder to head office. There he will face new challenges:
buying and selling mines, negotiating deals, and setting budgets and
schedules.

Some mining engineering graduates go on to do a masters degree—and


then go into consulting. Their work is critical to mine safety, and their
publications (which I read avidly) are impeccable and impressive. These are
a small part of the mining engineering fraternity. They prove the immense
diversity of mining engineering pursuits and endeavours. They demonstrate
that if you choose to study mining engineering, that is only the beginning.
Once graduated, there is an infinite variety of opportunities just waiting for
you to choose a lifestyle that suits your instincts,interests, abilities, and
lifestyle choices.

Keep in mind that you do not have to study mining engineering to enter the
mining industry. You could become a civil engineer and develop mining
infrastructure: the roads, bridges, shafts, structures, and tailings facilities
that are key to mining. You could become a mechanical engineer: manage
the shovels, the trucks,
the crushers, and spreaders, and the pipes and pumps of the mine. You
could become a chemical, process, or metallurgical engineer and oversee
the extraction of minerals from the ore. Or become an environmental
engineer and take care of air quality, surface water and groundwater quality
and all the other potential impacts of a mine on its surroundings.

Mining and geological engineers typically do the following:


 Design open-pit and underground mines;
 Supervise the construction of mine shafts and tunnels;
 Devise methods for transporting minerals to processing plants;
 Prepare technical reports for miners, engineers, and managers;
 Monitor mine production to assess the effectiveness of operations;
 Provide solutions to problems related to land reclamation, water and air
pollution, and sustainability;
 Ensure that mines operate in safe and environmentally sound ways.
Geological engineers search for mineral deposits and evaluate possible
sites.
Once a site is identified, they plan how to extract metals or minerals in
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
designto ensure workers’ safety and to maintain compliance with state and
federal safetyregulations. They inspect the walls and roofs of mines, monitor
the air quality, and examine mining equipment for possible hazards.
Engineers who hold a master’s or a doctoral degree may teach engineering
at colleges
and universities.

1. Who is a mining engineer?


_______________________________________________________
2. What are the responsibilities of mining engineers?
_______________________________________________________
3. With what problems are mining engineers faced with today?
_______________________________________________________
4. What courses do mining engineers study?
_______________________________________________________
5. What are the duties of a mining engineer?
_______________________________________________________
MINING’S CONTRIBUTION TO CIVILIZATION
Mining may well have been the second of humankind’s earliest endeavours
—granted that agriculture was the first. The two industries ranked together
as the primary or basic industries of early civilization. Little has changed in
the importance of these industries since the beginning of civilization. If we
consider fishing and lumbering as part of agriculture and oil and gas
production as part of mining, then agriculture and mining continue to supply
all the basic resources used by modern civilization. From prehistoric times to
the present, mining has played an important part in human existence. Here
the term mining is used in its broadest context as encompassing the
extraction of any naturally occurring mineral substances — solid, liquid, and
gas — from the earth or other heavenly bodies for utilitarian purposes.
The history of mining is fascinating. It parallels the history of civilization,
with many important cultural eras associated with and identified by various
minerals or their derivatives: the Stone Age (prior to 4000 B.C.E.),the Bronze
Age (4000 to 5000 B.C.E.), the Iron Age (1500 B.C.E. to 1780 C.E.), the Steel
Age (1780 to 1945), and the Nuclear Age (1945 to the present). Many
milestones in human history – Marco Polo’s journey to China, Vasco da
Gama’s voyages to Africa and India, Columbus’s discovery of the New
World, and the modern gold rushes that led to the settlement of California,
Alaska, South Africa, Australia, and the Canadian Klondike – were achieved
with minerals providing a major incentive.
The abundance of minerals also provides a method of creating wealth.
Minerals can be marketed on the open market, enabling the countries that
possess them to obtain valuable currency from countries that do not. This
generally results in the minerals-rich countries being the great civilizations
of the world while the ‘have-not’ countries generally suffer from a lower
standard of living.
The ability to use mineral resources as a means of creating wealth opens
the possibility that a given country or countries will attempt to control the
entire market in a particular mineral, that is, to create an economic cartel in
that mineral. In 1973, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC) attempted to control oil prices in a bold manoeuvre to obtain
windfall profits from the oil they produced.
Although successful in the short run, the cartel eventually lost effectiveness
because of increased oil production elsewhere and difficulty in controlling
their own member countries. For a few years, OPEC was successful at
regulating petroleum prices in an
awesome display of the value of possessing and producing some of the
world’s most valuable minerals. Other cartels have likewise been attempted.
However, the greater freedom in international trade now makes such an
attempt less likely to succeed.

1. Think and answer the questions to the text.


1. What is the place of mining in the modern world?
2. Why does the author call mining an incentive in the world’s history?
3. What was the purpose of an economic cartel?
4. How is OPEC deciphered?
5. What are the functions and the purpose of OPEC?

2. Find information about OPEC and make a short


presentation to the class. You may include information about
the purpose, history of creation, members, functions and so
on. You can retrieve it from the site
[Link]

Common questions

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A mining engineer's career might evolve to include roles such as consulting, where graduates often pursue further education like a master's degree . Factors contributing to these shifts include a desire for varied challenges, skill sets developed through continuous education, and the inherent diversity of opportunities within the field of mining engineering . Engineers may also transition to roles involving buying and selling mines, negotiating deals, and setting budgets at a corporate level, driven by ambitions of career advancement and personal interests .

Mining plays a pivotal role in the global economy as it provides essential raw materials for industrial processes. Countries rich in mineral resources can gain significant economic benefits by exporting these materials . The formation of economic cartels, such as OPEC's attempt to control oil prices, demonstrates how resource-rich countries can influence global markets . However, greater freedom in international trade has reduced the effectiveness of such cartels, impacting international relations by fostering more competitive and less monopolistic market dynamics .

Mining's historical trajectory underscores its critical role in human civilization, marking key cultural eras such as the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Steel Age, and Nuclear Age, each associated with particular minerals . Important milestones such as Marco Polo’s travels, Vasco da Gama’s voyages, and the gold rushes, which facilitated settlement and economic development in various regions, highlight mining's significant contribution . Mining has been central to creating wealth, enabling regions with abundant mineral resources to prosper and influence global trade .

Mining engineers collaborate with geological engineers, geoscientists, metallurgical engineers, and environmental engineers to enhance mining operations. This collaboration involves searching for mineral deposits, planning ecologically sound extraction processes, and ensuring the operational safety of mines . By pooling expertise from various disciplines, they develop comprehensive strategies that address technical challenges, optimize resource extraction, and mitigate environmental and safety risks .

Mining engineers have a range of responsibilities critical to the operation of a mine, including designing open-pit and underground mines, supervising the construction of mine shafts and tunnels, and devising methods for transporting minerals to processing plants . They prepare technical reports for miners, engineers, and managers, monitor mine production to assess operational effectiveness, and ensure that mines operate in safe and environmentally sound ways . These roles contribute significantly to maintaining operational efficiency and safety at mining sites, thereby impacting the overall success and sustainability of mining operations .

The educational background of a mining engineer, which typically includes basic maths, physics, chemistry, calculus, and mining-specific courses such as basic mining theory and environmental studies, provides the foundational knowledge needed to understand the technical aspects of mine design and operation . This diverse education also includes finance and accounting, enabling engineers to make informed decisions about budgets and land purchases, which are critical for mine management . These educational components equip mining engineers with the skills to tackle the multifaceted challenges they face daily.

The professional environment of a mining engineer entails regular collaboration with various stakeholders, from field staff to senior management, which fosters a comprehensive approach to mine management . Their role requires effective decision-making, from equipment purchases to budget approvals, grounded in technical knowledge and operational insights . This collaborative and informed approach ensures efficient mine operations, aligning technical execution with strategic business objectives and regulatory compliance, ultimately contributing to the mine's success.

Beyond mining engineering, careers in the mining industry can start from different engineering disciplines, such as civil, mechanical, chemical, process, metallurgical, and environmental engineering . Civil engineers develop infrastructure vital to mining operations, mechanical engineers manage essential machinery, and chemical engineers oversee mineral extraction processes. Environmental engineers focus on minimizing the environmental impacts of mining activities . These roles collectively support the technical, operational, and sustainability goals of mining projects, emphasizing the industry’s interdisciplinary nature.

Mining engineers today face challenges in ensuring mining operations are sustainable and environmentally sound. They must develop methods to minimize impacts on water and air quality and address issues related to land reclamation . Engineers address these challenges by designing operations that comply with environmental standards and implementing technologies that reduce environmental footprints. Continuous monitoring and adaptation of practices based on environmental assessments are vital to their approach .

Studying historical mining practices offers valuable insights into ongoing challenges within the industry, such as resource management, environmental impact, and economic influence. Historical practices show the evolution of technology and methodologies that have increasingly prioritized efficiency and sustainability . For example, past eras like the Industrial Revolution highlight the transformative impact of mineral resources on economies. Lessons from historical practices inform current strategies, emphasizing the need for innovation in extraction technologies and sustainable practices to meet future demands and minimize ecological footprints .

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