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The Field of Mining Engineering

By Mike Richardson 20 March, 2023 3 mins read

The field of mining encompasses several disciplines of engineering. The most common ones are mining, mineral processing, excavation, geology, metallurgy, geotechnical engineering, surveying, and petrophysics. Mining engineering, like all engineering disciplines, has many branches. The career outlook of mining engineers is generally good, but it depends on the type of mine you wish to enter. This article will briefly address the areas of Underground, Strip, Surface, and Average Mining Engineer Salary.

Surface mining

Surface mining disturbs and disrupts the overburden and results in high groundwater levels. Surface mining can disturb and disrupt consolidated overburden. These chemicals could be transferred to groundwater aquifers that have been reestablished. These contaminants may affect the health and availability of groundwater for communities. This is particularly true in semi-arid areas of the United States.

Hydraulic surface Mining utilizes high pressure water sprays to dissolve unconsolidated ore and channel it via collection facilities. The extraction of compacted rock can be made easier by hydraulic surface mining with bulldozers. Small-scale hydraulic surface mining uses sluice boxes or catches to collect the material. The leach dump is collected in the same way as open-pit operations.

Strip mining

This technique involves removing overburden in order to expose the ore. With increasing depth, the working slope of waste increases. This technique is also used to reduce the risk of waste removal investments. In addition, it has many advantages, including high recovery rates and low dilution rates. Furthermore, strip mining is comparatively cheaper to implement and requires less initial investment. Let's discover more about strip mining. There are six major advantages of strip mining.

Strip mining refers removing a thin stripe (or more) of material from an ore deposit. While some ore rocks can be seen from the surface, others are found underground. To maximize productivity, the process calls for large mining equipment. For strip mining, bucket-wheel exavators are used. These machines can move approximately 12,000 cubic metres of ore per hour. This method can be used even in mountainous areas that are not accessible by traditional methods of mountain removal.

Underground mining

Underground mining involves many different types. These operations can create wastes or uneconomic materials, which can be harmful to the environment. Miners must also consider the environmental effects of their activities and the laws that regulate them. Mining industries are also periodically governed and governed by different federal and state agencies. These departments must ensure that their operations are safe and protect the environment. Here are some of the essential aspects of underground mining engineering. They will be covered in this article.

Continuous-miner sections require multiple equipments to mine the ore. These include feeder-breakers and panel belts, as well as utility scoops. These machines can be used in different environments and may require additional crews. A continuous miner might also need portable water pumps, auxiliary fans, or rock-duster equipment. Underground mining engineering places emphasis on safety and comfort.

Mining engineers get a salary

In 2004, the average annual salary of mining engineers was $78,502 and it is projected that this will rise to $103,962 for 2020. The requirements of the job and the experience gained, as well as the location where the engineer works, will impact the salary. Listed below are the main factors that determine a mining engineer's salary. Below is an average annual salary for mining engineer. This occupation requires a bachelor’s Degree.

Petroleum, coke products, and oil extraction are the top-paying mining engineering industries. Mining engineers in these industries make around $86,000 a year, while those in the nonmetallic mining industry earn around $73,540 per year. The average salary for mining engineers working in government organisations is $86,000, but federal employees make slightly more than their state counterparts. Although many mining engineers have a high income, their salaries aren't the best.

FAQ

Engineering is difficult to learn?

It all depends on what you mean when you say "hard". If you mean it is difficult, then you can say yes. However, if you mean boring, then you should not. Engineering is not hard because it requires lots of maths and physics.

Learn how to do anything if you are interested. It doesn't take an engineer to become an Engineer.

Engineering is fun if you're doing something you love.

You could say that engineering is easy once you know everything inside out. But this isn't true at all.

The reason engineers think they are boring is because they haven’t done anything else.

They've just stuck to the same old thing day after day.

However, there are many solutions to problems. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. Try them all and find the one that works for you.

Elon Musk, what kind of engineer are you?

He is an inventor who likes to think outside the box.

He is also a risk-taker.

He isn't afraid of trying new ideas and is willing to take chances.

Elon Musk represents a great example for someone who thinks differently. He doesn't just follow the crowd. Instead, he experiments with his own ideas before deciding whether or not they work. He will change them if they don't work until he comes up with something that does. This allows him to be more creative and problem-solving.

How long does it take to become an Engineer?

There are many routes to engineering. Some people decide to start learning immediately after finishing high school. Other people go to college later.

Some students will join a degree program straight from high school, whilst others will join a two-year foundation degree program.

They may then continue to a three-year or four-year honors programme. A master's degree could be an option.

When choosing which route to follow, you should consider what you want to do once you graduate. Do you plan to continue in education or enter the workforce?

The time taken to complete each stage will vary depending on what university you go and whether you're taking a full or part-time course.

However, it is important to keep in mind that the amount of experience gained after completing a qualification does not always correlate with how long it took. So even if you only spend one year at college, it doesn't mean you'll have all the skills needed to work as an engineer.

Statistics

14% of Industrial engineers design systems that combine workers, machines, and more to create a product or service to eliminate wastefulness in production processes, according to BLS efficiently. (snhu.edu)
Typically required education: Bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering Job growth outlook through 2030: 8% Aerospace engineers specialize in designing spacecraft, aircraft, satellites, and missiles. (snhu.edu)