Mining engineering

Not to be confused with mining geology. derground by shafts and galleries. The oldest known mine
Mining engineering is an engineering discipline on archaeological record is the Lion Cave in Swaziland.
At this site, which radiocarbon dating indicates to be
about 43,000 years old, paleolithic humans mined min-
eral hematite, which contained iron and was ground to
produce the red pigment ochre.[2][3]
The ancient Romans were innovators of mining engineer-
ing. They developed large scale mining methods, such as
the use of large volumes of water brought to the mine-
head by numerous aqueducts for hydraulic mining. The
exposed rock was then attacked by re-setting where res
were used to heat the rock, which would be quenched with
a stream of water. The thermal shock cracked the rock,
enabling it to be removed. In some mines the Romans
utilized water-powered machinery such as reverse over-
Surface coal mine with haul truck in foreground shot water-wheels. These were used extensively in the
copper mines at Rio Tinto in Spain, where one sequence
that applies science and technology to the extraction of comprised 16 such wheels arranged in pairs, lifting water
[4]
minerals from the earth. Mining engineering is associated about 80 feet (24 m).
with many other disciplines, such as geology, mineral Black powder was rst used in mining in Bansk ti-
processing and metallurgy, geotechnical engineering and avnica, Kingdom of Hungary (present-day Slovakia) in
surveying. A mining engineer may manage any phase of 1627.[5] This allowed blasting of rock and earth to loosen
mining operations from exploration and discovery of and reveal ore veins, which was much faster than re-
the mineral resource, through feasibility study, mine de- setting. The Industrial Revolution saw further advances in
sign, development of plans, production and operations to mining technologies, including improved explosives and
mine closure. steam-powered pumps, lifts, and drills as long as they re-
With the process of Mineral extraction, some amount mained safe.
of waste and uneconomic material are generated which
are the primary source of pollution in the vicinity of
mines. Mining activities by their nature cause a distur-
bance of the natural environment in and around which the
minerals are located. Mining engineers must therefore be
concerned not only with the production and processing
of mineral commodities, but also with the mitigation of 2 Salary and statistics
damage to the environment both during and after mining
as a result of the change in the mining area.
Mining salaries are usually determined by the level of skill
required, where the position is, and what kind of orga-
1 History of mining engineering nization the engineer is working for. When comparing
salaries from one region to another, cost of living and
From prehistoric times to the present, mining has played other factors need to be taken into consideration.
a signicant role in the existence of the human race. Mining engineers in India earn relatively high salaries in
Since the beginning of civilization people have used stone comparison to many other professions,[6] with an average
and ceramics and, later, metals found on or close to the salary of $15,250. However, in comparison to mining
Earths surface. These were used to manufacture early engineer salaries in other regions, such as Canada, the
tools and weapons. For example, high quality int found United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, Indian
in northern France and southern England were used to salaries are low. In the United States, there are an es-
set re and break rock.[1] Flint mines have been found in timated 6,630 employed mining engineers, with a mean
chalk areas where seams of the stone were followed un- yearly salary of USD$90,070.[7]

1
2 3 MINERAL EXPLORATION
The Prospector by N. C. Wyeth, 1906
3 Mineral exploration
Mineral exploration is the process of nding ores (com-
mercially viable concentrations of minerals) to mine.
Mineral exploration is a much more intensive, organized
and professional form of mineral prospecting and, though
it frequently uses the services of prospecting, the pro-
cess of mineral exploration on the whole is much more
involved.
The foremost stage of mining starts with the process
of nding and exploration of the mineral deposit. In
the initial process of mineral exploration, however, the
role of geologists and surveyors is prominent in the pre-
feasibility study of the future mining operation. Min-
eral exploration and estimation of reserve through various
prospecting methods are done to determine the method
and type of mining in addition to protability condition.
3.1 Mineral discovery
Mining engineers are involved in the mineral discovery
stage by working with geologists to identify a mineral re-
serve. The rst step in discovering an ore body is to deter-
mine what minerals to test for. Geologists and engineers
drill core samples and conduct surface surveys searching
for specic compounds and ores. For example, a mining
engineer and geologist may target metallic ores such as
galena for lead or chalcopyrite for copper. A mining en-
gineer may also search for a non-metal such as phosphate,
quartz, or coal.
The discovery can be made from research of mineral
maps, academic geological reports or local, state, and na-
tional geological reports. Other sources of information
include property assays, well drilling logs, and local word
of mouth. Mineral research may also include satellite and
airborne photographs. Unless the mineral exploration is
done on public property, the owners of the property may
play a signicant role in the exploration process, and may
be the original discoverer of the mineral deposit.[8]
3.2 Mineral determination
After a prospective mineral is located, the mining engi-
neer then determines the ore properties. This may involve
chemical analysis of the ore to determine the composition
of the sample. Once the mineral properties are identied,
the next step is determining the quantity of the ore. This
involves determining the extent of the deposit as well as
the purity of the ore.[9] The engineer drills additional core
samples to nd the limits of the deposit or seam and cal-
culates the quantity of valuable material present in the
deposit.
3.3 Feasibility study
Main article: Mining feasibility study
Once the mineral identication and reserve amount is
reasonably determined, the next step is to determine the
feasibility of recovering the mineral deposit. A prelimi-
nary study shortly after the discovery of the deposit exam-
ines the market conditions such as the supply and demand
of the mineral, the amount of ore needed to be moved to
recover a certain quantity of that mineral as well as anal-
ysis of the cost associated with the operation. This pre-
feasibility study determines whether the mining project is
likely to be protable; if it is then a more in-depth anal-
ysis of the deposit is undertaken. After the full extent
of the ore body is known and has been examined by en-
gineers, the feasibility study examines the cost of initial
capital investment, methods of extraction, the cost of op-
eration, an estimated length of time to payback, the gross
revenue and net prot margin, any possible resale price of
the land, the total life of the reserve, the total value of the
reserve, investment in future projects, and the property
owner or owners contract. In addition, environmental
impact, reclamation, possible legal ramications and all
government permitting are considered.[10][11] These steps
of analysis determine whether the mine company should
proceed with the extraction of the minerals or whether
the project should be abandoned. The mining company
4.2 Mining process 3

may decide to sell the rights to the reserve to a third party 4.2 Mining process
rather than develop it themselves, or the decision to pro-
ceed with extraction may be postponed indenitely until 4.2.1 Blasting
market conditions become favorable.
Explosives are used to break up a rock formation and
aid in the collection of ore in a process called blasting.
Blasting utilizes the heat and immense pressure of the
4 Mining operation detonated explosives to shatter and fracture a rock mass.
The type of explosives used in mining are high explo-
Mining engineers working in an established mine may sives which vary in composition and performance prop-
work as an engineer for operations improvement, further erties. The mining engineer is responsible for the selec-
mineral exploration, and operation capitalization by de- tion and proper placement of these explosives, in order to
termining where in the mine to add equipment and per- maximize eciency and safety. Blasting occurs in many
sonnel. The engineer may also work in supervision and phases of the mining process, such as development of in-
management, or as an equipment and mineral salesper- frastructure as well as production of the ore.
son. In addition to engineering and operations, the min-
ing engineer may work as an environmental, health and
safety manager or design engineer. 5 Mining health and safety
The act of mining required dierent methods of extrac-
tion depending on the mineralogy, geology, and location Main article: Mine Safety and Health Administration
of the resources. Characteristics such as mineral hard-
ness, the mineral stratication, and access to that mineral
Legal attention to Mining Health and Safety began in the
will determine the method of extraction.
late 19th century and in the subsequent 20th century pro-
Generally, mining is either done from the surface or un- gressed to a comprehensive and stringent codication of
derground. Mining can also occur with both surface and enforcement and mandatory health and safety regulation.
underground operations taking place on the same reserve. A mining engineer in whatever role they occupy must fol-
Mining activity varies as to what method is employed to low all federal, state, and local mine safety laws.
remove the mineral.

5.1 United States

4.1 Surface mining
Main article: Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
Surface comprises 90% of the worlds mineral tonnage
output. Also called open pit mining, surface mining is The United States Congress, through the passage of the
removing minerals in formations that are at or near the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, known as
surface. Ore retrieval is done by material removal from the Miners Act, created the Mine Safety and Health Ad-
the land in its natural state. Surface mining often alters ministration (MSHA) under the US Department of La-
the land characteristics, shape, topography, and geologi- bor.
cal make-up. This comprehensive Act provides miners with rights
Surface mining involves quarrying which is excavating against retaliation for reporting violations, consolidated
minerals by means of machinery such as cutting, cleav- regulation of coal mines with metallic and nonmetallic
ing, and breaking. Explosives are usually used to facilitate mines, and created the independent Federal Mine Safety
breakage. Hard minerals such as limestone, sand, gravel, and Health Review Commission to review MSHAs re-
and slate are generally quarried into a series of benches. ported violations.[13]
Strip mining is done on softer minerals such as clays The Act as codied in Code of Federal Regulations 30
and phosphate are removed through use of mechanical (CFR 30) covers all miners at an active mine. When a
shovels, track dozers, and front end loaders. Softer Coal mining engineer works at an active mine he or she is sub-
seams can also be extracted this way. ject to the same rights, violations, mandatory health and
With placer mining, minerals can also be removed from safety regulations, and mandatory training as any other
the bottoms of lakes, rivers, streams, and even the ocean worker at the mine. The mining engineer can be legally
[14]
by dredge mining. In addition, in-situ mining can be done identied as a miner.
from the surface using dissolving agents on the ore body The Act establishes the rights of miners. The miner may
and retrieving the ore via pumping. The pumped material report at any time a hazardous condition and request an
is then set to leach for further processing. Hydraulic min- inspection. The miners may elect a miners representa-
ing is utilized in forms of water jets to wash away either tive to participate during an inspection, pre-inspection
overburden or the ore itself.[12] meeting, and post-inspection conference. The miners and
4 10 EXTERNAL LINKS

miners representative shall be paid for their time during [9] Gumble, Gordon E, Et al. SME: Mining Engineer-
all inspections and investigations.[15] ing Handbook, 2nd edition, Volume 1, C1992, Sample
Preparation and Assaying, pgs 327332, ISBN 0-87335-
100-2

6 Mining and the environment [10] Gentry Donald W., SME: Mining Engineering Handbook,
2nd edition, Volume 1, C1992, Mine Evaluation and In-
vestment Analysis, pgs 387389, ISBN 0-87335-100-2
6.1 United States
[11] O'Hara, T. Alan and Stanley C. Suboleski, SME: Mining
Land reclamation is regulated for surface and under- Engineering Handbook, 2nd edition, Volume 1, C1992,
ground mines according to the Surface Mining Control Costs and Cost Estimation, pgs 405408, ISBN 0-
and Reclamation Act of 1977. The law creates as a part of 87335-100-2
the Department of Interior, the Bureau of Surface Mining [12] Ernest Bohnet, SME: Mining Engineering Handbook, 2nd
(OSM). OSM states on their website, OSM is charged edition, Volume 2, C1992, Surface Mining: Comparison
with balancing the nations need for continued domestic of Methods, pgs 15291538, ISBN 0-87335-100-2
coal production with protection of the environment.
[13] History of Mine Safety and Health Legislation
The law requires that states set up their own Reclamation
Departments and legislate laws related to reclamation for [14] 20 CFR 46.2(g)(1)(i)(ii)
coal mining operations. The states may impose additional
[15] The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 103(f)
regulations and regulate other minerals in addition to coal and (g)(1)
[16]
for land reclamation.
[16] http://www.osmre.gov/AboutUs.htm

7 See also
9 Further reading
School of Mines
Eric C. Nystrom, Seeing Underground: Maps, Mod-
els, and Mining Engineering in America. Reno, NV:
University of Reno Press, 2014.
8 Footnotes
[1] Hartman, Howard L. SME Mining Engineering Hand-
book, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration 10 External links
Inc, 1992, p3.
SME (Society for Mining Metallurgy and Explo-
[2] Swaziland Natural Trust Commission, Cultural Re- ration), publishes the monthly magazine Mining En-
sources Malolotja Archaeology, Lion Cavern, Re- gineering
trieved Aug. 27, 2007, .
U.S. Department of Labor: Mining and geological
[3] Peace Parks Foundation, Major Features: Cultural Im-
engineers
portance. Republic of South Africa: Author. Retrieved
Aug. 27, 2007, . British Geological Survey Mineral Processing
[4] The Romans in Britain: mining Turksh Mining Engineers
[5] Heiss, A.G. & Oeggl, K. (2008). Analysis of the fuel Mineral Exploration Properties of Turkey
wood used in Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age copper
mining sites of the Schwaz and Brixlegg area (Tyrol, Aus- Mining Science and Technologies in Russia
tria). Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 17(2):211
221, Springer Berlin / Heidelberg, .

[6] Geologist and Mining Engineer salaries in India.

[7] Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011 17-

2151 Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining
Safety Engineers. Occupational Employment Statistics.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. March 27, 2012. Retrieved
July 15, 2012.

[8] Peters, Wiliam C, SME: Mining Engineering Handbook,

2nd edition, Volume 1, C1992, Geologic Prospecting and
Exploration, pgs. 221225, ISBN 0-87335-100-2
 5

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