What is Mining Engineering?
Mining Engineering, just as any other Engineering discipline is an area of Engineering that deals with the study of prospecting (search), exploration (investigative mining), and exploitation(utilization or extraction) of mineral resources from the depths of the earth(underground) or on the earth surface(surface mining). Usually, for Mining operations to be fully optimized profitably, other related disciplines are very much necessary.
These disciplines include:
Geology, Geotechnical Engineering, Mineral Processing Engineering, Metallurgy, and Survey. A graduate of Mining Engineering is known as a Mining Engineer.
The job of a Mining Engineer is to oversee mining operations from the prospecting, exploration, and exploitation of any mineral resource of interest under the earth or on the earth’s surface by determining which mining method to adopt for any of the mining operations. This is achieved through a feasibility study, mine design, development plan of the mine, production as well as mine recovery.
When minerals are mined, the earth becomes depleted and this could result in environmental pollution the holes or excavations did could also pose as death traps if not properly recovered by closing up the mined area. Then again, stringent laws are set up by the government to forestall any dangers mining companies could pose if they do not follow laid down regulations.
HISTORY OF MINING ENGINEERING
Prehistoric mining began from the existence of the human race and as such, those in the stone age used stones, ceramics, and metals, and these in those days were found on the earth’s surface before civilization. For instance, high-quality flint was found in Northern France and Southern England to make fires and to break rocks. History has it that the oldest mine is located at Swaziland, known as the “Lion Cave”. The ancient Romans innovated Mining Engineering. They developed large-scale mining methods through the use of aqueducts and large volumes of water for hydraulic mining. They exposed rock formations with fire settings that would afterward be cooled by the stream of water. The revolution of the industry birthed advanced mining technologies such as steam-powered pumps, explosives for rock fragmentation, and sophisticated mining drills for boring holes in the rock body.
MINING METHODS
Mining Engineers basically work in the mine to ensure mining operations improvement, further mineral exploration, the use of equipment handling, and management of personnel. Mining operations require different mining methods and this is solely dependent on the mineralogy, geology as well as the location of the mineral of interest. Generally, mining operations are either done underground or on the surface to reach and remove the mineral.
• Surface Mining
This accounts for the world’s tonnage output of about 90%. It can also be referred to as open pit mining and is basically the removal of minerals that are close to the surface, not underground. Surface mining usually alters the land shape, characteristics, geology as well as topography. Surface mining involves the quarrying of hard rocks, granitic rocks into desired shapes and sizes. With placer mining, minerals can be removed from sea and ocean beds by dredge mining operations.
• Underground Mining
This type of mining method is employed to extract or mine minerals that are several meters away with little waste (overburden) and economically from the earth’s surface as opposed to surface mining which targets minerals close to the earth’s surface. The entry to an underground mine could be done through an adit, a shaft, or decline.
MINING TERMS
•Gangue – Mine waste
• Shaft – Opening
•Adit – A horizontal shaft
SUMMARY
In summary, Mining Engineering is an engineering discipline that studies the prospecting, exploration, and exploitation of mineral resources from within the earth or on the earth’s surface profitably. An expert in this field of study is known as a Mining Engineer. He oversees any mining operations in a mining site and ensures that all the mining regulations are obeyed lest he risks the closure of the mine. However, the environment is usually depleted during mining operations and it’s imperative that the mined areas be recovered and adequate compensations are given to landowners.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development should dole out more funds to develop Mining operations to be safer and to be acquainted with newer and more improved ways of extracting minerals rather than depleting the earth through surface mining or underground mining methods.
Good article about mining engineers; I never thought their job could involve thorough planning. I wanted to hire a mining engineer here in Brisbane for the business my uncle was proposing to us. My husband wanted to make sure we had a good and reputable engineer because it would cost a lot of money before the business could start.