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Engineering Disciplines

Mining Engineering

Mining Engineering

Introduction -

Mining Engineering can be understood as the branch of engineering which is involved in the application, processing and extraction of minerals from the earth with the help of science, theory, practice and technology.
Mining engineering is very exciting and interesting career. Most of us must have read about Mining or watched it on the Discovery channel and mining has also served as the background for some very popular movies. Just imagine the wonderful feeling, to descend in the earth’s crust and dig out immensely invaluable minerals like coal, iron, diamond etc. In addition to this, Mining is also done to dig out various geological materials from the earth like rare rocks and elements of the earth. The materials which we acquire with the help of Mining Engineering are base metals, precious metals, iron, coal, uranium, gold, limestone and the most precious of all – diamonds. India is the largest producer of Mica and it is the third largest producer of coal and lignite. It is also one of the largest producers of bauxite, iron ore, manganese ore and aluminum. Mining extends its scope by including the extraction of any non-renewable resources like petroleum, natural gas and even water. We also get oil shale, rock salt and potash by Mining Engineering. Mainly, there are two types of Mines -
• Underground Mines
• Open-Pit Mines.
Minerals are mostly present underground and they are obtained using the underground Mining Process like gold and coal etc. Open-Pit Mine is an open pit in the earth from where the minerals like iron ore, manganese and limestone etc are extracted. “El Chino” in New Mexico is an open pit copper mine.

Mining Engineering is so essential for our world today which is racing on the road of technology. We need Minerals in innumerable processes of life. Minerals like mica are used for electric wires which make power generation possible. Iron is used for the manufacturing of all kinds of machines. Coal, we all know is very useful for cooking, for locomotion, heat and energy. Iron, Iodine and other minerals are vital health nutrients which are all the more necessary to survive the tough competition. There is no competition for Gold when it comes to jewellery. And what can we say about the irresistible Diamonds which is the best friend of a lady. Platinum which is considered to be the most expensive metal has mines are located in America. Petroleum is so essential for our mobility. We can also say that it is a backbone of the industries and any country which has big reservoirs of Petrol is considered to be financially well-off. No wonder conscious efforts are being made to save petrol. We tend to forget the invaluable contribution of the mining engineers when we use these things. Mining Engineering is also needed in the construction of shafts, inclines, rail roads, tunnels, underground chambers and the hazardous waste industry.

Mining Engineers locate and extract natural reserves of minerals, petroleum and other natural substances. They are responsible for the safe and cost-effective development of mines and other surface and underground processes. Their job is also concerned with the understanding of the effects of these structures on their surrounding environment, management skills and technical knowledge. The Mining Engineers analyze the potential and assist with the planning of the structure of site. They also supervise Mining Production processes. It is needless to say the job of a Mining Engineer need tremendous skills and technical ability. One must attain expertise in Maths and Science and have a good hand in drawing. A person must also have good observation skills and note minute details. One should enjoy new challenges and teamwork because mining engineering is not a one man’s job. With these qualities a person can rise and shine in the field of Mining Engineering.

Educational Requirement: The basic qualification for becoming a Mining Engineer is B.E. or P.G. Diploma in Mining Engineering. The eligibility criteria for B.E. / B. Tech is 50% marks in Class 12th Board Examination in science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Maths. English is compulsory. If a person wishes for an advanced course, M.E in Mining Engineering, he must achieve high percentage of marks in Class 12th Board Examination along with the bachelor’s degree. The students can also opt for Diploma in Engineering
Selection: - The admission to the mining engineering course is very competitive. A person has to pass the entrance test – JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) to attain admission to the IIT. For other reputed institutions you have to succeed in AIEEE (All India Engineering/ Pharmacy /Architecture Examination). There are state level and national level examinations also with some institutions opting for their own entrance examinations like BITS, WB-JEE. Selection is done on the basis of marks obtained in board examinations i.e. 10+2 and the marks obtained in Entrance Test.

Duration: - The B.E /B.Tech is a 4 year course and when the student has the bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering in his hand, he can proceed further for an M.E./M.Tech course which is of 2 years. The Diploma course in Mining Engineering is of 3 years duration.

Mining Engineering

Different Branches

There are varied branches of Mining Engineering and mining engineers can attain specialization in any of these fields. This is a good way to become expert and have an edge over others.

Mining Ventilation – Mining Ventilation is that branch of Mining Engineering which focuses on providing Oxygen to the miners while they are involved in various processes in the mines. Mining Engineers oversee the dilution, reduce the dangerous effects of harmful gases and throw out the huge mass of gases and dust. Poor ventilation can cause harmful physiological effects that can which can prove fatal e.g. death.

Mining Engineering & Design - Mining Engineering & Design is a very important branch of Mining Engineering. The Mining Engineering & Design Engineers are involved in the planning and designing of mines – both open-pit and underground mines, selection of mining methods, mining infrastructure and material handling systems.

Rock Mechanics – Rock Mechanics establishes a connection between Mining Engineering and Mechanics. The Mining Engineers who specialize in this discipline of Mining Engineering analyze the response of the rock and rock masses to the physical Environment. Rock Mechanics Engineers are also responsible for designing of rocks with the help of mining, drilling, civil construction and reservoir production like tunnels, mining shafts and open pit etc.

Mining Computer Application – In the modern age, no discipline seems to be complete without the use of Computers. The Computer Application Engineers use various types of software for geological data collection and Analysis, mapping, mine planning and ore reserve calculation. Computer Applications is needed in all phases of mining activity.

Mining & Environmental Engineering – Mining has a direct association with Environment. Mining can have a dangerous effect on the environment like soil erosion, formation of sink holes (holes created in the earth by the removal of soil) and loss of plant and animal life. Deforestation is done to create space for the storage of materials used in Mining. Mining Engineers devise new techniques and solutions to save the surrounding environment of the mines and ensure that the mined area is restored to its original state.

Career options for Mining Engineering:-

Mines and minerals are a symbol of the prosperity of a nation. India has a highly developed Mining sector in the form of raw materials and exports. India has approximately 20,000 mineral deposits, 2326 private and 292 public operating mines. They need the services of Mining Engineers who are trained in modern techniques and have complete knowledge of the ongoing trends so that they can exploit, explore and discover more reserves.

The Mining Engineers have unlimited job opportunities in the private as well as public sector. They can also expect high wages and rightly so because Mining Engineers are indispensable for the Mining Industry. Minerals Development Corporation, Mining Department Union and State Government are always in the look out for skilled Mining Engineers. They can manage the mines and work in the field of mining engineering, rock engineering and mining economics. They can become consulting engineers or geology project designer. Mining Engineers can also work as technicians and they can choose to work with the geologists. Research is a good career option to learn new mining techniques and processes as well as explore new possibilities in the field of mining.

The various positions one can aspire for as a Mining Engineer are –

• Mine Planning Engineer
• Mine Ventilation Engineer
• Mining Investment Analyst
• Mine Operation Engineer
• Petroleum Engineer
• Production Manager in
1. Surface Mines
2. Mine Management
3. Underground Metalliferous Mines
4. Underground Coal mines

In U.S.A, Mining Engineers are employed in the extraction of oil and gas, coal mining and metal ore mining. The older Mining Engineer who are retired take up the job of imparting education to young aspirants who want to make a career in Mining Engineering.

Salary – Mining Engineers enjoy the pleasure of high remuneration. A Grade II Junior Engineer can start with a pay scale of approximately Rs. 12,500/- to Rs.30, 400/- per month. The pay scale of a Grade I Junior Engineer is approximately Rs.14, 000/- to 34,000/- per month. The pay scale of a Mining Engineer is approximately Rs.16, 500/- to Rs.40, 000/- per month. A Deputy Manager enjoys a pay scale of Rs.20, 600/- to 40,600/- per month. This salary is accompanied by D.A and other allowances. The salary of Mining Engineers in U.S.A is $75,960.

As a Mining Engineer one can design a sparking career and plunge in sea of rewards and awards.

The Best Mining Engineering Colleges in India are: -

1. Indian School of Mines Dhanbad

2. NIT Rourkela

3. NIT Nagpur

4. NIT Suratkal

5. Anna University

6. Bengal Engineering College, Howrah, Kolkata

7. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.

8. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

9. College of Technology & Engineering, Udaipur

10. Rajiv Gandhi College of Engineering, Research & Technology, Chandrapur