Careers in Mining

Careers in Mining and Mining Engineering

Industry Description - What Mining Companies Do

Mining and Quarrying is the search for, and extraction, and processing of naturally occurring solid minerals from the earth. Mined minerals include coal, metals such as iron, copper, or zinc, and industrial minerals such as potash, limestone, and other crushed rocks.

Companies in the Mining sector primarily engage in mining, mine site development, and beneficiating metallic minerals and nonmetallic minerals, including coal.

The term "mining" is used in the broad sense to include ore extraction, quarrying, and beneficiating (e.g., crushing, screening, washing, sizing, concentrating, and flotation), customarily done at the mine site.

Beneficiation is the process whereby the extracted material is reduced to particles which can be separated into mineral and waste, the former suitable for further processing or direct use. The operations that take place in beneficiation are primarily mechanical, such as grinding, washing, magnetic separation, centrifugal separation, and so on.

The range of preparation activities varies by mineral and the purity of any given ore deposit. While some minerals require little or no preparation, others are washed and screened, while yet others, such as gold and silver, can be transformed into bullion before leaving the mine site.

Establishments in the Mining sector include those that have complete responsibility for operating mines and quarries and those that operate mines and quarries for others on a contract or fee basis.

The Importance of the Mining Industry

Metals and other minerals are an essential source of raw materials for the building and chemical industries and are also a critical part of the production of everyday electronics and consumer products like batteries for mobile phones and electric cars.

The mining industry plays an important role in the economy. As a supplier of coal, metals, industrial minerals, sand, and gravel to businesses, manufacturers, utilities and others, the mining industry is vital to the well being of communities across the country.

Minerals are essential to nearly every aspect of our lives and our economy, including utilities, the primary metals industry, non-metallic minerals industry (glass, cement, lime, ceramics), and the construction industry.

Careers and Job Opportunities in Mining

Mining operations are often the leading employers in the communities where they operate. More than 300,000 people work directly in the mining industry.

In addition to the actual extraction process, mining offers careers in many production, management, technology and scientific roles. These include heavy equipment operators, engineers, chemists, geologists, and environmental conservationists and consultants.

The Range of Careers in Mining and Mining Engineering Include

Environmental Compliance Coordinator
Geological Engineer
Geoscientist
Mine Electrician
Mining Engineer
Finance Specialist and Manager
Mine Safety Engineer
Mine Safety Manager
Surveyor
Mineral and Rock Research and Science
Mining Consultant
Open Pit Mining Manager
Planning Engineer (Surface and Underground)
Process Mining Digital Engineer
Project Engineer
Tech Specialist Mining Systems
Underground Mining Commissioning Specialist
Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Driller and Blaster
Extraction Workers, Helpers
Mill Maintenance & Operations Supervisor
Mine Aggregates Production Worker
Mine Cutting and Channeling Machine Operators
Mine Mechanic Journeyperson
Mine Production Technician
Mining Roof Bolters
Mobile Equipment Operator
Scale Clerk
Shovel Operator
Shuttle Car Operator
Surface Mining Supervisor
Underground Mining, Machine Loading

Colleges and Universities with Mining and Mining Engineering Programs

Please click the links below to learn more about Majors and Programs in Biology, Biochemistry, Mathematics, Business and Management, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Mining Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Geological Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Economics.

University of Alaska – Fairbanks - College of Engineering and Mines
University of Arizona - Mining and Geological Engineering
Colorado School of Mines - Science and Engineering Mine Research
University of Kentucky - Mining Engineering Department
Michigan Tech - Mining Engineering Department
Missouri University of Science and Technology - Mining Engineering
Montana Tech – School of Mining and Engineering
University of Nevada, Reno - Mackay School of Mines
New Mexico Tech - Institute of Mining and Technology
University of North Dakota - College of Engineering and Mines
Pennsylvania State University - College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale - Department of Mining and Mineral Resources Engineering
University of Utah - Department of Mining Engineering
Virginia Tech - Department of Mining and Minerals
West Virginia University - Department of Mining Engineering
Institute of Quarrying - Distance Learning NSSGA Partner

Mining Job Boards - Entry Level Positions to Engineering and Management

Mining Associations - Learn More, Networking and Apprenticeship Opportunities

Mining Associations and Organizations

There are many organizations dedicated to help promote mining and mineral products. Many states that have active mining operations have local mining associations that can assist with state-specific information.