DISCIPLINES

Mining and Mineral Process Engineers

Mining engineers plan and design the development of mines, mine facilities, systems and equipment and plan, organize and supervise the extraction of metallic or non-metallic minerals and ores from underground or surface mines. Mining engineering emphasizes the combined application of engineering principles and earth science fundamentals as they relate to materials of the earth and the environment. Employed by mining companies, consulting engineering companies, manufacturers, governments and educational and research institutions, mining engineers use precise engineering methods and up-to-date technology for mine planning, development and production.

A career in mining engineering offers much diversity. As well, it’s an opportune profession for people interested in travel and work outside of the main cities. Mining engineering offers challenging and rewarding careers throughout Canada and all over the world where mining takes place. Canadian-trained mining engineers can be found in the United States, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and other regions of the world. Graduates may opt for work in remote regions at mine sites, or they may prefer to stay in major cities and develop their careers with engineering firms, in mining equipment sales, in the environmental industry, with a government agency or in another of the many possible career choices open to their profession.

Mining engineers have amongst the highest salaries of all disciplines. In 1998, Canadian graduating class salaries averaged $45,000. The industry is cyclical, responding to changes in supply and demand. As well, mines have finite lives, but as one ore body is depleted, new operations spring up elsewhere. A mining engineer may work at three to four operations during his or her career.

The wide variety of functions executed by the mining engineer includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Conduct preliminary surveys and studies of mineral deposits to assess the economic and environmental feasibility of potential mining operations
• Determine the appropriate means of safely, environmentally and efficiently mining deposits
• Determine and advise on appropriate drilling and blasting methods
• Design shafts, ventilation systems, mine services, haulage systems and supporting structures
• Design, develop and implement computer applications such as for mine design, mine modeling, mapping or monitoring, maintenance scheduling or production planning
• Plan and design or select mining equipment and machinery and mineral treatment machinery and equipment in collaboration with other engineering specialists
• Plan, organize and supervise the development of mines and mine structures and the operation and maintenance of mines
• Prepare operations and project estimates, schedules and reports
• Implement and coordinate mine safety programs
• Supervise and coordinate the work of technicians, technologists, survey personnel and other engineers and scientists