Mining and Geological Engineer?
The principal duties of a mining and geologic engineer is to
locate, extract, and make minerals, coal, and metals ready for
industrial use. Mining and geological engineers are the brain
behind the effective and safe operation of mines; they design
underground mines and the tunnels, mineshafts, and means of
transportation involved in their operation. In recent times these
engineers have become more involved in environmental concerns such
as land reclamation. Mining and geological engineers can be broken
down into three major categories: the mining engineers involved in
coal production, those that specialize in mineral extraction, and
the engineers that locate and extract metal ore deposits.
Mining engineers involved in coal production are best known for
the design of the mines used for extraction. However, these
engineers are also involved in the design and oversight of machines
used to ready the coal for industrial use. Engineers that focus on
extraction of minerals focus on the discovery and extraction of a
wide range of minerals. Engineers in this area often specialize in
one mineral, such as quartz or phosphate. Mining engineers that
focus on the discovery and extraction of metals often focus on the
location and extraction of one metal, such as gold or silver.
The minimum requirements to become a Mining and geologic
engineer are to earn a bachelor’s degree in Mining and geologic
engineering; however, it is very possible to cross over from
another engineering specialty such as chemical or mechanical
engineering. Students who would like to work in this field are
encouraged to seek out internships that will provide valuable
workplace experience.
The employment opportunities in mining and geologic engineering
are expected to grow faster than average. This will provide
excellent opportunities for potential engineers in the field due to
the fact that many current mining and geologic engineers are
currently reaching the age of retirement. Mining and geologic
engineers are some of the best paid engineers; starting salaries
for a mining and geologic engineer are typically around $60,000 to
$65,000, one of the highest for any bachelor’s level program. On
average, workers in the field earn from $72,000 to $77,000.