Mining and Geological Engineer

Answer 1

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.