Mining Engineers (excluding Petroleum)

Mining Engineers (excluding Petroleum) plan and direct the engineering aspects of locating and extracting minerals from the earth.

What the job involves

• Conducts preliminary surveys of mineral deposits with prospectors, geologists, geophysicists, other mineral scientists and other engineers to determine the resources present, the feasibility of extracting the reserves, and the design and development of the extraction process

• Prepares operation and project cost estimates and production schedules, and reports progress, production and costs compared to budget

• Determines the most suitable methods of ore extraction taking account of such factors as depth of overburden, and attitude and physical characteristics of deposits and surrounding strata

• Prepares plans for tunnels and chambers, location and construction of mine shafts, layout of mine development and the application of appropriate mining techniques

• Assesses the safety risks associated with the phases of the project development, construction and operations

• Determines the safety of processes, order of extraction and safety of mine walls, evaluates the risk of slippage and advises on the prevention of slippage and rock falls

• Plans and co-ordinates the utilisation of labour and equipment consistent with efficiency targets, statutes, safety guidelines and environmental conditions