MINING ENGINEERING

Mining Engineering is a field that involves many of the other engineering disciplines as applied to extracting and processing minerals from a naturally occurring environment. Mining engineering is the extraction of valuable ores from the ground for processing and utilization. It involves all phases of mining operations starting from exploration and discovery, thorough feasibility study, development, production, processing and marketing to final land restoration and rehabilitation. Mining engineers are responsible for locating natural reserves of minerals, petroleum, and other useful natural substances, laying out plans, device shafts, inclines or quarries, safe extraction of these resources,

whether they are coal or petroleum or metallic and non-metallic minerals from under the earth. The two primary types of mines are underground mines and open-pit mines. Minerals that exist mostly underground (eg. coal, gold, etc.) are generally recovered using the underground mining process. Minerals like iron ore, limestone, manganese ore, etc. are mostly recovered from the surface downwards in opencast mining.

The need for mineral extraction and production is an essential activity of any technically proficient society. As minerals are produced from within a naturally occurring environment, disturbance of the environment as a result of mineral production would be there. A mining engineer ensures the safe and economically sound development of mines and other surface and underground operations. The role combines an understanding of the effects of these structures on their surrounding environment, technical knowledge and management skills. Before a new site is developed, mining engineers assess its viability and assist with planning its structure. They also manage and oversee mining production processes.




Work activities vary according to the nature of the mine or site, but tasks typically involve:

• Liaising with engineers, geologists and other staff;


• Overseeing the staff activities, either in one site section or throughout an entire mine;


• Ensuring that operations are functioning smoothly;


• Assuring the safety of mining equipment;


• Monitoring activities underground;


• Assessing mine equipment supplies;


• Managing monthly budgets;


• Keeping detailed records;


• Learning new skills as required, such as drilling and blasting;


• Overseeing the health and safety of working site, particularly
  in relation to issues such as ventilation;


• Costing and scheduling supplies;


• Assessing new mining sites;


• Establishing extraction systems;


• Planning for transition from the surface to underground mining operations.

The early years generally consist of common core subjects such as Engineering Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Mechanics, Engineering Computing, Management of Technology and Introduction to Design and Innovation. Students also study various aspects of management including industrial relations, safety and professional ethics. A degree in mining and petroleum and a certificate from The Director General of Mines and Safety, Dhanbad, is a must. It includes subjects like Ventilation, Design of engineering structures, Environmental aspects of mining, Rock Mechanics, Computer applications and Industrial management.



The prospects are with private and government companies and as a Consultant in the areas such as Production Manager in Underground coalmines,Surface mines,Underground metalliferous mine, Mine Manager, Mine Planning, Mine Ventilation engineer, Operations, Mining Investment Analyst and Petroleum Engineer. Mining companies initially at the mining centres employ mining engineers where minerals are extracted. Even civil engineering construction companies employ mining engineers to supervise tunneling.

In India most of the jobs for mining are with government and public sector organizations such as : The Indian Bureau of Mines , Geological Survey of India, Coal India Ltd, IPCL, Neyvelli Lignite Corporation. One can also enter into teaching and research in this field. Mining engineering is a very interesting field of extracting and processing minerals and resources from a naturally occurring environment. Many other engineering disciplines are being used with mining engineering to effectively finish the task of extracting and processing of resources like metal ores, coal, etc. Valuable ores are extracted from the ground for processing and utilization through exploration and discovery. The task is further completed through various stages till finally reaching to land restoration and rehabilitation. Being a mining engineer, the individual is assigned the task of locating natural reserves of minerals, petroleum, and other useful natural substances. Mining engineers learn lessons of drilling and blasting, rock mechanics, mine ventilation, ore reserve analysis, mine planning, and minerals processing to help recover the essential mineral from the earth. A mining engineer is entrusted with the task to secure and economically develop the mines and other surface and underground operations.



Mining engineers have a wide range of opportunities from both private and public sectors of the mining industry. Mining engineers with a fine understandinging of basic sciences, engineering, and economic principles will find it easier to get placed by many companies. Mining engineers are supposed to liaise with engineers, geologists and other staff to ensure smooth functioning of entire operations. All underground activities have to be monitored alongside keeping detailed records. Mining engineers have to aptly plan for transition from surface to underground mining operations. The task of costing and scheduling supplies would be managed by mining engineers.

Mining engineers can make career as a consultant with many private and government companies. They would be employed as production manager in mines. The designation of Mine Manager would also accrue to them at the same time. The job profile like Mining Investment Analyst and Petroleum Engineer would be attained after completing courses in Mining engineering. Mining engineers are deployed at mining centres. Sometimes, they're also given the task to supervise tunneling.



Any academic programme of mining engineering will include the aspects like metallurgy and geology, planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of mines, their safety, and excavating and transport of minerals. A course of BE / B.Tech would have to be done to become a mining engineer. For this 4 years course, students would have to finish class XII with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics or equivalent.

Entrance exams

• IIT Joint Entrance Exam (JEE)


• All India Engineering Entrance Exam (AIEEE)


• AICET: All India Common Entrance Test.


• AMIE: Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers.


• DCE CEE: Delhi College of Engineering Combined Entrance Exam.


• GATE: Graduate Aptitude test in Engineering


• NERIST: North Eastern Region Institute of Science and Technology


• BITSAT: Birla Institute of Science and Technology Entrance Exam

Mining Engineering There are many institutes of mining engineering evenly spread across India. You can take up a 4 year degree course from any of them after passing the entrance exam. Few of the most famous one are: MVS Engineering College, Hyderabad Regional Engineering College (REC) Warangal IIT, Guwahati Vinoba Bhave Institute of Technology, Dhanbad Regional Engineering College (REC), Jamshedpur IIT, Delhi Regional Engineering College (REC), Kurukshetra IIT, Mumbai

Mining engineers enjoy the highest start-up salaries among the existing engineering professionals in India. Any fresh pass from any average engineering college can easily rake up between Rs.15,000 and Rs.25,000. Fresh graduates from IITs and NITs even command far higher salaries than their other engineering college counterparts.