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Mining and Geological Engineering

A pathway for those who enjoy developing land and discovering and utilising natural resources, with a huge amount of work opportunities in Australia

What Mining Engineers Do

Mining and Geological Engineers are concerned with conducting sub-surface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites.

They may also specify the ground support systems, processes and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities.

Mining and Geological Engineers also inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions.

Furthermore, they may design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.

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How to become a Mining Engineer

Most Materials Engineer roles require a four-year bachelor’s degree.

A vast majority of Materials Engineers have studied at least a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, typically majoring in Mechanical, Chemical, or Civil engineering.

However, some jobs do not require a bachelor’s degree. Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

A large number complete a Graduate Diploma or Master’s degree to further develop their skills and experience. Some continue into PhD roles to specialise in specific materials or to pursue a pathway into academia.

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Relevant Tasks

Typical Tasks Include:

  • Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
  • Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
  • Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
  • Select locations and plan underground or surface mining operations, specifying processes, labor usage, and equipment that will result in safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction of minerals and ores.
  • Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
Skills

Mechanical Engineering provides you with the following valuable skills

Abstraction, Mathematics and Physics 90%
Collaboration and Team Management 85%
Engineering Ethics 80%
Knowledge of Safety Specifications & Standards. 90%
Project Management 85%
Relevant Software (E.g. GEO-SLOPE GeoStudio, Maptek Vulcan, Schlumberger PIPESIM, etc) 90%
Site-Inspection & Evaluation 100%
Understanding & Determination of Operational Methodology 95%

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This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.