A career in mining engineering can enhance your life

Kaustov Kashyap *

Mining engineering deals with designing safe and efficient mines for removing coal and metals. Mining engineering optimizes mines for removing resources in the most efficient manner possible. The studies under it, figure out the ways by which as much of the resource as possible is extracted.

Mining engineering provides specialization in a particular mineral or metal, such as iron or coal. Some Mining engineers collaborate with geologists to find and evaluate new ore deposits.

Others develop or improve mining equipment, or manage processing operations that separate and refine minerals. Mining safety engineers implement best practices, conduct mine and equipment inspections, monitor air quality, and ensure compliance with all safety regulations to keep workers safe.

Eligibility for Mining Engineering

The students who have appeared in 12th examination and await the result are allowed to apply for the B. Tech course. Candidates should pass B.E./B.Tech. (Civil/Mining/Agricultural Engineering/EEE/ECE/CSE) to go for the job hunt. One can pursue M.E. or M.Tech as well after qualifying GATE and completion of graduation.

Entrance exams for Mining Engineering are:

IIT Joint Entrance Examination : It is the examination conducted for IIT aspirants every year across various centres in India.
JEE Mains: This exam is conducted in the months of December and January. For Paper 1, students can opt for either pen paper-based exam or online exam.
JEE Advanced: It is the exam for IIT aspirants and Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad which is available for online admission and application selection.
This course trains the students to enable them for improving and innovating mining techniques and technologies.
Entrance exam is the preferred mode to take admission for most of the institutions
All India Engineering Entrance Exam (AIEEE)
AICET: All India Common Entrance Test.
AMIE: Associate Membership of Institutions of Engineers.
DCE CEE: Delhi College of Engineering Combined Entrance Exam.
NERIST: North Eastern Region Institute of Science and Technology
BITSAT: Birla Institute of Science and Technology Entrance Exam

Courses in Mining Engineering

B. Tech

It is a 4-year undergraduate course in mining engineering. It is a branch of engineering that deals with the theory, science, application and technology of processing and extracting resources from the natural environment.

For being eligible for this course, candidate has to pass senior secondary examination from a recognized board with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as subjects. Most of the institutions have entrance exams as admission mode while some others offer students a direct entry to the students on the basis of merit list.

M. Tech

Mining Engineering or Master of Technology in Mining Engineering is a postgraduate Mining Engineering course. Mining engineering is the discipline that involves the practice, the theory, the science, the technology, and application of extracting and processing minerals from a naturally occurring environment.

Mining engineering also includes processing minerals of additional value. The syllabus for the course is divided into four semesters plus a list of electives. The duration of the course, generally, is two years but it depends as per the criteria of the different institutes. The course is important and career oriented in nature which opens a lot of opportunities for the candidates after its successful completion.

Career in Mining Engineering

Mining engineers design both open-pit and underground mines, supervise construction of mine structures, plan the transportation of minerals to processing plants, monitor production, and prepare reports. They assess the geological characteristics of mining sites and determine the structures, equipment and processes to be used at a particular operation.

These professionals also make sure that mine operations are conducted in environmentally sound ways. They may also apply their expertise to land reclamation, water and air pollu tion, and sustainability issues.

Mining Engineers design mines and will use engineering principles, technology and scientific theory for the safe and effective extraction of natural resources from these mines. Mining Engineers plan, design and operate the mining processes, both underground and above ground. Mining Engineers will be responsible for th overseeing both mining operations and miners, and are employed by many mining- related organizations.

Mining Engineers will often work with Geologists and Metallurgical Engineers to find and evaluate new mineral deposits. Some Mining Engineers will be involved in the development of new equipment or direct mineral-processing operations to separate minerals from dirt, rock, and other material

Job Opportunities for Mining Engineers

There are various opportunities that a mining engineer will obtain, considering that many countries are focused on mining the resources in their geographical boundaries. Countries in the Middle East like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait provide excellent job opportunities for job aspirants with good qualification.

China is the largest gold producing country in the world, producing 403t (tons) of gold in 2012, an 11.7% increase in production over the previous year, and the job opportunities are only expanding.

Australia is currently facing a lot of crisis with respect to finding work force related to mining. The WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy is already planning recruitments in large numbers, from overseas and has allocated resources worth more than US$ 2 billion to bring in skilled migrants.

Salary after Mining Engineering : A fresher gets 3.5 to 4.6 lakh per annum in India. The salary gets increased with the experience.