Mining has long been an industry the nation depends on. So
many of the things we depend on today originate from mines. That may be hard to
believe but think about it this way, “if it can’t be grown, it must be mined.”
This quote is used to sum up what mining is about. Mines provide the world with
raw materials that then produce the goods and energy we use and depend on every
day. You can’t grow our laptops, televisions, cell phones, jewelry, or
electrical wire. All of the components inside of these things use materials
that originated from mines. The electricity that we use to light our homes and
power cites comes from a black rock known as coal. Although it does not power
every home it still provides much of the world’s energy. Mining is even involved
with our agriculture and construction industries. Without mining, many
industries would be non-existent. In reality, much of the globe’s industries
are connected to mining in some fashion.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Introduction into Mining Engineering
With the impact that the mining industry on the global market,
there has to be people that plan and manage these kinds of operation and this
where mining engineers come in. Engineers do many different tasks associated
with the operation of the mine. They can be involved almost anywhere in the
mine. They also move up in their jobs. They have the opportunity to become a
mine manager because of the experience mining engineers have. To gain this
experience, engineers work in two main areas of a mine which are production or
the engineering office.
Production
They can work in the production area of the mines where they
work as the job foreman and make sure the miners are mining the correct area
and following correct procedure. They can also be in the preparation plant
making sure the ore or raw material is being processed is being correctly
processed. The goal of the production plan is to maximize production which is
the same for the mine itself but also maximize recovery from the raw ore. Depending
on the material being mined, this could be a complicated process. There are
different stages of crushers, grinders, floatation tanks, slues boxes, dryers,
and load out facilities. Engineers design the whole process.
Engineering
With the actual engineering side of the operation, mining
engineers work on a variety of tasks. They can work on surveying which is critical
for a mine. In a mine, surveying is used to, of course, mark property boundaries,
but it also helps to mark the geography of the land. During the mine
reclamation stage, the land must be returned to previous conditions. Surveying is
also used to determine the position of the miners underground. Since there are
no landmarks underground, surveying is critical to make sure the mine is progressing
in the correct direction. Engineers also look at the rock formations
underground to determine the method of supporting the roof. Supporting the roof
is necessary for the safety of the miners. They also design ventilation systems
that provide miners underground with clean, fresh air. Ventilation of the mine
is also necessary to remove the harmful, combustible gasses that come from the
ground. Engineers design the electrical systems that power the equipment needed
for mining. The power system is also used for the ventilation fans, lights, and
conveyor system.
Business Decisions
You may not think of an engineer making business decisions
under the mine manager. But in reality they advise the manager on what to do. Engineers
look at samples to determine if it feasible to mine in that location or another
on the property. This is critical to the overall profitability of the mine. They
have to determine were the richest deposits of the mineral ore or coal is and
make decisions from that. Once they have located the deposit, they must
determine the size of it. This is called reserves. The reserve is what
determines the life of the mine. If the reserve of mineable material is large,
the mine will be able to stay in one location. The reason I say mineable material
is because some material is in to small of a deposit and cannot be feasibly recovered.
If it is feasible to mine, then engineers begin the mine planning process. This
process determines the mine down to fine details. They must first decide on the
type of mine. The two most basic forms are surface and underground mining. There
are other classifications within surface mining and underground mining but for
now we will stick with the two main ones. They must then form the plan for
water runoff, mine ventilation, mine direction and size, and the machinery and
power needed.
The Importance
Mining provides the globe with the raw materials that then
are turned into the goods we depend upon today. Engineers play an important role
in mining because of all the knowledge and information they provide. Engineers have
a deep understanding of the mining process and the planning and regulations
that come with it. With this knowledge, engineers help mining companies become more
profitable. In today’s market that is a major concern. We will talk about this in
another section. They also help them to become safer. This may seem like a
general statement but it rings true for almost all mining companies, regardless
of the material being mined. There are numerous safety regulations in place
that govern the mining industry. Mining engineer’s help to ensure the mine
follows these regulations but they also look for improvements within the mine
the put the mine above the regulations. This makes employees feel better when
they come to work as well as reduces the fines and injury rate of the miners.
The Problems
The mining industry is critical for the development of the
nation. It will always be present because of the shear need for earth’s
resources. Many people don’t see mining as a necessary operation. People think
of the mining industry as an industry that ruins the land and pollutes the
waterways and the atmosphere. They believe mining is unsafe because of the
earlier accidents in mining. This is the same perception that our current governmental
administration has.
Issues with the Public
The public tends to point fingers at industries that they
think pollute the environment. There are “numerous environmental groups, who
are uninformed, attacking the industry.” This was a response that Colton
Parsons gave to me after I asked him what was hurting the industry the most. This
is evident in the amount of groups that are out there that protest against the
mining industry. Kristin Floyd also responded to the same question saying “the
public still has the same perception that mining today is like mining in the
past. They don’t understand that technology and awareness have improved the
industry in many ways.” This is why many people are in opposition of mining.
They still believe the stereotypes that mining is one of the most pollutant industries.
They also believe that mining is just as dangerous as before. They think it is
a common occurrence that miners are being injured, killed, and trapped in mine
cave in’s.
Reality for the Public
The truth is the current perceptions of mining are just stereotypes.
They are far from the truth. Just a Kristin said, “Technology and awareness have
improved the industry.” The mining industry does not use the same equipment as
they previously have. Miners use continuous miners to increase production and
lessen the chance for miners to get injured when digging for coal. These machines
allow the miners to use a hand held control box that is connected by a cable to
the machine. Having the miner run the machine remotely lessens the chance they
will be struck by a falling rock from the roof or being trapped in between the
machine and the walls. Mines also use
mucking machines the scoop the coal or ore and load it into shuttle cars. This reduces
the physical strain on the miner’s body. Many companies have also created procedures
that improve the safety of the miners. There
are also roof bolting machines that help support the roof the prevent cave in’s
in underground mines. Many of the machines I just mentioned are powered by electricity.
In surface mines, the larger shovels are also powered by electricity. The electrical
system of a mine helps to reduce the pollution of the environment and it helps
to ensure the safety of the miners will clean air if they are underground.
Underground mine ventilation has changed over the years to. Mines now use large fans to push fresh air
into the mine and this also pushes the harmful gasses out.
Issues with the Government
Mining engineers plan and monitor many things within a mine.
One of the biggest things they do is make sure government regulations are
followed. This can be one the toughest jobs because there are so many. According
to Kentucky Educational Television or KET for short, “As long as 10 years can
elapse between the start of planning a mine and mining the first ton of coal.”
This is an example of the amount of rules and regulations that the mining
industry must follow. This is just for
the permitting process. There are numerous regulations that are in place when
extraction of the coal or ore is taking place. As is talked about earlier,
ventilation is a key area. There must be a certain level of fresh air available
in a mine. Also dust control is a major problem. During the extraction of the
ore from the ground, dust is created from the breaking of the ground. There are
regulations of the level of respirable dust that can be present. Respirable dust
is the dust that is small enough in partial size to be inhaled. There are also
regulations in place for water runoff on the mine. This is some of the more
general regulations that mining engineers have to deal with.
Results from the Regulations
Don’t get me wrong, regulations are needed. This is true for
any industry. Without some regulation many people would be in danger just going
to work. But regulations surrounding the mining industry is different the other
industry regulations. Many companies in the coal mining industry are struggling
to survive because of these regulations. Colton Parsons told me, “Prepare for a
career in mining commodities other than coal in case the coal industry is
regulated into extinction.” This was in response to a question I asked about what
students should expect when looking for a job near graduation. These
regulations are strangling the coal industry. It is also hurting other
industries as well but coal may be the most effected. Looking at data from the
US Census Bureau, all of the major divisions of mining have experienced a cut
in employment because they can’t afford the keep employees. This is in connection
to the price of the commodity being sold. If the price is down, mining companies
will not make as large of a profit if prices are high. According to the US
Energy Information Administration, within six months, from November 2008 to June
2009, coal prices were cut by over half. They have remained at this level
since. This is the same time when the current administration took office for
the first term. The recession began and so did the governments grip on the coal
industry and other mining industries as well.
The Effect on Students
You may be thinking what this has to do with students in
college. The answer to that is it greatly affects students. Within the mining
engineering field, there is a need for mining engineers. Many of the mining
companies are willing to provide internship opportunities for college students.
This introduces students into the field with hands on activities that they
would be doing on the daily job. Colton Parsons stated,” internships are vital
to future employment.” Many companies tend to continue to offer students
internships after they have interned once with the company. After several internships,
many companies offer the students full time employment opportunities with the
company upon graduation. But since the recession has started, it has become
harder to find employment. There is still a need for mining engineers but the
economy is not favorable for mining companies to hire interns. I have had this experience
as a freshman in mining engineering. Many companies come to the school
recruiting students for these internship opportunities but they also have a
narrow filter for the students they want. Many companies do not want to hire
freshman because they don’t have the mining experience like sophomores,
juniors, and seniors do. This makes finding an internship difficult. This will
also affect the sophomores next year because of the lack of work experience.
Education at the University
The mining engineering department at the University of
Kentucky provides students with a well-rounded education. The mining engineering
program here is an accredited which means the curriculum has been approved by a
higher authority in the mining engineering field. This helps to improve the
quality of education. Comparing the mining engineering department curriculum of
the University of Kentucky to a rival mining engineering school, West Virginia
University, Kentucky’s curriculum closely resembles West Virginia’s. These schools
are part of the group that is at the top of the education field for mining
engineering. I asked Colton Parson if the University of Kentucky had prepared
him for a career in mining engineering and he said, “Yes UK has a rigorous
engineering program.” I also asked Kristin Floyd the same question and she said,”
I feel that UK has adequately prepared me for a mining career. Professors are
always willing to help and you get exposure to many different aspects of the
mining industry. They may not all be an in-depth analysis of each aspect but
they are adequate. As with any degree and profession someone pursues there is
only so much that can be learned in the classroom. However, the emphasis put on
labs and hand on experience during the school year has allowed for what is
learned in the classroom to be translated to what one would experience in a
real profession. Overall, I feel prepared.” The university here does a great
job at teaching and preparing students for the mining engineering field.
Why keep the Major
The mining engineering major here at the University of Kentucky
is not the largest engineering filed. Many students do not pursue a degree in
mining engineering or they transfer out of the program after one year. Officials
at the university may think the program is not needed because of this reason. This
is where they would be wrong. The major is a vital major in the engineering
department and for society as a whole. The mining program here is competitive with
the programs from other schools and it helps students find employment after
graduation. Mining is a vital part of the function of our nation and mining
engineers play a major role in this. The engineers provide a wealth of knowledge
that allows companies to run smoothly and profitably while also helping to
expand the company with a well detailed plan. The major, and the opportunities
that go with a degree from the department, open up many doors for graduates. That
is why the mining engineering major should keep kept at the University of Kentucky.
Works Cited
Kentucky Educational Television. Strict Regulations
Govern Coal Mining. 15 December 2005. 9 December 2012
<http://www.ket.org/trips/coal/agsmm/agsmmregs.html>.
Floyd, Kristin. Undergraduate in Mining Engineering
Tim Kirby. 1 December 2012.
Parsons, Colton. Undergraduate in Mining
Engineering Tim Kirby. 1 December 2012.
U.S. Census Bureau. Table 901. Mineral
Industries—Employment, Hours, and Earnings:. 2012. 9 December 2012
<http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0901.pdf>.
US Energy Information Administration. Coal News and
Markets Archive. 2012. 9 December 2012
<http://www.eia.gov/coal/news_markets/archive/>.
West Virginia University. Mining Engineering.
2012. 9 December 2012
<http://www.mine.cemr.wvu.edu/courses/details.php?dept=9&level=ugrad&subDept=MINE&detail=yes>.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)