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EDUCATION AND CAREER
Education provides the fundamentals but the skills and professional
attributes mould and bring about a successful career. In mining, the
development of the skills is a necessity and only team work survives. In
earlier days mining was mostly about coal mines and one has to decide
before venturing into mining education whether a career in coal mining
is to be pursued.
Another important aspect was that the mining institutions centered
around major mining areas and primarily catered to the industry
directly. The competency examinations after the academics determined the
level one could rise in the industry. Living and work centered around
the mine. The availability of minerals determined the concentration of
education and one has to live in that environment to pursue a career.
A CAREER IN MINING REQUIRES
a Physical fitness to withstand the rigors.
a Skills to adapt to unexpected situations.
a Limitations on Age and Gender.
a Necessity to live in remote areas and withstand harsh conditions.
Technology has changed all these .It is now possible to get beforehand
the geological structure to be mined and plan the workings to a sequence
like never before. Statistical applications, computer- aided designs and
development of software apart from advances in surveying and mining
equipment have brought in a total revolution in the approach of the
mining industry. The need for education in getting to the fundamentals
in these emerging diversified fields require specialization and the
industry no longer falls into the earlier tab. Though the institutions
still are clustered nearer to the mineral occurrence and need- based
limits, the discovery of new minerals and globalization through
communication and transportation has helped to break barriers.
Mining options
Before taking up mining as a career, it is now possible to decide on the
method and specialize on that particular working and branch.
a Coal , Metal or Petroleum
a Surface or Underground workings.
SPECIALIZATION AND BRANCHES
Comparing to previous omnibus curriculum like "mining and metallurgy"
etc. the courses now offered have also branched into specific fields and
with the globalization it is possible to narrow down the area and also
the institution to pursue the basic education. To cite, a few of the
specialized courses now available and offered are:
Basic Mining Engineering
Geology and Applied Geology
Applied Geophysics and Geostatistics
Surveying
Fuel and Mineral Engineering
Rock Excavation Engineering
Mine Planning and Design
Drilling Engineering
Engineering Geology
Maintenance Engineering and Tribology
Mining Machinery
Mining Geophysics
Opencast Mining
Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Exploration
Maintenance Engineering
Drilling and Blasting
Environmental sciences
Computer applications
Industrial Engineering and Management
Administration and Mining Law
OPTIONS
It is now possible to clearly examine one's potential and branch out to
specialize in a particular field. The activities could be broadly
classified into Exploration,Extraction, Processing, and Utilization.
It is also to be noted that the need for the specialists find different
outlets which were earlier non existent like in:
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Construction Industry
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Engineering and Consultancy Services
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Banking and
Finance
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Equipment
manufacturing and service
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State Agencies
for legislation and enforcement
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Academic
institutions including teaching and research
Women in Mining
A positive step by women to get involved in the mining industry was
taken in 1972 in Denver, Colorado.. Having got the approval of Internal
Revenue Service, the organization has been functioning to further the
cause and role of women in Mining.
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
Are you planning to take up a career in mining?
This compiled
list from the University of Idaho's interactive
map at their mining educators website providing access to
almost all the institutions offering mining education around the globe
should be useful. A must see for anyone looking out for details on
mining education around the globe.
Location plays a major role in determining the specializations offered
by mining institutions. The discerning student will therefore do well to
look up at the mineral occurrence in a country before deciding to embark
on a specialized mining education in one of the country's educational
institutions. This list has
been compiled keeping this in mind and will be of use to the prospective
student and professional alike.
Here is a list of selected mining schools where you can find all
information on locations, courses offered, duration, career prospects,
specializations, contacts, campus life and more.
Colorado School of Mines (CSM)
CSM is a state engineering university located in Golden, Colorado
specializing in the geosciences. The university is known for its
expertise in resource exploration, extraction, production and
utilization. The visual campus tour at this site with live images
updated every 10 seconds, is a must see.
Indian School of Mines
The Indian School of Mines has been built on the lines of the Royal
School of Mines, London to train mining engineers and geologists.
Aspiring students will find all the information they need to pursue
mining education here.
Mining Educators Website
Locate any mining educational institution, no matter where in the world.
Navigation is simple and easy allowing very quick results.
Mining Engineering at Michigan Tech
Find details on this renowned institution including details on the
courses offered, facilities, research on mining industry and career
prospects for students here.
Research at Virginia Tech
The Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering is very active in
research. The various categories of ongoing research are outlined here.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
An institution offering its courses since 1885, it is a recipient of the
outstanding educator award. Details on academics, admissions, student
life, employment prospects and everything else a prospective student
needs to know is available here. You may also like to enroll for one of
the distance education programs offered by the school.
Western Australian School of Mines
The Western Australian School of Mines offers many courses in the field
of mining engineering. Details of all the courses as well as information
on facilities available, research activities undertaken and staff are
available here.
World Coal Institute
Home of the World Coal Institute, an institute dedicated to the
promotion of world awareness of coal. Links to various coal
industry-related activities (publications, news, events and statistics)
are available.
GUIDE
For anyone to get into the industry particularly like mining which
itself is a specialized field, the information on the nature, working
conditions, potential, career guidance and other useful information is
essential. Career
Guide to Mining and Quarrying from US Department of Labor is
a valuable source providing a mine of information. Infomine lists
the employment opportunities and listing for the 5-day period
automatically updated. For anyone looking for an opening in the mining
industry, this is the place. The Department of Mining Engineering, University
of Nevada has presented the career opportunities in mining
which is very informative for a decision.
APPENDICES
A comprehensive list of links to Mining
Institutions around the Globe compiled from the University of Idaho's
interactive map.
A list of countries hosting the greatest
number of mining schools and the mineral occurrence in these countries.
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