What Do Mining and Geological Engineers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Mining and Geological Engineers

Mining and Geological Engineers conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.

Salary
$100140
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job Description

Job Description

Mining and Geological Engineers conduct sub-surface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs. They also prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.

Other tasks include:

  • Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
  • Test air to detect toxic gases and recommend measures to remove them, such as installation of ventilation shafts.
  • 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.
  • Implement and coordinate mine safety programs, including the design and maintenance of protective and rescue equipment and safety devices.
  • Devise solutions to problems of land reclamation and water and air pollution, such as methods of storing excavated soil and returning exhausted mine sites to natural states.

We asked Mining and Geological Engineers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

70%

How meaningful is this job

60%


70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Mining and Geological Engineers inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions. They design, develop, and implement computer applications for use in mining operations such as mine design, modeling, or mapping or for monitoring mine conditions.

A typical day for a Mining and Geological Engineer and Mining Safety Engineer will also include:

  • Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
  • Design, implement, and monitor the development of mines, facilities, systems, or equipment.
  • Supervise, train, and evaluate technicians, technologists, survey personnel, engineers, scientists or other mine personnel.
  • 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.

We asked some Mining and Geological Engineers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 88% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 47% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 58% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 18% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 5% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 46% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Mining and Geological Engineers also prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel. They may also select or devise materials-handling methods and equipment to transport ore, waste materials, and mineral products efficiently and economically.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Mining and Geological Engineers Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines. They might also Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.

In addition, they 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.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.

To some Mining and Geological Engineers, it is also their responsibility to Design, develop, and implement computer applications for use in mining operations such as mine design, modeling, or mapping or for monitoring mine conditions.


Working life

Working hours

More than 40 hours per week

Working schedule

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Mining and Geological Engineer and Mining Safety Engineer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Do Mining and Geological Engineers work in an office-style work environment?

Every day
61%


Once a week
26%


Do Mining and Geological Engineers work outdoors?

Once a month
41%


Once a year
28%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Thinkers and The Builders

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Mining and Geological Engineers

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Related to Mining and Geological Engineers and Mining Safety Engineers Job Description

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Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/architecture-and-engineering/mining-and-geological-engineers.htm
http://www.smenet.org/
http://www.asee.org/
http://ncees.org/


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