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Mineral Engineer |
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Description A mineral is any naturally occurring inorganic substance, often characterized by an exact crystal structure. Gold, moonstone, sulfur, dolomite, salt gypsum, diamonds . . . these are just a few different examples of minerals and gem deposits that mineral engineers test and extract. Sometimes referred to as mining engineers, mineral engineers are responsible for the discovery and definition of resources, as well as the safe and efficient means of extraction and economical recovery of an immense variety of mineral wealth. They also study building materials, metals and fossil fuels. They organize and supervise the extraction of metallic or non-metallic ores from underground or surface mines and work with drill crews in the extraction process. Some mineral engineers work closely with mining engineers, geologists and metallurgical engineers to locate new ore deposits. Others develop new equipment or direct mineral processing operations to separate minerals from the dirt, rock and other materials with which they are mixed. Once they become established, most mineral engineers specialize in a specific area such as mineral development or production. Also, mineral engineers frequently specialize in one particular mineral or metal, such as coal or alabaster. These specialists are experts within their area of mining and minerals and build themselves a reputation for a particular area. With increased emphasis on protecting the environment, many mineral engineers work to solve problems related to land reclamation and water and air pollution. They also must devise environmentally sound refining methods and waste disposal systems. This is a huge challenge for the engineer because waste is a difficult issue to attend to. Also, mineral engineers may be responsible for helping to restore the land of the mine site when the mining operation has come to a close. Before a mining or mineral operation begins, the mineral engineer must conduct important investigative work, often called mineral evaluation, about the feasibility of opening a mine. They assess the economic value of a potential property, looking at location and product yields, and provide information for financing and development. For example, if a potential coal mine site, located in a remote northern village has a greater risk of losing money than making a profit, a mineral engineer will probably advise against opening one due to the tremendous cost. Mineral engineers use traditional and computer-aided design (CAD) systems to plan and run mineral operations. The CAD systems create realistic geometric models of objects which can simulate and analyze the effects and potential problems of designs such as breakdowns. They are required to constantly update their skills and knowledge in order to keep up with technological advancements in the mining field. |
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Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, 2002, http://www.bls.gov/oes/2002/oes_nat.htm |
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