Mining engineering

[not verified in body] From prehistoric times to the present, mining has played a significant role in the existence of the human race.

Since the beginning of civilization, people have used stone and ceramics and, later, metals found on or close to the Earth's surface.

For example, high-quality flint found in northern France and southern England were used to set fire and break rock.

[1] Flint mines have been found in chalk areas where seams of the stone were followed underground by shafts and galleries.

At this site, which radiocarbon dating indicates to be about 43,000 years old, paleolithic humans mined mineral hematite, which contained iron and was ground to produce the red pigment ochre.

These were used extensively in the copper mines at Rio Tinto in Spain, where one sequence comprised 16 such wheels arranged in pairs, lifting water about 80 feet (24 m).

[4] Black powder was first used in mining in Banská Štiavnica, Kingdom of Hungary (present-day Slovakia) in 1627.

[5] This allowed blasting of rock and earth to loosen and reveal ore veins, which was much faster than fire-setting.

The Industrial Revolution saw further advances in mining technologies, including improved explosives and steam-powered pumps, lifts, and drills.

The fundamental subjects of mining engineering study usually include: In the United States, about 14 universities offer a B.S.

49 are training specialists for extracting, primary processing, and transporting liquid and gaseous minerals (oil and gas).

Thus, universities, using their freedom to form new training programs for specialists, can look to the future and try to foresee new professions of mining engineers.

[19] Mining salaries are usually determined by the level of skill required, where the position is, and what kind of organization the engineer works for.

Mineral exploration and estimation of the reserve can determine the profitability conditions and advocate the form and type of mining required.

Mineral research usually includes sampling and analysing sediments, soil, and drill cores.

[25] After a prospective mineral is located, the mining geologist and engineer determine the ore properties.

This pre-feasibility study determines whether the mining project is likely to be profitable; if so, a more in-depth analysis of the deposit is undertaken.

After the full extent of the ore body is known and has been examined by engineers, the feasibility study examines the cost of initial capital investment, methods of extraction, the cost of operation, an estimated length of time to pay back the investment, the gross revenue and net profit margin, any possible resale price of the land, the total life of the reserve, the full value of the account, investment in future projects, and the property owner or owners' contract.

[27][28] These steps of analysis determine whether the mining company and its investors should proceed with the extraction of the minerals or whether the project should be abandoned.

The act of mining requires different methods of extraction depending on the mineralogy, geology, and location of the resources.

Surface mining often alters the land's characteristics, shape, topography, and geological makeup.

Surface mining involves quarrying and excavating minerals through cutting, cleaving, and breaking machinery.

Using mechanical shovels, track dozers, and front-end loaders, strip mining is done on softer minerals such as clays and phosphate removed.

In the 20th century, it progressed to a comprehensive and stringent codification of enforcement and mandatory health and safety regulation.

[31] The act codified in Code of Federal Regulations § 30 (CFR § 30) covers all miners at an active mine.

[33] Waste and uneconomic material generated from the mineral extraction process are the primary source of pollution in the vicinity of mines.