Mining engineers explore and identify the locations where mineral deposits are available, excavate or extract the minerals and prepare them for use in industries.Their work involves the designing of underground mines, mine shafts and tunnels and devising various methods for transporting minerals to processing plants.

They also ensure the maximum utilisation of plants and machinery, and their maintenance. Research involves development of new applications in the manufacturing process or the use of new materials.

Mining is an important part of our industrial activity and specialists in this field are always required. Other work includes putting in place safety measures for miners, keeping in view their health, welfare and security.

Work

Technologists study the physical characteristics of an area to locate possible deposits and plan the process of utilising the resource. They plan the mine layout, supervise its construction and look into the excavation and extraction processes of resources.

The mining engineer also develops pollution control measures to return the area to its natural state after extracting the minerals.

Work includes planning the height and placement of excavation levels and the types of excavation and haulage equipment, devising methods of managing soil excavation and ensuring that the site resembles it's natural state after the excavations are complete.

Mining Engineers are the ones who plan and supervise the construction of access roads; water systems; power supplies; communication systems; ventilation and drainage systems; transportation systems; and materials processing.

Teamwork is routine and mining engineers work along with geologists, geophysicists, geochemists and metallurgical engineers.

Working conditions vary as most of the work is in the field in places like mines or construction sites. Usually, living conditions at sites are like that of a small town.

Money

Beginners can earn from Rs.6,500/- up to Rs.8,000/- per month.

Attributes

The qualities you require in order to be successful in this career are practicality, ability to get along with people, work under pressure and perseverance. The field involves working with tools and drawing sketches of complex things and operations, conceptualising forms and structures. You also need to have a high level of practicality, skill, accuracy, understanding power and be at ease with numbers.

Job opportunities

Mining engineers can find employment in:

* Public sector mineral excavation and extraction companies like Coal India Ltd., Hindustan Copper, National Mineral Development Corporation etc.

* In various private sector companies

* Mining machinery-manufacturing companies

Mining is an important industrial activity and can offer good opportunities for specialists in this field.

Entry

To become a qualified mining engineer you must have a graduate degree (BE/BTech) or at least a diploma in Engineering.

Eligibility

The basic eligibility criteria for a BE/BTech is 10+2 or its equivalent examination, with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Selection to degree courses is on the basis of merit or marks secured in the final exams of 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics or through various entrance exams. Engineering courses are available at two levels. Degree and postgraduate degree courses are offered by various engineering colleges and Institutes of Technology (IITs), whereas diploma courses are offered by polytechnics.

Educational institutions

Some of the premier engineering colleges in India are listed as follows:

Indian Institute of Technology ( New Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, and Chennai )

Regional Engineering Colleges ( Warangal, Andhra Pradesh ; Silchar, Assam ; Jamshedpur, Bihar ; Surat, Gujarat ; Kurkshetra, Haryana; Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir; Surathkal, Karnataka ; Calicut, Kerala ; Visvesvaraya REC, Nagpur, Maharashtra ; Rourkela, Orissa ; Jaipur, Rajasthan ; Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu ; Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh ; Durgapur, West Bengal ; Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh ; Jalandhar, Punjab.)

Birla Institute of Technology (BITS) - (Pilani and Ranchi.)

Delhi College of Engineering, New Delhi.

University of Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttar Pradesh.

Jadavpur University, Kolkata

A.C College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore - 630 004

Bihar Institute of Technology, PO Sindri, Sindri Institute, Dhanbad

Chandrapur Engineering College, Ballarpur Road, Chandrapur-442403

College of Engineering, Kukatpally, Hyderabad-500872

College of Engineering, Waltair, Vishakhapatnam- 530 003

Government College of Engineering, Salem- 636 011

Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur, Madhya Pradesh

Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar - 143005

Golden Valley Institute of Technology, Kolar Gold Fields, Karnataka

Government Engineering College, Raipur-492002

Government Engineering College, Bilaspur

Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad

Benaras Hindu University, Varnasi,UP

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

Koneru Lakshmiah College of Engineering, Green Fields, Kunchanapalli (P.O) Guntur-522501

Kothagudem School of Mines, Kothagudem-507 106

M.B.M Engineering College, Jodhpur-342011

PSG College of Technology, AC College, Coimbatore - 641 004

Shri Ramdeobaba Kamla Nehru Engineering College, Katol Road, Nagpur

Kakatiya University, Vidyaranyapuri, Warangal-506009