Mining engineering encompasses the study and practice of extracting minerals from the earth. This career combines technical skills with environmental and safety concerns to ensure efficient resource extraction. Specializations within mining engineering play a crucial role in advancing the field, addressing specific challenges, and improving operational efficiency(Navigator, 2024).
Areas of research interest are:
- Mining: Mine economics and valuation, mine design, drilling and blasting methods, rock mechanics and slope stability, optimization and simulation of mining operations, advanced mining methods, mine services (particularly mine ventilation), and climatic control.
- Mineral processing: Unit operations, comminution, process modelling and optimization, expert systems, instrumentation and computer control. Flotation, surface chemistry, fines recovery, coal recovery, treatment of fine and oxidized coal, and precious metals recovery.
- Mining and Environment: Acid rock drainage, environmental protection, effluent control and treatment. Social and legal aspects of sustainable mining practices, small-scale mining in developing countries(What Does a Mining Production Geologist Do?, n.d.).
References:
-
Navigator, C. (2024, August 8). Specializations Within the Mining Engineering Career. American Profession Guide. https://americanprofessionguide.com/mining-engineering-specializations/
-
What does a Mining Production Geologist do? Career Overview, Roles, Jobs | GSA. (n.d.). The Geological Society of America. Retrieved August 6, 2025, from https://careers.geosociety.org/career/mining-production-geologist
