Mining Engineering

From the period of Adam and Eve (Hypothetical), they have been utilizing stones for enormous purposes. Minerals were also discovered during the growing periods of the civilization but the extractions of these minerals were in a haphazard fashion.  It was the ancient Romans who were the developers of the large scale mining methods which created the interest among the citizens to learn and innovate the new ways of exploiting minerals. The interest of the people to acquire knowledge of mining guided towards introduction of a course as Mining Engineering.

Mining Engineering is a branch of engineering which involves the study of extraction of minerals theoretically and practically. There are 4 year B.Tech. programme in Mining Engineering, 5 year dual degree programmes i.e. B.Tech. in Mining Engineering & M.Tech. in Mining Engineering and B.Tech. Mining Engineering & MBA. The course structures are well planned and they give an in-depth knowledge of the subjects and tools as well as a solid foundation in the fundamentals. 

Engineering life starts with introductory subjects which give a brief insight of every branch. The core subjects of mining get rolling in the second stage of your engineering. When I was kid, I was fascinated to watch people with long tapes measuring the distances. Only later at university did I learn to use theodolite and levels known as mine surveying. These are used for measuring distances, slopes and heights precisely and accurately for keep the working in the mine going in a proper direction. Movie Kaala Pathar featuring Amitabh Bachchan shows consequences of the unsound work of mine surveying.

Drilling and blasting is the one of the major subject in the lives of mining people. The frequently asked question by the people would be aren't you afraid of the depth and explosives. The significant part of the technical interview revolves around this field. Various types and properties of explosives, drilling methods and equipment's are introduced in this topic.

Last couple years of engineering are the most important years in your life time. It consists of all the mining courses which guide you to choose their specialization in the final year for research. Mining methods is the subject in which the way to extract the mineral in an appropriate manner is taught. A pothole on the road resembles the surface mine in a vast area and way to have this pothole made at a larger extent is put forward in detailed way. The extraction at a considerable depth is done by underground mining methods.

Consider a kitchen without an exhaust system that’s the condition of the mine without a mechanical ventilator. Mine ventilation is a fabulous subject that deals with the environment in the mine i.e. the influence of gases produced in the mines, temperature, humidity and circulation of the air. This subject also acquaints you with equipment's that safeguard the people from varied environmental conditions, dealing with mine fires and emergency conditions.

As the reaction of a girl when you state those three beautiful words can’t be known that’s the same with the response of the rocks to the force applied on it. For the later one we have a medium to gain knowledge but the former it’s still obscure. Rock mechanics the only subject that makes you go nuts in your engineering life describes about the properties of rock and equipment's that have to be configured according to that of the nature of rocks.

The age when the people needed to extract the minerals manually have long gone and the machines have taken their place. As the biology student studies about the every nerve rooting from toe to head, mining student needs to study about the machine from the axle of a wheel to the body of the machine. Mining Machinery is the subject that keeps you busy with the machines. This subject includes the types of machines, working of the machines, safety aspects of the machines.

You plan a lot when you go to a weekend trip to have a successful and adventurous tour likewise a mine that needs to be running until the mineral exhausts needs to be planned. Mine planning and Economics gives an insight about which method would be least cost effective on the type of deposit available. There wouldn't be any business that would be working without any profit; mining too is a business that needs profit to move ahead.

There are many more course in this field like Mine Legislation, Mine Safety etc. The course is designed in such a manner that the students choose their specialization in the final year for research. The training's, excursions, surveying camp keep you involved throughout your engineering. There lies lots of fun in these four years if you study at your interest. At the end of four years some would be going to reputed companies, some would want to learn more and delve deeper by pursuing masters.

Why Mining?

Why Mining or why should I opt Mining Engineering never came to my mind when I was beginning to pursue my engineering career. At that moment I was thinking of the possibilities to be different from the people around me who are pursuing the most common profession (Like IT, Computer Science, Electrical, Civil and Mechanical). The working of my elder sister’s profession made me to think about these possibilities as she was working in front of the computer for long hours without any physical work. I wanted my career in a profession where my neurons would be drained out of energy and my body doesn't need any extra amount of work to be done after my working hours.

This question again hit me during my placement season where the interviewers from all the mining companies wanted to know why I was keenly interested in working in the mining industry. Giving a serious thought to this wondering question, I found out that this profession provides the 3^rd highest pay packages after the petroleum and the chemical industry. Mining doesn't only mean that we have to work in the field; it constitutes of various other options like being a consultant, bank financier working for the company etc. This profession was ideal one for me as it included planning and field work. Although after a couple of decades there will be robotic machines working in the field leaving the man to work on the computer. The most important thing is that we should be enjoying the work we are performing, if there is no happiness in it then you will never taste the satisfaction in your life. If most of the people are pitching towards the non basic industries then someone should raise to kick forward the basic industry as they are the ones who are in dire need of the basic products.

I am a Mining Engineering Graduate from Indian School of Mines Dhanbad. I was selected in a reputed Multinational Company through campus recruitment. I have planned to work in the company which will give a real time experience that will be helpful for pursuing my masters in states in future. In this time I would be getting focused towards the field of specialization in masters.

There is a saying that classroom learning is just to get past through the degree and the experience you acquire will be by facing the real time problems. The learning will help you to manage the problems. You should choose a main stream which provides you too many options in your career.  As in these you will be facing failures in most and some which lead you to success. You should be able to convert this success into your own growth. There will be lots of side streams that you will be influenced with. I play basketball, I am at my first stage of my writing and I have keen interest towards the social service & travelling and who knows how time will change the fondness towards the side stream works. 

Mining industry is one of the basic industries.  As water is to a man, mining is to the world. It is a main line where you will head towards being a manager of a mine or a consultant or a tunnel project manager etc. You can be one among them paving a way towards your own success. Mining industry needs people to come forward and take the challenge to improvise the safety and technology in mines.

All the very best to all the students who are going to opt Bachelors in Mining Engineering or Diploma in Mining Engineering. The biggest request would be that to choose a field which you love the most as you will feel a different level of satisfaction in carrying out your work and you will never regret your decision in your old age.