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.