Sunday, October 25, 2015

Should you opt M.S or M.Eng in Mining?

                  In the mindset of the every student, there exists a very bold aspiration, to pursue masters in the international universities. However, every student doesn't have a clear understanding between M.Sc. and M.Eng. While I have a little knowledge about how this influences in other streams of engineering but I can assure it matters a lot in mining stream.

             You can think what's a big deal if a student applies for M.Eng. or M.Sc. as they both represent the masters degree. The master's degree you choose has a totally different influence in your career and on your mindset. Then what is the difference between them?? 

By definition:

Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) can be either an academic and professional master's degree in the field of engineering. 

Master of Science (M.S. or M.Sc.) is granted for studies in engineering focused on the growth and improvement of the subject.

                  The students are not fond of definitions which make them more confused towards these things. Let me help you to describe a little more about these in a non professional way.


                  Master of Engineering is a degree for those who are interested to increase their knowledge in technical aspects of the subject and will be joining the industry after their graduation. In this program, the time of graduation can go from one and half year to that of two years depends on completion of the technical courses. In some universities, there is a clause to completion of program which include to present a technical paper. While in some other universities, student should undertake internship and present a technical report about the internship for graduation. This program is totally oriented towards preparing a graduate towards a professional career path i.e. towards an industry. 

               Master of Science is a degree for those who are interested in research. Research means performing experiments to develop something new such that it helps the industry in one form or the other. In this program, you will be allocated a project to develop the experiments and perform it under the guidance of a professor and complete a thesis on the performed experiments and findings. The time frame of the graduation depends on the completion of  the thesis which may take up to two to three years. Especially, this program is for those who are interested in pursuing Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) while the M.Eng. students cannot pursue PhD. The career options for this program can lead to industrial jobs especially in Research and Development (R&D) sector of the industry / Scientist / Professor. 

                   Opting a degree, can make you focus towards your future aspirations. Both the degrees are focused towards the professional career path in their respective manner, now it depends on the students whether they want to pursue masters by research i.e. M.Sc. or M.Eng. which is professional masters degree.

               There is a saying "No pain No gain". The real deal in the M.Sc. program is to find something new and presenting the findings in the form of publications and to find the right career forward. While that in M.Eng. program is to create a network inside the industries to obtain a position in the industry. 
                           
                       Hoping the prospective students will choose their degree wisely and wishing the students all the very best for their future.  

Picture Sources:

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Which Mine Planning software is extensively used in India?

                   In the past two decades, the dependence of human life on computers is increased drastically. The applications of storing data and re utilizing the data whenever needed has made it much easier than in the log books. In the present time, the computers are being used in every industry and has become a important part of the human life. Mining Industry, like all other industries is increasingly progressing towards the usage of computers not only in storing the data but also in planning the whole mine.

          The significant increase in storage capacity and the processing speeds made the mining industry to rely on computer applications to carry out the designs, monitoring of the designs, scheduling of the operations with large amounts of data storage and retrieval. The various planning software's that are being used in the mining industry are:

1) Mine 2-4D and CADSMine software

                Once known as Graphic Mining Solutions International (GMSI) has developed and Mine 2-4D and CADSMine software which was then changed the company name to Mine RP. This company has been recently launched and found to be acquired by RungePincockMineraco. Mine2-4D software is used only for planning while the CADSMine Software can be used for range of works which include geological modelling to mine rehabilitation designs.
       
2) XPAC software

                 Software is developed by RungePincockMineraco can be used for planning and scheduling of open cast and underground coal mines and only open cast metal mines.

3) SURPAC and MINEX software


              Gemcom now owned by Geovia developed these softwares. SURPAC is mainly used for geological modelling of the ore bodies and designing open cast and underground metal mines. Whereas MINEX is a coal mining software which is used for geological models and mine planning of coal and other stratified ore bodies such as limestone. These softwares can support from exploration to the mine rehabilitation designs in their respective fields.

4) VULCAN software

                Maptek Vulcan can be used in all the mining scenarios i.e. coal, metal and quarries which may be open cast or underground. This software can also be used for creating geological models and then for planning to mine rehabilitation designs. This software is available in packages which can be available according to the mining scenario.

5) Hexagon's Minesight software
                     
                 Minesight took life in a small consulting company named Mintec which provides planning tools for opencast and underground operations. This software can be used from feasibility studies to daily mine operations planning which also includes long term planning and short term planning.
  
6) Minemax Software

           Minemax software named after the name of the company will be completing its 20th anniversary next year which provides planning tools in geological modelling and planning of open pit mines.

7) Carlson Software
                Carlson Mining software is extensively used in United States coal mines which provides tools for geology, surface mining and underground mining and also assist in other stratified deposits.

8)Datamine

                  Datamine is a software which is used to improvise the mine plans in accordance to the geotechnical difficulties present in the area.

There may be many existing mine planning softwares throughout the global. These ate the few that gained popularity throughout the years and are being used in large number of mines.

The big question which remains unanswered is that which mine planning software is extensively used in India?

SURPAC and MINEX are the softwares that are being extensively used in India and in the World.

While the South African Market uses a different software which is recently acquired by the RPMglobal i.e Mine2-4D software. The market share of planning softwares in the South Africa is shown in the figure.

Sources
http://www.infomine.com/publications/docs/InternationalMining/Chadwick2007s.pdf
http://www.saimm.co.za/Journal/v113n06p497.pdf

Friday, October 23, 2015

Gold Reserves in India



As the saying "Every person has their own way to look at things." Normal person looks at gold to be a precious metal to buy it as instruments while the chemist looks at it as chemical metal which atomic number 79 and symbolizes gold as Au. The engineer digs deep into the metal and uses it to his own benefits to use it in the electronic while the doctor does the same thing but to use it into the medical facilities to help the people from suffering. The one thing is common in all the prospects of a human it's valuable.


The physical and chemical properties of the gold and its scarcity makes it so valuable. Gold is know to be the most ductile metal. One ounce of gold can be made into a 80 km long thin wire which is also the concept behind making ornaments for which people go crazy. Gold is very good conductor of heat and electricity as it has electric resistivity of 0.022 micro-ohm and thermal conductivity of 310 W m-1. Gold is also very good corrosion resistant metal and doesn't oxidize which makes it to be a noble metal. These characteristics makes gold, one of the most valuable and precious metal on earth.

But wait how much is gold found on earth?


The estimates according to 2014, the gold reserves are estimated to be around 60,000 metric tons of gold. The Australia leads the reserves base by 9,900 metric tons with South Africa having 6000 metric tons of gold. The worldwide production reached 2860 metric tons in 2016 with China contributing it to 14%. The chart shows the gold mining reserves in the top ten countries which makes it 80% of the total gold reserves of the world.


The gold mining reserves in India is estimated up to 491 tonnes. As there is only one mine operational i.e. Hutti Gold mine in Karnataka which produces 3-4 tonnes annually.

Be aware about the difference between gold mining reserves and the gold holding reserves. The gold holding reserves corresponds to the holdings of the central bank of the country in the form of gold. The statistics of these reserves are far different than a person can expect. The normal person would expect the largest mining reserve would have the highest holding reserve While the truth is USA is in the top of the table followed by Germany. India is on the 11th place with 557.7 metric tonnes of reserves in central bank.

The gold holdings in the people of India as ornaments is estimated to be around 20,000 metric tonnes which is double to that of Australian gold mining reserves.

Sources:
thehindubusinessline.com
stasista.com
www.gold.org>download>file