Mining engineering

Mining is defined as the extraction of minerals from under, above, or on the surface of the earth in the engineering field. In addition to mineral processing, exploration, excavation, geology and metallurgy, as well as geotechnical engineering and surveying, mining engineering is related with a wide range of other disciplines. In the mining industry, a mining engineer might be involved in any part of the mining process, from exploration and finding of mineral resources through mine design, creation of plans, production, and operations, all the way to mine closure.

The process of mineral extraction generates a significant quantity of waste and uneconomic material, which is the principal cause of pollution in the areas around mines. Mineral extraction operations are, by their very nature, disruptive to the natural environment in and around the areas where the minerals are found. Miners and mining engineers are consequently responsible for more than only the extraction and processing of minerals; they are also responsible for minimising environmental damage both during and after mining, which occurs as a consequence of the expansion of the mining area. Such industries are subjected to severe regulations in order to limit pollution and harm to the environment, and they are subjected to frequent inspections by the relevant government ministries.