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MINING ENGINEERING
Rick Honaker
Chair and Professor
Department of Mining Engineering
230 Mining & Mineral Resources Bldg
Phone: 257-8026; e-mail:
rhonaker@engr.uky.edu
OPPORTUNITIES
 Demand far exceeds
supply for entry-level
Mining Engineers
 Many are unfamiliar
with the mining
industry and its career
opportunities
 Scholarship
opportunities
Graduate Mining Engineering Trend
 The upsurge in mining
engineering graduates in
the late 1970’s was due to
the energy crisis.
 Downward turn was a
correction in the supply vs.
demand relationship and
low coal and mineral
prices.
 Recent market conditions
and future projections
indicate an increase in
mineral and coal demand.
 Currently graduating about
140 per year in the U.S..
 Study found that 300 new
graduates per year will be
needed over the next 10
years.
Mining Engineer Graduate Demand
(5% Growth Scenario)
 52% of the mining engineers in the U.S. are over 50 years of age.
 Based on a retirement age of 65, approximately 300 new mining
engineering graduates will be needed over the next 10 years to
meet the demand.
Career & Salary Growth Potential
‘Show me the money!’
 Due to the retirement rate
and the growth in the
minerals industry, career
growth is accelerated.
 Potential to achieve upper
level management position
in less than 10 years.
 Salaries are 2005 data.
 Current 2007 starting
salaries are in the
$55,000 - $60,000 range.
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
Petroleum
Mining
Nuclear
Chemical
Civil
Ar.
Manu.
Software
Median
annual
income ($)
NATIONAL ENGINEER’S WORKFORCE
STATISTICS
Academic Faculty Opportunities
 13 Mining
Engineering
programs in the
U.S..
 69 tenured or
tenure track faculty.
 24% will retire in
the next five years.
 Near half will retire
in the next 10
years.
Undergraduate Mining Engineering
Scholarships (> 69 credits complete)
Level GPA
Math, Chem.
& Physics
GPA
Amount per
Semester
I 3.60 – 4.00 3.20 – 4.00 $3800
II 3.30 – 3.59 3.00 – 3.19 $3400
III 3.00 – 3.29 2.50 – 2.99 $3000
IV 2.70 – 2.99 2.25 – 2.49 $2300
V 2.50 – 2.69 2.25 – 2.49 $1400
UK Undergraduate Mining
Engineering Enrollment
51 52
67
88
101
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year
UK
Undergraduate
Enrollment
IMPORTANCE OF
MINING INDUSTRY--
Just about
everything!
 All other industries depend on
mining and agriculture
 Nearly all energy sources are
obtained via mining
Can you name something
you are wearing or
something that you have
used today that came from
the mining industry?
About 40,000 pounds of new mineral
materials are now required annually for each
U.S. Citizen
MATERIAL LBS MATERIAL LBS
Stone 8,260 Copper 32
Sand & Gravel 7,110 Lead 15
Cement 690 Zinc 12
Clays 470 Other metals 32
Salt 420 Petroleum 8,100
Other nonmetals 1,470 Coal 5,590
Iron & steel 1,190 Gas 4,205
Aluminum 55 Uranium 0.1
Coal Growth in Electric Generation
New Coal-Based Power
Generation Units
Promising Global Coal Outlook
WHAT DOES A MINING
ENGINEER DO?
 Responsible for the safe, economical, and environmentally
sound operation of mines.
 Find, extract, and prepare coal, metals, and minerals for use
by manufacturing industries and utilities.
 Design open pit and underground mines, supervise the
construction of mine shafts and tunnels in underground
operations, and devise methods for transporting minerals to
processing plants.
 Some develop new mining equipment or direct mineral
processing operations to separate minerals from the dirt, rock,
and other materials with which they are mixed.
VARIOUS SPECIALTY AREAS
• Ground control and excavation design
• Ventilation systems design
• Mineral processing
• Geological modeling and reserve analysis
• Power system design
• Material handling system design
• Economic feasibility
• Operations and corporate management
• Others
GEOLOGICAL ENGINEER
1. Direct drilling programs &
apply geological
interpretations.
2. Make computerized maps.
3. Applying geological
knowledge to directing
mining, processing and
research groups.
4. Work environment variety:
hiking surface, climbing
underground, corporate
office presentation.
TYPICAL JOB TASKS
MINING ENGINEER
1. Determine of best mining
practice.
2. Minimize ground disturbance.
3. Survey operations to
determine production levels.
4. Design explosive and blasting
operations.
5. Develop optimum materials
handling systems.
6. Evaluate operational
efficiency.
7. Develop ventilation & safety
engineering strategies.
TYPICAL JOB TASKS
Longwall Mining
 Underground mining
method used in flat lying
deposits and mostly in coal.
 Mines the coal in large
blocks of approximately
10000 feet by 1000 feet.
 Shields (shown in picture)
run across the 1000 foot
face and support the roof
while a shearer removes
the coal from the face.
 As the shields move
forward, roof caves in
behind.
Room-and-Pillar Mining
Continuous miner
cutting and loading
coal
Roof bolter installing
roof bolts for roof
support
Shuttle car
being
loaded
Shuttle car
discharging
load
Conveyor
belt
Feeder/breaker
 Application in
flat lying
deposits.
 Coal,
aggregates and
minerals
extracted using
this technique.
 Extraction
achieved by
either:
1. Drilling &
Blasting or
2. Continuous
Miner.
Sublevel Caving
 Underground mining
technique for fairly
steep deposits
(>60o).
 Weak to strong ore
and rock.
 Typically used for
sulfide ores or
precious metals.
 Mining is performed
downwards from the
top of the ore body.
Mineral Processing Engineer
1. Design the processes &
flow sheet needed to
produce a valuable material.
2. Develop & direct the
processes that separate
minerals from other
minerals.
3. Optimize processing
operations to ensure
maximum profitability.
4. Produce a product that can
be transported.
5. Apply processing to reduce
environmental impacts.
TYPICAL JOB TASKS
In-Situ
Rock Breakage
Secondary
Crushing
Primary
Crusher
Solid-Solid
Separation
Classification
Grinding
Classification
Solid-Liquid
Separation
Solid-Liquid
Separation
Copper
Concentrate
(25% Cu)
1.5 tons/hr
Tailings
(0.14% Cu)
Run-of-Mine
Copper Ore
(0.50%)
100 tons/hr
98.5 tons/hr
Typical Mineral
Processing Flow
Sheet
Coal Preparation Flow Sheet
Deslime
Screens
Heavy
Media
Cyclone
Basket
Centrifuge
Heavy
Media
Vessel
Dewatering
Screens
Raw
Screens
Coal Spirals Screen-Bowl
Centrifuges
Classifying
Cyclones
Small
Solid-Solid Solid-Liquid
Size-Size
Coarse
Fine
Ultrafine
Froth
Flotation
Disc Filter
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER
1. Ensures that the company is
aware of all laws.
2. Designs environmental
systems to protect against
mishaps that could endanger
people and surroundings.
3. Monitors air and groundwater.
4. Develops permits for additional
mining and reclamation areas.
5. Directs the reclamation
program.
6. Works with public to address
environmental issues of
mining.
TYPICAL JOB TASKS
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
• Mining has always been among the top
paying fields in engineering
• Fast career track relative to other fields in
engineering
• “Boeing assigns 100 engineers to design a
$100,000,000 jet. AMAX assigns 3 mining
engineers in their 20’s to design a
$100,000,000 coal mine.”
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES (CONT.)
• Fast track from mining engineering
to executive positions.
• Rural and international living
opportunities. Crushed stone mined
everywhere.
• Overall employment in the industry
will decline, but not technical
employment.
OUR DEPARTMENT
• Approximately 105 undergraduates,
18 graduates, 3 post-docs, 8 faculty
• 25,259 square feet of space and $1.6
million equipment for teaching.
• 60,000 square feet research facility
and $7 million advanced research
equipment.
• Low student to faculty ratio…We get
to know you all.
OUR DEPARTMENT (CONT.)
• Traditional curriculum with opportunities
to specialize in mineral processing,
power systems, ventilation, geostatistics,
system engineering, and other areas.
• Summer and co-op employment
opportunities are plentiful. Nearly all of
our graduates leave with considerable
work experience.
• Student Chapter of SME ranked among
top 2 nationally for each of the last 5
years.

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GeneralMiningEngineering.ppt

  • 1. MINING ENGINEERING Rick Honaker Chair and Professor Department of Mining Engineering 230 Mining & Mineral Resources Bldg Phone: 257-8026; e-mail: rhonaker@engr.uky.edu
  • 2. OPPORTUNITIES  Demand far exceeds supply for entry-level Mining Engineers  Many are unfamiliar with the mining industry and its career opportunities  Scholarship opportunities
  • 3. Graduate Mining Engineering Trend  The upsurge in mining engineering graduates in the late 1970’s was due to the energy crisis.  Downward turn was a correction in the supply vs. demand relationship and low coal and mineral prices.  Recent market conditions and future projections indicate an increase in mineral and coal demand.  Currently graduating about 140 per year in the U.S..  Study found that 300 new graduates per year will be needed over the next 10 years.
  • 4. Mining Engineer Graduate Demand (5% Growth Scenario)  52% of the mining engineers in the U.S. are over 50 years of age.  Based on a retirement age of 65, approximately 300 new mining engineering graduates will be needed over the next 10 years to meet the demand.
  • 5. Career & Salary Growth Potential ‘Show me the money!’  Due to the retirement rate and the growth in the minerals industry, career growth is accelerated.  Potential to achieve upper level management position in less than 10 years.  Salaries are 2005 data.  Current 2007 starting salaries are in the $55,000 - $60,000 range.
  • 7. Academic Faculty Opportunities  13 Mining Engineering programs in the U.S..  69 tenured or tenure track faculty.  24% will retire in the next five years.  Near half will retire in the next 10 years.
  • 8. Undergraduate Mining Engineering Scholarships (> 69 credits complete) Level GPA Math, Chem. & Physics GPA Amount per Semester I 3.60 – 4.00 3.20 – 4.00 $3800 II 3.30 – 3.59 3.00 – 3.19 $3400 III 3.00 – 3.29 2.50 – 2.99 $3000 IV 2.70 – 2.99 2.25 – 2.49 $2300 V 2.50 – 2.69 2.25 – 2.49 $1400
  • 9. UK Undergraduate Mining Engineering Enrollment 51 52 67 88 101 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Year UK Undergraduate Enrollment
  • 10. IMPORTANCE OF MINING INDUSTRY-- Just about everything!  All other industries depend on mining and agriculture  Nearly all energy sources are obtained via mining
  • 11. Can you name something you are wearing or something that you have used today that came from the mining industry?
  • 12. About 40,000 pounds of new mineral materials are now required annually for each U.S. Citizen MATERIAL LBS MATERIAL LBS Stone 8,260 Copper 32 Sand & Gravel 7,110 Lead 15 Cement 690 Zinc 12 Clays 470 Other metals 32 Salt 420 Petroleum 8,100 Other nonmetals 1,470 Coal 5,590 Iron & steel 1,190 Gas 4,205 Aluminum 55 Uranium 0.1
  • 13. Coal Growth in Electric Generation
  • 16. WHAT DOES A MINING ENGINEER DO?  Responsible for the safe, economical, and environmentally sound operation of mines.  Find, extract, and prepare coal, metals, and minerals for use by manufacturing industries and utilities.  Design open pit and underground mines, supervise the construction of mine shafts and tunnels in underground operations, and devise methods for transporting minerals to processing plants.  Some develop new mining equipment or direct mineral processing operations to separate minerals from the dirt, rock, and other materials with which they are mixed.
  • 17. VARIOUS SPECIALTY AREAS • Ground control and excavation design • Ventilation systems design • Mineral processing • Geological modeling and reserve analysis • Power system design • Material handling system design • Economic feasibility • Operations and corporate management • Others
  • 18. GEOLOGICAL ENGINEER 1. Direct drilling programs & apply geological interpretations. 2. Make computerized maps. 3. Applying geological knowledge to directing mining, processing and research groups. 4. Work environment variety: hiking surface, climbing underground, corporate office presentation. TYPICAL JOB TASKS
  • 19. MINING ENGINEER 1. Determine of best mining practice. 2. Minimize ground disturbance. 3. Survey operations to determine production levels. 4. Design explosive and blasting operations. 5. Develop optimum materials handling systems. 6. Evaluate operational efficiency. 7. Develop ventilation & safety engineering strategies. TYPICAL JOB TASKS
  • 20. Longwall Mining  Underground mining method used in flat lying deposits and mostly in coal.  Mines the coal in large blocks of approximately 10000 feet by 1000 feet.  Shields (shown in picture) run across the 1000 foot face and support the roof while a shearer removes the coal from the face.  As the shields move forward, roof caves in behind.
  • 21. Room-and-Pillar Mining Continuous miner cutting and loading coal Roof bolter installing roof bolts for roof support Shuttle car being loaded Shuttle car discharging load Conveyor belt Feeder/breaker  Application in flat lying deposits.  Coal, aggregates and minerals extracted using this technique.  Extraction achieved by either: 1. Drilling & Blasting or 2. Continuous Miner.
  • 22. Sublevel Caving  Underground mining technique for fairly steep deposits (>60o).  Weak to strong ore and rock.  Typically used for sulfide ores or precious metals.  Mining is performed downwards from the top of the ore body.
  • 23. Mineral Processing Engineer 1. Design the processes & flow sheet needed to produce a valuable material. 2. Develop & direct the processes that separate minerals from other minerals. 3. Optimize processing operations to ensure maximum profitability. 4. Produce a product that can be transported. 5. Apply processing to reduce environmental impacts. TYPICAL JOB TASKS
  • 25. Coal Preparation Flow Sheet Deslime Screens Heavy Media Cyclone Basket Centrifuge Heavy Media Vessel Dewatering Screens Raw Screens Coal Spirals Screen-Bowl Centrifuges Classifying Cyclones Small Solid-Solid Solid-Liquid Size-Size Coarse Fine Ultrafine Froth Flotation Disc Filter
  • 26. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER 1. Ensures that the company is aware of all laws. 2. Designs environmental systems to protect against mishaps that could endanger people and surroundings. 3. Monitors air and groundwater. 4. Develops permits for additional mining and reclamation areas. 5. Directs the reclamation program. 6. Works with public to address environmental issues of mining. TYPICAL JOB TASKS
  • 27. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES • Mining has always been among the top paying fields in engineering • Fast career track relative to other fields in engineering • “Boeing assigns 100 engineers to design a $100,000,000 jet. AMAX assigns 3 mining engineers in their 20’s to design a $100,000,000 coal mine.”
  • 28. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES (CONT.) • Fast track from mining engineering to executive positions. • Rural and international living opportunities. Crushed stone mined everywhere. • Overall employment in the industry will decline, but not technical employment.
  • 29. OUR DEPARTMENT • Approximately 105 undergraduates, 18 graduates, 3 post-docs, 8 faculty • 25,259 square feet of space and $1.6 million equipment for teaching. • 60,000 square feet research facility and $7 million advanced research equipment. • Low student to faculty ratio…We get to know you all.
  • 30. OUR DEPARTMENT (CONT.) • Traditional curriculum with opportunities to specialize in mineral processing, power systems, ventilation, geostatistics, system engineering, and other areas. • Summer and co-op employment opportunities are plentiful. Nearly all of our graduates leave with considerable work experience. • Student Chapter of SME ranked among top 2 nationally for each of the last 5 years.