What is the mining industry?
The mining industry is concerned with profitably extracting mineral resources from the earth. It involves exploration, discovery, evaluation, development, extraction, beneficiation, production, and marketing of mineral resources.
How is the mining industry organized and managed?
The organizational structure of mining companies varies, but similar types are found in coal mining, open-pit mining, and underground mining. A large company usually has a corporate structure with departments or divisions for operations, engineering, sales, exploration, environmental, land, purchasing, financial, and legal aspects. All of these may be administered by a centralized executive office headed by the president of the board and the president of the company.
A typical organization at a mine consists of a general manager, operating department superintendents, master mechanics, journeyman electricians, pit or mine foremen, shift bosses, blasting foremen, engineers, clerical staff, and other assistants. Strong support of research in various phases of mining has proved to be important to progressive management and successful operation of most mines. Most large mining companies throughout the world have research departments whose responsibility is to perform investigations that will solve problems in health and safety, rock mechanics, operations efficiency, and related matters. |
 |
What are some of the careers in the mining industry?
Careers in the mining industry are almost limitless in their diversity. Large mining companies employ accountants, economists, geologists, lawyers, managers, metallurgists, chemists, computer specialists, environmental specialists, human resource specialists, financial analysts, mining and mineral processing engineers, public relations specialists, purchasing agents, safety and security officers, marketing personnel, and consultants with various specialties, besides technicians in construction, transportation, equipment maintenance, and the areas of smelting and refining.
Until the early 1960s it was rare to see women employed in the mining industry. Since then, social attitudes and available training have resulted in increasing numbers of women working in every aspect of the mining industry.
What is the role of transportation in the mining industry?
Transportation is essential at all stages of mineral development. The mode varies from snowmobiles to helicopters, to railroads, trucks, conveyer belts, and ships. Providing modern transportation to make completely isolated areas accessible for exploration is very expensive and time-consuming. Transportation brings personnel and material in to set up and operate a mine. It must move ores from mine to mill, concentrates from mill to smelter, metals from smelter to manufacturer - over land or water, within country boundaries and internationally.
|
Copyright © 2006 Arizona Mining Association. All rights reserved.