Engineer, mineral processing

Mining engineers, metallurgists and related professionals conduct research, design, develop and maintain industrial methods for extracting metals from ores, and minerals, water, oil or natural gas from the earth, and for developing new alloys, ceramic and other materials. They study and advise on particular materials, products or processes. Mining engineers, metallurgists and related professionals perform the following tasks: • determining the location and planning the extraction of coal, metallic ores, non-metallic minerals and building materials such as stone and gravel; • determining the optimal methods for efficient mining and extraction operations and the types of machinery to be used, and planning and overseeing the construction of shafts and tunnels; • determining drilling sites and proposing methods to control the flow of water, oil and gas from wells; • planning and overseeing the storage, primary processing and transport of water, oil and natural gas; • establishing safety standards and procedures and first-aid facilities for underground work; • conducting research, developing methods for extracting metals and advising on their application; • investigating the properties of metals and alloys, developing new alloys and advising on and supervising the technical aspects of metal and alloy production and processing; • providing technical cooperation and consultation with other specialists such as geologists and geophysicists; • examining deposits and mines to assess their profitability. Examples of occupations in this unit group: – Engineer, metallurgist – Engineer, development and operation of oil and natural gas fields – Engineer, mining