Major in Mining Geological Engineering - An Overview

Geological engineering deals with the application of geology in the environment. Properties of earth materials exploration activities, geophysical and geochemical prospecting, site investigations and engineering geology are all phases of geological engineering. The mining engineering emphasizes on the exploration and development of mineral resources and upon the economics of the business of mining.

Mining Engineers 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. Geological Engineers deal with a wide variety of the resource and environmental problems that come with accommodating more and more people on a finite planet.

Mining and geological engineers are responsible for the safe, economical, and environmentally sound operation of mines. Mining and geological engineering provides the vital link between Geo sciences and the engineering technologies of mining and the business end of the global mining sector.

So, if you are interested in science and natural resources, are good at problem solving, love playing with big machinery and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, then Mining and Geological Engineering is the career for you. Mining and Geological Engineering is a career that is fulfilling and the work is critical to the functioning of the economic system. All you need is right preparation and guidance right from high school. We at USAeducation.info have prepared a section on guidance required to choose majors from high school, college prep to take up a career as a Mining and Geological Engineer. Take a look at all our articles on Mining and Geological Engineering Major prep guide.

When you get on a career in Mining and Geological engineering, you can expect:

• High Job Growth

Employment of mining and geological engineers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment growth for mining and geological engineers will be driven by demand for mining operations.

• Good Wages

The median annual wage for mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers is approximately $85K. Actual factors varied and depends on factors like highest qualification, skill and type of company you work etc.

• Better Opportunities

Mining and Geological Engineers can work in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. They may also spend time outdoors at construction sites and oil and gas exploration and production sites, where they monitor or direct operations or solve onsite problems.

The top five industries for mining and geological engineers are:

• Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
• Metal Ore Mining
• Coal Mining
• Management of Companies and Enterprises
• Support Activities for Mining
  

• Diverse Job Roles and Responsibilities

Mining and Geological engineering majors can work as:

• Mine Safety Engineer: A Mine safety engineer works to design new procedures, equipment, and guidelines to maintain and promote the safety of industrial workers.
• Validation Engineer: Validation engineers play a critical role in the manufacturing process, working to test and validate production systems and technology.
• Project Engineer: Project engineers use their technical and engineering knowledge to manage a project from conception to completion.
• Mining Engineer: Mining engineers design mines.
• Geologist: Geologists are scientists who study the matter that constitutes the Earth and the processes in history that have shaped it. They also study natural hazards like earthquakes, volcanic activity, tsunamis and weather storms and use this data to develop faster ways to warn the public of impending disasters.
  

You can be part of this most flourishing career if you prepare and plan well ahead right from high school. Explore all about Mining and Geological Engineering Major Guide.