CAREERS IN MINING

It’s an exciting time to be involved in the minerals industry.

ENGINEER Chemical Engineer Civil Engineer Electrical Engineer Environmental Engineer Geological Engineer Materials Engineer Mechanical Engineer Mining Engineer Minerals Process Engineer Petroleum Engineer Surveyor

Learn a trade Boilermaker Electronics Engineering Technician Electrical Fitter Electrical Mechanic Fitter Instrument Fitter Lift Mechanic Metal Machinist Surveying Technologist Welder

Backhoe Operator Bulldozer Operator Diver Driller Excavator Operator Grader Operator Miner Open Cut Mining Plant Operator Power Generation Plant Operator Scraper Operator Shot Firer Truck Driver

CHEMICAL ENGINEER Chemical Engineers in the minerals industry design, develop and operate processes for converting and refining raw materials into products.

Civil Engineer A civil engineer plans/designs and supervises the construction, operation and maintenance of roads, bridges, dams, ports, docks, building structures and other facilities required by the mining industry.

Electrical Engineer Electrical engineers apply scientific and engineering principles in the research, design, manufacture, operation and maintenance of electrical and electronic equipment, machine systems and components.

Environmental Engineer Environmental engineers are concerned with assessing and managing the effects of human activity on the natural and built environments. They apply their engineering knowledge to environmental impact assessment, natural resource management, pollution control and minimisation of impact of waste.

Geological Engineer Geological engineers utilise the principles of earth science in the solution of problems involving soil, rock and groundwater, and design structures in and below the ground.

Materials Engineer Materials engineers investigate the properties of materials to develop and assess their commercial and engineering applications.

Mechanical Engineer Mechanical engineers apply engineering principles in the utilisation of energy, machinery, equipment and materials. They design machines and mechanical installations and evaluate installed machinery, processes and products.

Mining Engineer Mining engineers plan and direct the engineering aspects of extracting minerals from the earth.

Minerals Process Engineer Minerals process engineers transform low value, impure raw materials into commercially valuable products. The main sources of these raw materials are low grade minerals, by-products of other processing operations and recycled materials.

Petroleum Engineer The general term Petroleum Engineer is used to describe an engineer working in the oil and gas industry. Petroleum Engineers may become more specialised and are then called Drilling Engineers, Production Engineers or Reservoir Engineers.

Surveyor Mine surveyors measure underground and open cut mine workings in full detail.

Boiler maker Boilermakers mark off, cut, shape, assemble and fix metal to produce or repair storage tanks and other high pressure storage vessels.

Electronics Electrical engineering technicians carry out technical support functions in electrical engineering, design, research, manufacture, construction, operation and maintenance.

Electrical Fitter Electrical fitters are mainly engaged in making, fitting or repairing electrical machines and instruments.

Fitter Their job is to diagnose problems, repair, overhaul, tune, maintain and test heavy duty mobile equipment used on site;

Instrument Fitter Instrument fitters assemble, calibrate, install and commission precision instruments that measure, indicate, transmit, record and control.

Lift Mechanic Lift mechanics assemble, install, adjust, maintain and repair electrical and hydraulic lifts and escalators.

Metal Machinist Metal machinists set up and operate tools to cut, shape and form metal stock and castings to exact size, using detailed drawings and specifications.

Surveying Technologist Surveying technologists work independently and as part of a team in the development of solutions to problems utilising existing surveying knowledge and technology.

Backhoe Operator Backhoe operators drive backhoes and operate attachments to excavate, break and level earth, rock and other materials.

Welder Welders construct or repair metal products by joining parts using one of several welding processes. There are first, second and third class welders.

Bulldozer Operator Bulldozer operators drive bulldozers, using the blade and other attachments to gouge out and move rock, earth and other materials.

Diver Divers carry out a range of duties underwater using special breathing apparatus. Offshore divers assist in the construction and repair of platforms and pipelines and may dive to depths of 250 metres in submersible work chambers. Often they have a trade such as welding or boilermaking. Onshore divers generally don't dive to below 50 meters.

Driller Drillers move, set up and operate drilling rigs and related equipment to drill holes for minerals exploration and oil and gas production.

Excavator Operator Excavator operators drive excavators to dig, move and load earth, rock or other materials.

Grader Operator Grader operators drive graders to spread and level materials on site.

Miner Underground miners may perform the following tasks: cut drives into the ore body using pneumatic equipment; drill holes with hand or machine mounted pneumatic or hydraulic drills after estimating the position and force of explosion required to dislodge material as well as the amount of explosives needed;

Open Cut Mining Plant Operator Open cut mining plant operators use equipment to excavate and load ore in open-cut mine workings.

Power Generation Plant Operator Power generating plant operators work in generating stations and operate electric power generating, distribution and transmission equipment.

Scraper Operator Scraper operators drive scrapers to pick up, haul, deposit and level earth on mining sites.

Shot Firer Shot firers assemble, position and detonate explosives to break or dislodge rock and soil.

Truck Driver Truck drivers use heavy vehicles to transport goods and materials from one area to another.

Trades Assistant (Metal Trades Assistant Trades assistants help metal engineering tradespersons by performing routine tasks. They may specialise as boilermakers assistants, fitters assistants, metal forgers assistants, metal moulders assistants, or as second-class or third-class welders. Trades assistants in the minerals and energy industry may perform the following tasks: position and hold metal stock or products to enable work to be carried out perform assembly and dismantling operations solder or spot weld components using electrical spot or butt welding machines operate power hammers, presses or other cutting and shaping tools and machines ensure tools and materials are available for tradesperson hand tools to tradespersons and hold tools not immediately required clean and prepare working surfaces.

Project Manager Salary:$ $55000 As the name suggests project officers generally manage specific projects within an organisation, from the planning stage through to completion. They employ other individuals in the organisation to take on various tasks associated with the project and coordinate their efforts. Project managers in the minerals and energy industry may perform the following tasks: Research and analyse data relevant to the project in question. Devise a plan of action for taking the project to completion. Coordinate people involved in the project to work to plan and a timeline. Submit progress reports to management. Track progress on databases and spreadsheets.