CAREERS IN MINING
It’s an exciting time to be involved
in the minerals industry.
ENGINEER
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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
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Boilermaker
Electronics Engineering Technician
Electrical Fitter
Electrical Mechanic
Fitter
Instrument Fitter
Lift Mechanic
Metal Machinist
Surveying Technologist
Welder
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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.
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:$25000 - $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.