Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Mine Surveyors & What They Do

By Carey Bourdier


With all the TV shows on these days about mining, you might think that it's something that just about anyone could do if they had enough money for the equipment. However, mining is actually a very complex business and there are many other types of mines beyond the gold mining we see on TV. Mine surveyors are professionals that ensure that mines are created safely by using a variety of interesting optical instruments such as a clinometer or a theodolite. If you enjoy science, math or engineering, then perhaps the career of a mining surveyor might be a good fit for you.

If you are interested in mine surveying, it probably also will interest you to know that there are many different mining operations out there. Gold is certainly one mineral that we need, but humans around the globe also mine for other metals such as copper, lead, zinc, tin, silver and copper. In addition, there are mines that extract gypsum, salt, spar, fluorite, potassium and much more. The methods of extraction vary depending on the material that you are trying to extract. A mining surveyor will learn about all of the methods as well as the environmental impact of mining.

A mine surveyor probably will pursue a college degree in mining engineering, as well as taking extensive coursework in various earth sciences and possibly metallurgy. This is the study of different metallic elements. There are many universities around the world that offer degrees in mining engineering. During your studies, you won't just be reading from textbooks, you will also learn practical skills such as how to use GPS receivers, a gyroscope and optical instruments such as a theodolite and a clinometer.

The gyro-theodolite is a very commonly used tool for mining engineers. This scope will provide you with the measurement of true north and also will maintain orientation, which is extremely important when you are constructing any type of tunnel or underground structure. This tool combines the theodolite with the gyroscope, and these are used to construct mines and many tunnels around the world, such as the huge Channel Tunnel between France and England. As a mining surveyor, you might also use a theodolite by itself to measure angles in the vertical and horizontal planes.

Mining can be dangerous as well as posing risks to the surrounding environment. As a mine surveyor, your job will be to help ensure that the mine is constructed safely with minimal damage to the environment. With underground mining, you will use your theodolite and other instruments to design safe tunnels that miners can use to excavate materials.

Of course, surface mining also affects the environment so it will be important to think about environmental concerns for a surface mine as well. Among surface mining, you will find quarrying and open-pit mining and strip mining. Quarrying is a type of open-pit extraction but it is a term reserved for mines that extract only different types of stone. Strip mining is a term for extracting minerals that are very close to the surface of the ground. For all of these types of mining, a surveyor will use a theodolite and other optical instruments.




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