Mining is one of the most profitable economical activities in modern economies. It involves the extraction of precious elements and materials from the earth and processing those materials into products that people can use. Most of the things people use, such as steel, aluminium and coal, are a product of mining activities. When mining, the miners require different complex equipment and set-ups to carry out their activities. Mining engineering focuses on all aspects of mineral exploration. The engineers focus on the design of underground and surface structures to ensure they are suitable for the specific mining activity and the safety of the miners. The following piece looks at some of the technical parts of mining engineering: 

The Mine Surveying Stage

Mining regulators demand that mining sites maintain clear plans and sections for surface and underground operations. The regulators may require officially presenting these plans to government or local authority offices to ensure that they meet the required standards. Therefore, it makes sense to work with mine engineers who know how to maintain accurate plans for the current and upcoming land use needs. Engineers start with mine surveying to guarantee compliance with mining title permissions. It is essential before setting up any facility. They examine the site and collect information necessary to combat flooding or accidental connection to another mine. 

The Different Mine Plans

Mine engineers come up with different mine plans to suit specific mining applications. The site plan is plotted against a set of coordinates to enable easy identification of the mine. The most common mine plans include: 

Underground (UG) plan

The plan features all the declines, adits, shafts, crosscuts and raises installed in the mine. The engineers use different shades and hatches to show variation between the surface and underground structures. 

Geological plans 

Geological plans show the location of the mining installations within significant landmarks like faults, rocks and dykes. They show the impact of these physical features on the mining activities and the change needed to make the operations safe and successful. 

Mining Engineering Techniques

Mine engineers rely on different tools and methods when designing and planning the mining sites. Some of these techniques include GPS surveillance, satellite mapping and drone mapping. However, surface surveys largely depend on having people on the ground with different instruments for accurate readings and records. The measurements taken are the basis of the installations done on the mining site. A failure to follow this blueprint exposes you to the risk of hazardous structures and mining practices.