Search Documents

By C. T. Shaw

Fur a secure mineral supply position to be maintained in the Fiuropean Community there must be a supply of qualified people in the minerals industries. The education of the people required to run and develop these industries should be a priority in the community. This means that there should be a strong capability in mining engineering education. The mining engineering professors decided in 1990 to get together in a new Society to discuss the problems. The Society of Mining Professors/Societat der Berg-baukunde was formed at a meeting in Austria in October 1990. It is basically a F.uropean Society with a few member professors from outside Europe to keep the Society conversant with trends elsewhere. The objectives of the Society are to see that the mining universities in Fiurope maintain standards and produce enough mining engineers. The present membership of the Society and the work of developing a database of current courses is described. Working from the knowledge base developed, it will be possible to design a 'European' mining degree course. The problems which will have to be addressed have been identified and are described in detail.The paper finally goes on to discuss the other problems that universities are facing, the economic problems and above all the lack of students applying for mining courses across Europe. The help and active participation of the mining industry, if that industry still wishes to employ mining engineers, is identified as the only possible solution to those problems.

Jan 1, 1993

By Ta M. Li

A record 340 senior students with majors in mining and mineral engineering from 21 shcools in the US may be expected to enter a manpower-hungry mineral industry in 1975. While starting salaries may have been the deciding factor in job selection in the past, 1975 graduates will find salaries almost the same in most mining sectors. Meanwhile, the survival prospects of various mineral engineering schools had the usual ups and downs in 1974, but tightening state budgets could still take a toll in reducing the number of schools offering mineral engineering degrees. Two such schools on the endangered list include Montana College of Mineral Science in Butte, Mont., and the College of Mines, University of Idaho, in Moscow, Idaho.

Jan 3, 1975

By C. E. LAWAL

WITH the object of adapting high-school vocational courses to the industrial needs of the community, a few high-school officials in West -Virginia working with the School of Mines of the State university decided to try an innovation this year. The purpose of this experiment was to teach coal mining in two high schools situated in mining communities. We thought that if a course in coal mining would be included in the list of optional courses offered in the high school, it might interest some of the boys, and if the course were properly taught it would undoubtedly be of inestimable value to those boys who later decided to take up mining work as their vocation. This coal-mining course was started last September in the Berwind and Gary high schools in West Virginia. The high-school officials in their conferences with' us decided that we should work up the outline of this course and they would assign the science teachers of the schools as instructors, with ,the understanding that we would help 'these instructors with this work. We consented to all this and submitted -an outline to the school officials which they are following this year.

Jan 1, 1929

By P J. McCarthy

Globalisation and consolidation is resulting in the mining industry coming to be dominated by a small number of very large companies seeking to lever assets and knowledge to create wealth. As an important service provider to the mining industry, the minerals tertiary education sector needs to understand these global drivers and respond to them. However, it is under-resourced and its sustainability is under challenge in all Western countries. Through the establishment and funding of the Minerals Tertiary Education Council (MTEC), the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has provided a unique opportunity to build a national, world-class minerals tertiary education environment in Australia that can be sustained in the long-term. This paper reviews how the global changes occurring in the mining industry provide the model for what needs to occur in the minerals education sector and how MTEC is the logical vehicle to facilitate these changes. It concludes by suggesting that the time has come to integrate the minerals tertiary education providers into one business. Furthermore, the vision should be for a global mining education academy based around a virtual university capable of servicing the cultural diversity and continuing education needs of the global minerals industry.

Jan 1, 2001

By Vincent A. Scovazzo

"The most significant study on the effects of longwall mining on gas and oil well integrity was completed by a consortium of coal and shale gas industry participants. A field study was conducted in 2013 and 2014 and is referred to by its location on Well Pad NV-35. The experiment site was located at the CONSOL Enlow Fork Mine in Washington County, Pennsylvania.The experiment was completed to verify John T. Boyd Company (BOYD) calculations and studies completed under contract by for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Gas Well Pillar Study Update. The findings of the original study were presented by BOYD at the 32nd Conference, while numerical analysis of the Well Pad NV-35 field study was presented by Dr. Su at the 35th Conference.This paper addresses the findings of the experiment and how it confirmed the conclusions of the original study.INTRODUCTIONA field study was conducted in 2013 and 2014 by a consortium of coal and shale gas industry members to test the effects of longwall-induced ground movement on the stability and integrity of wells drilled through a gateroad abutment pillar. The project was initiated to test initial John T. Boyd Company (BOYD) findings of the Gas Well Pillar Study Update (Scovazzo and Moran, 2014), completed for Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Oil and Gas Management (PDEP). Background and initial findings on this project were presented at the 32nd Conference (Scovazzo and Moran, 2012). The field work and numerical analysis were spearheaded by CONSOL Energy, Inc. (CONSOL) with participation by Chevron, EQT, Noble Energy, Range Resources, Marcellus Shale Coalition, and the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance.Dr. Wen H. Su of CONSOL was the leader of the field experiment with input from the participants. Dr. Su also completed numerical analysis of the results and model casing deformation. Analytical results were presented by Dr. Su at the 35th Conference (Su, 2017)."

Jan 1, 2018

By Kent E. McElhattan

The selection of efficiency machinery for an underground mining system is a highly skilled art. Modern techniques of mining, based on sound engineering principles, increase the probability of success. These techniques alone, however, will not guarantee maximum productivity. Human judgement, based on experience with mineral seams and geological conditions, remains the single most important input of the decision-making techniques in selecting high production equipment. The myth of a "Scientific Selection Factor" is absurd. The belief that such a factor exists can waste the time and resources of mining management. Until now, mineral extraction from the original desposit has defied all attempts to systematize the knowledge. Computerized programs are excellent for solving underground transportation and ventilation problems. The variables can be defined by mathe¬matical techniques in this type of problem. By the same, token, "Trial and Error" is not an acceptable method in today's technology-minded world. The candid truth of the matter is that practically nothing is known of the phenomenon of extracting a mineral from the solid. Likewise, local conditions make it nearly impossible to predict accurately the reaction of surrounding strata after the mineral has been removed. The unpredictability of the environment resulting from extracting minerals underground will remain a challenge to mining engineers for many years. In fact, we are barely beyond the trial and error stage at this point in time.

Jan 1, 1969

By John R. Hawley

Ontario, one of the richest mining districts in the world, is a natural storehouse for much of the earth's fresh water supply. Covering over 344,000 square miles, the surface of this Canadian Province is dotted with 250,000 fresh water lakes and is laced with uncounted thousands of fresh water rivers and streams. The southern portion of the Province, for the most part, is flat or lazily rolling farmland. This is where most of the people in Ontario live. Although it is not a major mining area, southern Ontario does possess important deposits of salt, oil, gas and gypsum. Most of these deposits are being actively worked. Toronto, the capital city of Ontario, lies deep in the southern region. Here the climate is mild and the winters are short. The total annual precipitation consists of 27 inches of rain and 65 inches of snow. Most of the major mining companies that do business in Canada have made Toronto their Canadian headquarters. There are two reasons for this. The first, of course, is money. Toronto is the gathering place of many well- known financial institutions. The second is access. Toronto lies within a few hundred miles of some of the most spectacular mining enterprises that exist in the world.

Jan 1, 1973

Mining employment, gross output, local economic contributions and productivity are typical economic indicators. However, these economic indicators play a much bigger role in the overall capacity of the industry to be heard in decision-making on a national scale. Total mining employment in the USA has decreased significantly in the last 20 years. Gross output from most of the mining sectors has also declined, except in the case of construction aggregate. However, significant gains have been made in productivity. This paper explores these statistics and comments on their overall impact on academic institutions and political decision-making.

Jan 1, 2003

If problems are opportunities in disguise, the mining industry certainly had plenty of "opportunities" in 1975. Considering the industry's generally lackluster 1975 profit record, and in view of the slowdown in inflation, there's some hope that 1976 might be a better year in spite of the increasing risks and uncertainties that plague the mining industry.

Jan 2, 1976

Inflation, fuel shortages, environmental restrictions, and a worldwide recession that sharply curtailed the demand for goods and services, were the main causes for the poor performance & virtually all industrial minerals in 1975. This poor showing was not a surprise. As Felix Shay correctly predicted in his introductory remarks to last year's industrial Minerals Review (ME, Feb. 1975, p. 70), ". . . the minerals industry will soon be facing falling demand as a consequence of sharp declines in auto production, housing, appliances, and other consumer goods. Moreover, when sales weaken. the high-volume, low-priced industrial minerals will incur sharply.

Jan 3, 1976

M INE production requires the coordination of the talents of men and the use of equipment. Mine operators maintain a continual surveillance of equipment, looking for improvements and modifications that will benefit them. Few give similar attention to the advances made in the education of mining engineers since they themselves graduated. That is not surprising. Education lacks the advertising budget available to manufacturers. A modification to improve a mechanical contrivance is advertised, and an advertiser's press releases get attention by publishers. The whole program for mining engineering education could be revolutionized and no one, except a few professors, would know about it. The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy's newly established General Commit-tee on Education can improve that situation. Nine groups of engineers in Canadian universities are trying to give undergraduates an education that will make them useful to the mineral industry as mining engineers. The tabulation offered here (Table I) is an analysis of the distribution of the undergraduate-teacher contact time.

Jan 1, 1963

Direct Versus Indirect Control of the Economy FACED with placing the nation in a state of partial mobilization, it is expedient that it be done in such a way that the national economy and productive capacity are strengthened. The immediate adoption of direct controls such as Axed prices and wages, rationing, manpower controls, and allocations conceivably could destroy the basis of our free economy. Controls breed more of the same and since the present program is a long term project, it should be undertaken within our present business framework so far as possible or until total war makes it impossible.

Jan 11, 1950

GROWTH of the United States to industrial supremacy in the world is mainly because of the rapid exploitation of natural resources. The easily found high grade mineral resources have been depleted and attention has turned to low-grade ores. Progress has been made from the comparatively crude mining and milling techniques, which sufficed for the rich deposits, to more complex technology for exploiting low-grade ores. In spite of this progress the defense program is pointing up the fact that the mining industry is caught short on ability to produce the needed mineral raw materials. The mining industry is digging itself out of business here in the United States.

Jan 5, 1951

Birmingham - A City With a Future COURTING new industries is the time honored duty of the chambers of commerce; but Birmingham, until recently, has done its courting without the benefit of troubadors. This is all changed now for the iron and steel industry is singing an enticing song about steel priorities for new industries from Birmingham's own mills. Along with the increasing industrialization of Birmingham there has been a marked influx of industry into the Southeast and neighboring areas in the south central states which augurs well for business in Birmingham. This important stronghold of the foundry industry (consuming 95 pct of Birmingham's merchant pig iron in 1950) has been the source of important announcements about additions to steel ingot capacity. The virtual abolition of basing point pricing gives the Birmingham iron and steel industry an advantage in the South's new markets. This means more business for Birmingham, but the problem of raw materials supplies is posed.

Jan 12, 1950

Critical Shortage of Engineers M AN POWER commitments for defense, superimposed on normal domestic requirements, exceed the available supply of labor. The armed services, industry, and the professions are sizing themselves up man power-wise and are announcing that serious shortages are imminent or already in existence. The engineering profession is facing serious shortages. The main reason for this is the recall of engineering and scientific personnel to the armed services.

Jan 4, 1951

A Foreign Policy To Protect Our Resources AGENCIES are being established in Washington to marshall raw materials and industry to build the machines of war. For the third time in less than a generation we are digging into nature's treasure trove for metals and fuels indispensable for war but equally indispensable to the peace of future generations of Americans.

Jan 1, 1951

Taking the Long View THE present international situation has serious implications for this nation. The possibility of total war is no more appalling than the threat of making the United States permanently into an armed camp. A period of ten years under such conditions could mean a Communist victory without firing a shot-if the present trend toward statism is allowed to continue. As individual citizens and as members of the mining profession we have the power to oppose the march toward socialism. We must not adopt shortsighted policies dictated by self-interest, but must endeavor to size up the situation as a whole and act according to what will be best in the national interest. The economic picture for the metal mining industry under present emergency conditions is apparently bright. Demand for metals exceeds supply. But there is danger that fluctuating prices will bring Government regulation. Care must be exercised in our pricing policies, or the calamity of Government intervention will be inevitable. President Truman's "loophole" reference to percentage depletion early in the year caused a brief flurry of excitement, but now that the immediate threat is over the industry has lapsed into sommolence on this subject. Special tax privileges accorded the mining industry because of inherent risks should be guarded by a continuing propaganda campaign to educate Congress and the public. If this is not done we may find ourselves losing the necessary tax protection which we now possess by a capricious act of legislation. Stockpiling minerals from abroad certainly lengthens the life of our own mineral resources. The present consumer demand for the base metals indicates foreign sources of supply for stockpiling. However, this is only one facet of the problem. For strategic military reasons it is necessary that the United States have quick sources of all minerals within our national boundaries. Undeveloped mineral deposits do not meet this need so that where it is possible to encourage our own mineral development by stockpile purchases, it should be done. A need exists for an overall controlling agency that would make purchases for the stockpile according to military necessity, current metal market conditions, and so as to strengthen the mining industry. In the course of the history of the United States we have been engulfed in several wars by the necessity of protecting our economic rights abroad trading privileges-and also because of moral obligations. Disregarding the moral side, it is difficult to reconcile fighting wars to protect world freedom of trade when in peacetime we attempt to restrain such trade by tariff barriers. When it comes to accepting subsidies from the Government in one form or another it is difficult to overlook the immediate personal gains and see in the future that where the Government lays out capital it becomes a partner in the business and not a silent one. It is apparent that hope for the traditional American way of life cannot be bought without some self-sacrifice; and we cannot wait for the other fellow to start it because it is the responsibility of each individual citizen. By taking the long view our course should be apparent and not diverge sharply from our own personal benefit.

Jan 10, 1950

By William Plank

IN PAST YEARS, engineering educators and others have been able to study the problems relating to en-gineering education in the United States with only inadequate and, frequently, inaccurate data at their command. For the first time there is now available fairly full and accurate information on this subject, gathered and compiled by the Board of Investigation and Coordination of the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education. This board, of which W. E. Wickenden is the director, has for the past four years been carrying out fact-finding investigations into "the objects of engineering education and the fitness of the present day curriculum," under a grant of funds from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Twelve bulle-tins have already been published by the board and others are in the process of preparation. The studies made, thus far, have been of the various phases of engineering education in general as well as of the major branches of engineering. Within the past year. the board has completed a study of mining engi-neering education by means of a questionnaire sent to members of the Institute. A special committee, con-sisting of Charles E. Locke, Allen H. Rogers and the writer, cooperated with the board in drafting certain parts of the questionnaire and in selecting the mailing list. Similar studies have been made through the mem-bers of the four other national societies. The results of these studies have been published only in mimeo-graphed form, therefore, in order to place the data before the members of the Institute an incomplete sum-mary of the replies to the A. I. M. E. questionnaire is here given. The full report will be available for distri-bution at the annual meeting in February. The questionnaire was sent to 306 members of the Institute, a proportion about equal to the proportion of the membership of the other national societies can-vassed; 152 members replied to the questionnaire, 55 per cent of whom had received college degrees in some branch of engineering connected with the mineral in-dustry. Forty-seven educational institutions were rep-resented in the replies. Seventeen different positions were held by the members who replied, with 24 con-sulting engineers at the head of the list, 20 managers, 16 superintendents, 11 presidents, 10 professors, 6 deans, and others.

Jan 1, 1928

By H. Memarian

In the last few decades, many developing countries have tried to expand and improve upon higher education, which is acknowledged to be the leading factor for development. In this respect, develiping countries have significantly increased the number of tertiary institutions and their students. These rapid expansions, along with all the benefits, have drawbacks as well. An example is the status of mining engineering education in Iran. Presently, the number of active mining engineering departments in Iran (27) is more than the sum of similar departments in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa (23 altogether). Also, the number of annual mining graduates in Iran (645) is more than the cumulative graduates of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia (613). The expansion of mining engineering education in Iran has coincided with the closing or merging of similar mining departments, as well as a decline in the number of interested students in the industrialized world. The present study shows that the need for development and the excessive number of high school graduates, resulting from high population growth in the early 1980s, are the two primary factors influencing the significant expansion of mining engineering education in Iran.

Jan 1, 2007

By Roxborough F. F

The ability of the Australian minerals industry to successfully manage the changes and challenges that face it in the 21st century depends ultimately on the quality of its human resources. Mining engineers have a vital role in this regard. The education and training that universities are currently giving to mining engineers is under challenge and needs to be reassessed in the light of industry directions for the 21st century. At one extreme is a push for a `finished product' graduate, up and running in `the flavour of the month' issues. At the other extreme are moves to reduce face-to-face university teaching hours and return to the time honoured university concept of `reading' for a degree. The lessons of Mourn make it apparent that neither approach is appropriate to the industry's future needs (Windridge, 1996). Basic knowledge gets rusty with time and new skills need to be learned. In order to conduct mining operations safely, productively and competitively, mining engineers must now accept the need to be prepared for continuing professional development as a career imperative. The concept of being professionally or statutorily qualified for life is no longer valid. This calls into question the purpose, content, structure and mode of delivery of university courses, all of which need to engender the principle and facilitate the cause of continuing professional development. This paper presents a model which aims to deliver a quality assured university education for mining engineers for the 21st century at undergraduate, postgraduate and professional level. The model extends beyond traditional university boundaries to match industry requirements to international best practice. It is based on collaborative alliances and innovative presentation modes which will provide industry access to undergraduate and postgraduate course elements presented by a broad range of national and international academic and industry authorities. It offers the prospect for preserving the best of university ideals in higher education, for developing and maintaining programs of direct relevance to industry needs and for a structured involvement in the continuing professional development of mining engineers.

Jan 1, 1997