Overview Video
Importance of Mining in Society (6:08)
Transcript: Importance of Mining in Society (6:08)
Hello and welcome to MNG 230: Introduction to Mining Engineering. My name is Dr. Shekhar Bhattacharyya.
I worked in mines and for mining companies in roles including production supervisor, design engineer, manager, and consultant for nearly two decades. I have also served as a university faculty member for the past ten years. I’ll share more about my background and the backgrounds of my colleagues in a separate video.
Let me start by saying that mining is not just about extracting rock—it is about supplying the building blocks of our entire civilization. From the smartphone in your hand, to the roads you travel on, to the electricity that powers your home, none of these would exist without mining.
Almost everything that is not grown must be mined. This includes the metals, minerals, fuels, and industrial materials that we depend on every day. Mining is foundational to nearly every major advancement in technology and infrastructure.
This course is designed to give you a broad perspective on the mining industry. You will explore how minerals are discovered, extracted, processed, and ultimately used. You will also examine the broader societal context of mining, including its connections to sustainability, environmental impacts, public policy, safety, economics, and global development.
This is a course where you can begin to see how interconnected the world is and how mining plays a quiet but powerful role in making modern life possible.
Throughout the course, we will cover topics such as:
- Prospecting and exploration
- Mine planning and development
- Surface and underground mining methods
- Equipment used in different stages of mining
- Safety and environmental considerations
- Mineral processing and beneficiation
- Legal and regulatory frameworks
- Economic evaluation and market trends
You will also learn to appreciate the complexity of decision-making in mining, where engineers must balance cost, safety, sustainability, and community impacts.
This course is delivered in an online, asynchronous format. That means you are responsible for managing your reading assignments, coursework, and deadlines through Canvas. However, we also offer a weekly live Zoom office hour on Tuesdays.
These meetings are not mandatory, but they are highly encouraged. Think of them as an opportunity to clarify concepts, ask questions, and go beyond what is covered in the course modules. The format is informal and interactive. If you join, I encourage you to use the Raise Hand feature before speaking to help keep the discussion organized.
You may also contact me individually, but it is important that you do so through Canvas. If you send a regular email, it may get lost among the hundreds of messages I receive each day.
Here are a few things I encourage you to keep in mind throughout the semester.
Be curious. You do not need to have a background in mining to enjoy this course, but curiosity will help you recognize how mining affects many aspects of modern life.
Stay on top of deadlines. Because the course is asynchronous, effective time management is essential. Be sure to monitor the Canvas calendar closely.
Engage with real-world examples. We will discuss current mining projects, emerging technologies, and sustainability challenges from around the world.
Take advantage of available resources. In addition to lectures and readings, you may have access to guest speakers, industry professionals, technical videos, and case studies throughout the semester.
Past students who took the course seriously and participated in Zoom discussions often commented on how much they learned from these experiences, and many performed exceptionally well.
One of the recurring themes throughout the course will be the role of mining in sustainable development and the global energy transition.
We are entering an era in which demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements is growing rapidly. This demand is driven by renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics.
As a result, the world needs more mining. However, it also needs mining to be done more responsibly, with careful attention to people, communities, the environment, and long-term consequences.
That is where engineers like you come in. You are the future of responsible mining.
We will discuss these topics and many more throughout the semester. Whether or not you plan to enter the mining industry, this course will provide valuable insight into how the physical infrastructure of our world is created and how it can be improved.
Let's make this an enjoyable and rewarding journey. I look forward to your questions, your insights, and your participation throughout the semester.
Let's get started!
Learning Outcomes
At the successful completion of this module, you should be able to:
- describe the importance of mining in terms the number of commodities mined, the number of mines, and the economic impact of mining;
- cite examples (at least 12) of nonfuel mineral commodities and the commercial use of these commodities;
- use the USGS Mineral Commodities Summary to obtain data on the commodities;
- describe, in general terms, the makeup of coal, the more important constituents or properties that affect its market value, and why those constituents or properties are of interest;
- define the rank of a coal and the four ranks of coal; and explain the chart commonly used to illustrate the classification of coals by rank;
- explain in general terms the location of the areas in which coal, metals, and industrial minerals are mined. Further, give examples of specific commodities and where they are mined;
- locate major coal basins in the U.S., and describe one or two characteristics that differentiate the coal regions (other than location);
- explain the relationships between an operating mine and the various public and private stakeholders. List three federal government agencies with a major role in mining and their primary function, two labor unions with significant interest in mining, three national trade associations for mining; and for each of these explain their role;
- cite an example of a state regulatory agency and a state trade association. Explain the relationship between the state and federal entity that has the same general role;
- explain how the U.S. Congress becomes involved in mining and how mining stakeholders interact with Congress;
- explain what is meant by an administrative agency;
- explain the positive benefits of mining in a community or region.
What is due for Module 1?
This module will take us two weeks to complete. Please refer to the Course Syllabus for specific time frames and due dates. Specific directions for the assignment below can be found within this lesson.
| Activity | Location | Submitting Your Work |
|---|---|---|
| Read | Pages 1-15 in the course textbook | No Submission |
| Complete |
| Canvas |
Questions?
Each week an announcement is sent out in which you will have the opportunity to contribute questions about the topics you are learning about in this course. You are encouraged to engage in these discussions. The more we talk about these ideas and share our thoughts, the more we can learn from each other.