Quarry engineer

Quarry engineers in Nevada, USA

Description

Quarry engineers analyse which extraction methods such as excavating, drilling and blasting are most suited to extract raw materials from the ground. They develop plans before a new quarry is opened, assessing if the quarry is profitable. Quarry engineers manage the everyday operations in a quarry, create and maintain progress reports, oversee the staff, ensure health and safety and assess the environmental impact a quarry has on its environment.

Quarry engineers typically do the following:

  • use ground-surveying techniques to check the sites geology
  • drill earth and rock samples for lab testing
  • build up computer models of a site and its deposits
  • make recommendations on how to proceed

If mining goes ahead, they decide whether to use blasting, drilling or excavation methods to extract the raw materials from the ground. Then, they:

  • manage the day-to-day running of operations
  • oversee technical staff
  • produce progress reports
  • monitor health and safety
  • draw up plans to guard against emergencies like a tunnel collapsing or flooding
  • make plans for restoration of the site after quarry workings end

Working conditions

Quarry engineers usually work 35 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Overtime may be necessary to meet deadlines. They work at a quarry or a mine, or in an office.

When working at the mine or quarry, the working environment may be cramped, dusty, dirty. In some circumstances, quarry engineers may spend nights away from home.

Like most workers, they often need to wear protective clothing at a quarry or a mine.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to quarry engineer:

drilling & blasting engineer
mine engineer
drilling and blasting engineer
mine planning engineer
explosives engineer
drilling and blasting supervisor
drill and blast engineer
quarry manager
mining engineer
drill & blast engineer

Minimum qualifications

A bachelor’s degree is typically required to work as a quarry engineer. Because relatively few schools offer programs in mining engineering or geological engineering, a degree in civil or environmental engineering or geoscience is often acceptable.

Bachelor’s degree programs in mining engineering typically include courses in geology, thermodynamics, and mine design and safety.

Bachelor’s degree programs in geological engineering typically include courses in geology, chemistry, and fluid mechanics.

Both types of programs also include laboratory and field work, along with academic study.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Quarry engineer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Quarry engineer career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to quarry engineer.

mine mechanical engineer
mine health and safety engineer
mine ventilation engineer
mine electrical engineer
mine planning engineer

Promotions or specializations

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of quarry engineer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of quarry engineer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

quarry manager
mine production manager
mine supervisor
mine manager
oil and gas production manager

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of quarry engineer.

  • Impact of geological factors on mining operations: Be aware of the impact of geological factors, such as faults and rock movements, on mining operations.
  • Mine safety legislation: The laws, regulations and codes of practice relevant to safety in mining operations.
  • Mining engineering: Fields of engineering relevant to mining operations. Principles, techniques, procedures and equipment used in the extraction of minerals.
  • Geology: Solid earth, rock types, structures and the processes by which they are altered.
  • Mechanical engineering: Discipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.
  • Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of quarry engineer.

  • Advise on mine development: Provide advice of the impact of geological factors on the development of mineral production. Take into account factors such as cost, safety, and characteristics of deposits.
  • Ensure compliance with safety legislation: Implement safety programmes to comply with national laws and legislation. Ensure that equipment and processes are compliant with safety regulations.
  • Maintain records of mining operations: Maintain records of mine production and development performance, including performance of machinery.
  • Procure mechanical machinery: Procure adequate machinery. Research the market to find the best machinery, staying within budget limits, and negotiate the purchase. Maintain records.
  • Write technical reports: Compose technical customer reports understandable for people without technical background.
  • Prepare technical reports: Prepare reports that describe results and processes of scientific or technical research, or assess its progress. These reports help researchers to keep up to date with recent findings.
  • Carry out geological explorations: Perform exploration activities for mines and fields with the aim of analysing the properties of the area and finding minerals.
  • Advise on mine production: Provide advice on the preparation of schedules and reports on mine production, facilities, systems and production processes and production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
  • Advise on geology for mineral extraction: Provide advice of the impact of geological factors on the development of mineral production. Take into account factors such as cost, safety, and characteristics of deposits.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of quarry engineer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Geological mapping: The technique used to create maps that clearly illustrate the geological features and rock layers of an area that may be useful for mining projects and geological explorations.
  • Design drawings: Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.
  • Mathematics: Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.
  • Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
  • Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.
  • Mechanical mine machinery manuals: Comprehend manufacturers’ manuals for the installation and operation of mining machinery. Understand schematic drawings.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of quarry engineer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Use a computer: Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.
  • Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
  • Manage emergency procedures: React quickly in case of emergency and set planned emergency procedures in motion.
  • Maintain mine machinery: Inspect and conduct planned maintenance of mining equipment. Execute routine repairs and replace damaged components. Analyse test results and interpret machine error messages. Undertake maintenance activities such as cleaning and lubricating components.
  • Monitor mine production: Oversee mining production rates in order to estimate operational effectiveness.
  • Install mining machinery: Assemble, install and disassemble mining equipment. Outstanding eye-hand coordination and spatial awareness are required.
  • Address problems critically: Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and alternative methods of tackling the situation.
  • Assess operating cost: Estimate the operating cost in terms of manpower, consumables and maintenance.
  • Present reports: Display results, statistics and conclusions to an audience in a transparent and straightforward way.
  • Monitor mine costs: Monitor total costs of mining activities, projects and required equipment; pursue maximum operational cost efficiency.

ISCO group and title

2146 – Mining engineers, metallurgists and related professionals


References
  1. Quarry engineer – ESCO
  2. Mining and Geological Engineers : Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
  3. Quarry engineer | Explore careers | National Careers Service
  4. Featured image: National Archives at College Park – Still Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Last updated on July 21, 2022