Mining engineering is the extraction of minerals from the ground. It is associated with many other disciplines, such as mineral processing, exploration, excavation, geology, metallurgy, geotechnical engineering and surveying. A mining engineer may manage any phase of mining operations, from exploration and discovery of the mineral resources, through feasibility study, mine design, development of plans, production and operations to mine closure.
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👉 Mineral exploration in the context of Well logging
Well logging, also known as borehole logging is the practice of making a detailed record (a well log) of the geologic formations penetrated by a borehole. The log may be based either on visual inspection of samples brought to the surface (geological logs) or on physical measurements made by instruments lowered into the hole (geophysical logs). Some types of geophysical well logs can be done during any phase of a well's history: drilling, completing, producing, or abandoning. Well logging is performed in boreholes drilled for the oil and gas, groundwater, mineral and geothermal exploration, as well as part of environmental, scientific and geotechnical studies.
In this Dossier
Mineral exploration in the context of Borehole
A borehole is a narrow shaft bored in the ground, either vertically or horizontally. A borehole may be constructed for many different purposes, including the extraction of water (drilled water well and tube well), other liquids (such as petroleum), or gases (such as natural gas). It may also be part of a geotechnical investigation, environmental site assessment, mineral exploration, temperature measurement, as a pilot hole for installing piers or underground utilities, for geothermal installations, or for underground storage of unwanted substances, e.g. in carbon capture and storage.
Mineral exploration in the context of Boring (earth)
Boring is drilling a hole, tunnel, or well in the Earth. It is used for various applications in geology, agriculture, hydrology, civil engineering, and mineral exploration. Today, most Earth drilling serves one of the following purposes:
- return samples of the soil and/or rock through which the drill passes
- access rocks from which material can be extracted
- access rocks which can then be measured
- provide access to rock for purposes of providing engineering support
Unlike drilling in other materials where the aim is to create a hole for some purpose, often the case of drilling or coring is to get an understanding of the ground/lithology. This may be done for prospecting to identify and quantify an ore body for mining, or to determining the type of foundations needed for a building or raised structure, or for underground structures, including tunnels and deep basements where an understanding of the ground is vital to determining how to excavate and the support philosophy. Drilling is also used in vertical and inclined shaft construction.
Mineral exploration in the context of Batra mine
The Batra mine is a large chromium mine located in central Albania in Dibër County, 40 kilometres (25 mi) east of the capital, Tirana. Batra represents one of the largest chromium reserve in Albania and one of the largest in Europe, having estimated reserves of 0.73 million tonnes of ore grading 38% chromium metal. The mine is part of the Bulqizë Massif, a 370 square kilometres (140 sq mi) area which has a rock thickness between 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) and contains 65 verified chromium deposits and occurrences. The deposit has been explored to depths of up to 1,560 metres (5,120 ft) and the geological reserves amount to 12 million tonnes of which 7.5 million tonnes grading over 38% chromium metal.
The Batra mine began operating in 1967. Between 1964 and 1967 it produced chromium ore only from occurrences. In 1967 production from the mine started. The total combined chromium ore production from the mine between 1967 and 2006 amounted to 5,561,000 tonnes. The deepest level of the mine is the Level +1560 which reaches a depth of 1,560 metres (5,120 ft). The chromium ore reserves of the mine are split into two categories above and below Level +1560. The proven ore reserves located above the Level +1560 amount to 730,000 tonnes of ore grading 38% chromium metal. The proven ore reserves located below the Level +1560 are currently not estimated or calculated but are expected to be grading 45% chromium metal. The mine was privatised in 1999.