Determine the location and plan the extraction of coal, metallic ores, nonmetallic minerals, and building materials, such as stone and gravel. Work involves conducting preliminary surveys of deposits or undeveloped mines and planning their development; examining deposits or mines to determine whether they can be worked at a profit; making geological and topographical surveys; evolving methods of mining best suited to character, type, and size of deposits; and supervising mining operations.

Other names for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers: Design Engineer, Engineer, Exploration Engineer, Geological Engineer, Geologist, Geophysical Engineer, Mine Analyst, Mine Development Engineer, Mine Engineer, Mine Engineering Manager, Mine Engineering Supervisor, Mine Environmental Engineer, Mine Equipment Design Engineer, Mine Expert, Mine Exploration Engineer, Mine Inspector, Mine Manager, Mine Production Engineer, Mine Safety Director, Mine Safety Engineer, Mine Safety Manager, Mineral Engineer, Mining and Oil Field Equipment Design Engineer, Mining and Oil Field Equipment Test Engineer, Mining and Oil Well Equipment Research Engineer, Mining Engineer, Ore Dressing Engineer, Planning Engineer, Project Engineer, Safety Analyst, Safety Director, Safety Engineer, Safety Inspector, Safety Representative, Safety Supervisor, Seismic Engineer, Validation Engineer, Validation Specialist,

• Design mining and mineral treatment equipment and machinery in collaboration with other engineering specialists.
• Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
• Select locations and plan underground or surface mining operations, specifying processes, labor usage, and equipment that will result in safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction of minerals and ores.
• Examine maps, deposits, drilling locations, or mines to determine the location, size, accessibility, contents, value, and potential profitability of mineral, oil, and gas deposits.
• Supervise and coordinate the work of technicians, technologists, survey personnel, engineers, scientists and other mine personnel.
• Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
• Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
• Design, implement, and monitor the development of mines, facilities, systems, or equipment.
• Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
• Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
• Implement and coordinate mine safety programs, including the design and maintenance of protective and rescue equipment and safety devices.
• Test air to detect toxic gases and recommend measures to remove them, such as installation of ventilation shafts.
• Design, develop, and implement computer applications for use in mining operations such as mine design, modeling, or mapping or for monitoring mine conditions.
• Select or devise materials-handling methods and equipment to transport ore, waste materials, and mineral products efficiently and economically.
• Devise solutions to problems of land reclamation and water and air pollution, such as methods of storing excavated soil and returning exhausted mine sites to natural states.
• Lay out, direct, and supervise mine construction operations, such as the construction of shafts and tunnels.
• Evaluate data to develop new mining products, equipment, or processes.
• Conduct or direct mining experiments to test or prove research findings.

• Calculators or accessories
• Clinometers
• Plotter printers
• Gas detectors
• Scanners
• Desktop computers
• Plotter printers
• Geological compasses
• Hammers
• Global positioning system receivers
• Notebook computers
• Tape measures
• Personal computers
• Geological compasses
• High capacity removable media drives

Project management software

Office suite software

Financial analysis software

Word processing software

Presentation software

Spreadsheet software

Data base user interface and query software

Computer aided design CAD software

Analytical or scientific software