A mine planner is in charge of figuring out the most efficient way for a mining company to extract a resource from the ground. These experts examine data about a mineral, oil, or gas deposit, as well as the composition of the earth around it, to determine how the resource can be mined and brought to the surface with the least amount of effort and money possible. A mine planner may be involved in synthesizing new information about the deposit with existing information to modify the mine plan as needed as a mine is built and resources are extracted.
One of the main responsibilities of the planner is to advise a mining company on how to extract a resource from the ground. The most fundamental decision a mine planner must make is what type of mine to build. Some mineral or resource deposits are close enough to the surface to be reached by digging a surface mine, which is essentially a large hole above them. Others may be deeper or under a layer of hard rock, and a subterranean mine, which is a mine with shafts that allows people and equipment to work underground, closer to the resource, will be more effective. The type of resource being extracted, the layout of the area, and environmental regulations all play a role in determining which mine to build.
The mine planner also determines the size of a mine, the location of tunnels, and the type of extraction process that will allow the mining company to collect the most amount of the resource. In the case of surface mines, this process may include determining the specifics of the surface or subterranean mine, such as whether it will be a strip mine or an open pit mine, or a mine with horizontal, vertical, or diagonally positioned shafts in the case of subterranean mines. If the situation changes after the mine is started, the planner will make the necessary changes to the plan.
Mine planners can use computer models and simulations to help them make decisions about future mines. The planner can use models to create three-dimensional images of the mine. Simulations allow the planner to make educated guesses about the plan’s safety and project difficulty. This reduces the likelihood of costly real-world mishaps.