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Careers in Anglo Platinum
Rock Engineering
Mining activities involve working with rock. Rock is not the same everywhere and thus has variable properties and variable behaviour. Unlike other forms of engineering in which man designs and constructs structures and machines, the role and challenge of the rock engineer is to design practical, cost effective and safe mining systems, and to predict and control rock behaviour.
If the behaviour of the rock underground is not understood and controlled, unsafe and inoperable conditions could result.
Rock engineering plays an important role through all the phases of the mining cycle. During the feasibility study for a mine, a rock engineer is asked questions like, can one design a safe and economically viable mine in this ore body? Information supplied by the rock engineer is critical in designing suitable access to the ore body and in excavating the ore itself.
The success of the rock engineer depends on a sound understanding of the way different rocks behave in varying conditions and how to moderate this behaviour through innovative, and technically sound designs.
Visiting and studying excavations underground can only achieve this. Experiential training, and a thorough scientific background complement meticulous observations. In fact, rock engineers are usually highly qualified engineering or scientific graduates, who have specialised in this field.
The rock engineer's tools can include computer modelling, laboratory and underground measurement or research. A rock engineer requires a good technical background, including a sound knowledge of related disciplines such as geology, mining, ventilation and ergonomics.
The rock engineer plays a pivotal role in the mine design team - striving for broad ranging improvements in mining conditions to ensure optimal production with maximum safety.
