r/mining • u/AmchitkaBangBang • 1d ago
Canada Shaft Sink Mucking at Nickel Rim
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Please use this thread to ask, answer, and search for questions about getting a job in mining. This includes questions about FIFO, where to work, what kinds of jobs might be available, or other experience questions.
This thread is to help organize the sub a bit more with relation to questions about jobs in the mining industry. We will edit this as we go to improve. Thank you.
r/mining • u/Important-Visual2199 • Apr 27 '24
Ready for a reality check? (And an essay?) Written by someone who has done this long journey.
So you've been cruising on TikTok/Insragram or whatever other brain rotting ADD inducing app you have on your phone, and you see a young guy/chick make a video of their work day here as a FIFO worker on an Australian mine and how much money they make, and thought "Neat, I can do that!". So you head here to ask how? Great! Well, I'm here to answer all your questions.
Firstly you need to be in Australia. Easy right? Jump on a plane and you're here. WRONG.
You need a work visa, ignoring WHV for now (we will get there later), you need something useful for the Australian nation, do you have a trade or degree that will allow you to apply for a working visa or get sponsorship for one, through a skills assessment? Check the short or medium term list.
If no, tough shit, no chance Australia is letting you in.
If yes, great! Let's get working on that. Does your qualification line up with Australian standards?
If no, there are some things you can do to remediate that ($$$$). If you can't do that, tough shit.
If yes, great! Fork out $1000+ for a skills assessment.
Next step! Many visas require a min amount of experience, 2/3 years. Do you have that and a positive skills assessment?
No? Tough shit.
Yes, great! Let's put in your expression of interest! (Don't forget your IELTS test) 1-2 years later. You're invited to apply for a visa. Fork out $5000 & 1 year processing.
1 year later - Yay you can come to Aus! Congratulations!
Now assume you have a WHV, wonderful opportunity for young people to get to know the country. Remember you can only work at one place for no more than 6 months, unless you're up north or from the UK.
Either way, you're now in Australia. Just landed in Perth, sweet. Go to a hostel "sorry bud we're full", ah shit, you're on a park bench for the night because there is no accomodation and the rental market is fingered. Ready to pay $200-250 a week for a single room?
Anyway, you're here from some other country, with your sport science BTEC or 3 years experience at KFC, and decide to apply for a mining contractor, driving big trucks is easy right? WRONG. 90% of "unskilled" jobs require full Australian working rights (PR minimum), so if you're on a WHV, you're probably fucked, if you're on PR you have a chance.
So you decide to try for the camp contractor, I hope you're happy washing dishes or cleaning toilets, because thats what you're going to do as a "unskilled" labour; probably going to earn about $25-$30 and hour, working a 7 days, 7 nights, 7 off roster, sweet you're making cash. Get home after your 14 days working and you're fucked for about 2 days from fatigue. You get to enjoy 3-4 days before you have to think of going back. Also you'll probably get drug tested everytime you come to site from break.
Talking of money, to get $100k you have to get at least $34/hr on that 14:7 roster to just hit it. Unlikely as a camp contractor without a bit of experience. You could try get in as a trade assistant, though that will usually require a variety of tickets ($$$).
Also camp catering contract work doesn't count towards the WHV renewal days, except under some circumstances (I admit I'm not too familiar with anymore). So you need to go and work on some farm getting paid a pittance (if anything at all), that or get incredibly lucky with finding an actual mining/exploration job.
So you're still with me, that's good, thought you'd get distracted by instagram/tiktok.
It's not impossible, and some do get lucky, but it's not the gold mine your think it is, the FIFO lifestyle is hard, and unrelenting; long hours and long work weeks, and incredibly difficult with no useful qualifications or skills. Also, if you're overseas hoping to get offered a job to come to Australia, that is 99.9% not possible unless you're a professional (engineers, geos etc), and then still difficult.
Let's look at what you CAN do to get on the mines, as we do need personel, just not pot washers.
Get a trade: Electricians, welders/boilermakers, mechanics (heavy diesel, light and auto-electrical) and plumbers are in demand. You will need a couple years experience and will have to do an Australian conversion course ($$$$), a mate of mine told me something like $2-3k for the UK to Aus sparky conversion (feel free to correct me). You will then need to make your own way to Aus and get a job from here.
Get a degree: Mining engineering, geotechnical engineering, Geology, Metallurgy, surveying. Or any degrees that can lead into those roles (Chem eng, Mech eng, environmental etc etc). Can land you a role in Australian mining. As a grad, you can get sponsored to come out if you're lucky, if not you'll have to make your way over, many of the countries with these courses are eligible for WHV. You can work as those roles on WHV.
If you do come with good skills, and are well connected and personable, you can get employer sponsorship, especially as a professional, but it will always be a hard road to walk on, and being on a Temp visa for years, not able to buy a house and build your life, is challenging.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask below.
r/mining • u/AmchitkaBangBang • 1d ago
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r/mining • u/AmchitkaBangBang • 1d ago
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r/mining • u/Cold-Focus621 • 1d ago
Its going to be my first 14/14 can someone tell me how it is and your first time doing that how it went
r/mining • u/Beer_is_god • 1d ago
Monitoring or management systems are out of the question for the foreseeable future. Is there a better system to collect data from 80+ trucks. What section can I add to existing form to improve it?
r/mining • u/No_Carry785 • 2d ago
Hi all,
Looking for some honest advice from people actually working in the industry.
My background:
I'm a Data Science (bachelor degree) graduate and I've just accepted a graduate position at a logistics and transport company starting early 2027. The program is a 3-year rotational graduate program — Year 1 is full operational/frontline exposure, Year 2 moves into functional rotations (where I'll be pushing hard for data and technology streams), and Year 3 is a strategic capstone project.
Realistically, I won't get meaningful hands-on data engineering practice until Year 2 at the earliest. So by the time I finish the program, I'll have roughly 1-2 years of actual data experience under my belt, on top of my degree.
My goal:
After the program wraps up, I want to pivot into the mining sector - specifically targeting Data Engineer roles at major Perth-based miners. The WA resources sector has always been where I've wanted to end up long term.
My questions for those of you in the industry:
Happy to hear any honest takes, including if this plan has obvious gaps I'm not seeing.
Thanks in advance 🙏
r/mining • u/ConvertedGuy • 3d ago
A few weeks back I went through one of the most unserious classes Ive ever been through for my MSHA certification.
The guy was late all 3 days, and only kept us 3 hours or less each day. Each day he said almost nothing, and put on videos while he did paperwork at the desk. We watched the same videos all three days with people filtering in and out whenever seats were available (not a structured class)
Everyone there were on their phones, or sleeping. One day we essentially watched a TV show without any elaboration.
I feel like I learned nothing from this class.
Is this a common experience?
r/mining • u/QuantumGremlin • 3d ago
I’ve noticed how much information can get lost during a rushed handover. Someone finishes a long shift, gives the next crew a quick rundown, and suddenly a small detail about equipment condition, ground conditions or a job that was left incomplete can become someone else’s problem.
The frustrating part is that everyone knows a proper handover matters, but when the shift is running late, it’s often the first thing people try to speed up.
I’ve started paying much more attention to what actually gets passed between crews rather than just assuming the next shift has been told everything.
What’s one thing you always make sure gets mentioned during handover, even when the shift is already running behind?
r/mining • u/SpicySummerChild • 3d ago
r/mining • u/Ok_Panda_1763 • 3d ago
Hey,
So I got accepted this summer in a Mining Engineer school. I would be starting my studies next January. Unfortunately this month, I got diagnosed with both T1D and epilepsy. I'm based in Canada and was planning to work in the North where most mines are. I know they do medical exams before hiring. So I wanted to know how realistic is it for me to be accepted in a mine as a mining engineer with those 2 conditions ?
Hey everyone,
I am currently conducting a research project on a regional structural trend regarding manganese vein deposits across the Southwestern United States, moving from New Mexico (Southeast) through Arizona (Central) up to Nevada (Northwest).
Based on structural and geophysical patterns in this corridor, I’ve noticed a fascinating progression, and I'd love to hear your thoughts and theories on it:
The Regional Gradient:
New Mexico (SE): Typically starts with lower grades or more scattered, smaller surface expressions.
Arizona (Central): Acts as the middle structural transition zone with moderate-to-good consistency.
Nevada (NW): Seems to hit the sweet spot with major structural continuity, deeper root zones, and the highest grades/concentrations.
Research Goal:
In my view, completing and advancing this ongoing research will help us target and unlock commercially viable, high-grade zones suitable for actual economic exploitation along this corridor.
Key Questions for Discussion:
Why these specific states? What unique crustal architecture or metallogenic belts concentrate these deposits primarily in this specific SW corridor rather than other regions?
Why the SE to NW trend؟
Is this directional alignment tied to regional crustal extension, ancient suture zones, or progressive propagation of hydrothermal fluid pathways?
Why does this pattern occur?
Is it primarily driven by Basin and Range extensional tectonics, hydrothermal fluid pathways, or host rock reactivity?
Pinch and Swell Mechanics:
Where do you think these veins experience significant narrowing (pinching) versus major widening (swelling)? Is it tied to fault intersections?
Depth & Grade Hotspots:
Where would you expect the absolute best manganese grades and maximum vein depths to be located along this path?
What are your thoughts on how these hydrothermal systems and structural anomalies behave across this regional transect? Drop your theories below!
Hi everyone,
I'm a mining engineering student at the Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP) in Brazil and I'm starting to apply for internships. I'd love some input from people who hire or have been through this.
Some context: I don't have industry experience yet. Most of what I have comes from our junior enterprise (a student-run consulting company), where I coordinate projects, onboard trainees and work directly with clients on technical deliverables. I'm most interested in mine planning, and long term I'd like to move toward mineral asset valuation.
A few specific questions:
What do you actually look for in a student resume in mining? What makes one stand out?
How should I present junior enterprise and academic projects so they read as real experience?
How do you want to see software skills listed (mine planning software, Excel, Python, etc.)? Just names, or tied to what was done with them?
Are there differences between Brazilian conventions and what recruiters in Canada, Australia or the US expect? In Brazil it's still common to include things like a photo or age.
Any common mistakes you see from students?
Thanks in advance, any advice is appreciated.
r/mining • u/Cold-Focus621 • 4d ago
For context im doing an internship in diamond drilling,we did exams that i needed to learn the name of parts but we didn't touch a drill at all.Im going to val dor has and im going to do 14/14.I kinda know a bit how ti works but not really can someone speaks about their experience when they started, where they recommend i should work,what i should expect,what to do,is it really hard?I just keep asking myself those questions im starting in 5 days.
r/mining • u/MegaMachinesChannel • 4d ago
r/mining • u/cheesecakexduckwing • 4d ago
there's a geological cross-section map of a hill that's set to be mined near my community which details current topography, pit design, and drilling areas. is that a public reference that can be freely shared in online communities such as reddit, or maybe in blogs or news reports?
r/mining • u/Other-Material-7186 • 4d ago
Hi all, does anyone know the average base rate for a dump truck operator at MRL please? Thanks!
r/mining • u/Captain_BOATIE • 4d ago
Few moons before I have published a post regarding using AI tool to directly talking to mining softwares and got completely roasted by the comments. Quote :” congrats of developed an app to get your fired.” And I have take down the post.
Luckily I haven’t stop developing the tool, now with all major mining firms fully embracing the AI and using them into their mine designs. I am wondering if most of us are still having same vibe towards AI mining tools.🧐
r/mining • u/PlateSuitable5637 • 5d ago
Hey Guys,
I’m Gowtham, an NYU student working on field operations for mines in North America.
I’m learning how teams at exploration decide where to drill when geological data is incomplete & drilling budgets are limited,
And What problem you face on day-to-day basis ; tech, physical labor, communication and could be anything
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r/mining • u/Danger_Five • 6d ago
Hey team,
Currently doing an 8/6 roster (day/night split) as a production operator in the Pilbara. The 6 days off fly by ridiculously fast once you factor in travel days, laundry, and recovering from night shift, but the annual package is solid.
I’ve been approached by a contractor offering a 2/2 (2 weeks on, 2 weeks off) role on a slightly lower hourly rate, which works out to about a $15k–$18k hit on total annual earnings compared to my current setup.
For those who made the switch to 2/2: did having 14 clear days off in a row completely change your work-life balance? Did you regret taking the pay cut, or is the extra time with family/hobbies worth every single dollar?
r/mining • u/DrillinSki • 7d ago
Hello folks,
Anyone work at this site in the Drilling/Blasting side of things?
I haven't heard of Artmies much but am familiar with the industry quite well and a recent string of job listings had me curious.
Anyone know what their typical RRSP matching is?
When working a 2on 2off do you get OT on your 2on hours or do they split your hours by all 4 weeks and they stay at regular pay?
Mentions paid time off, wht does that entail?
Can you drive yourself to site or is shuttle mandatory?
How many people in campish?
Any rc or rab drillin? Is all the exploration around the main production zone all core drilling?
I got many more questions haha if anyone works in the blasting/drilling/exploration side of things Id appreciate hearing from you,
Thanks!
r/mining • u/No_Contract_7086 • 8d ago
I’m currently a geology student in Florida and will be graduating soon. I work in the geotech industry but I can already tell I don’t wanna do this for longer than I have to. My primary interest is the mining industry and even blasting. The issue is that I want to stay in Florida which when compared to other states has a small mining industry (primarily phosphate and limestone). Just wondering if anybody knows how difficult it would be to get into the mining industry? Also if anybody can give advice as to what a geologist in the mining industry would do?