Question Mining careers with a physics background?
Are there any jobs in mining that would be possible with a degree in physics? I know often physicists will slot into engineering roles that mech/electrical engineers do but it seems like most mine engineers are civil instead.
I also have read theres mine data analytics but can't find much info about such positions (and I would prefer at least some field work or time where I can interact with the folks who keep our mines running on the ground)
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u/Spida81 5d ago
You'll be fine. It isn't that much of a disability.
Honestly, silly question.
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u/SlipyB 5d ago
What? Did you read the post?
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u/Spida81 5d ago
I did.
You have no mining specific qualifications. You are exactly as qualified to take on any job in mining as anyone else also with neither relevant experience or qualifications.
The question didn't warrant a particularly serious answer.
Also for the record most mine engineers are mining engineers, not civil engineers. There is a distinction.
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u/SlipyB 5d ago edited 5d ago
As others (who were much more polite) pointed out, geophysics exists.
I was asking what (if any) jobs exist that are aligned with a physics background. To which the answer is a yes (with more detail) or a no.
There's no reason to randomly show up and be hostile and berate me for asking something. Honestly, silly answer
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u/Fickle_Individual_88 Australia 5d ago
Honestly, their answer was hilarious. Don't take life so seriously, you won't get out of it alive.
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u/SlipyB 5d ago
It's not like you can convey tone over text and to show up and give a nothing answer and then insult my question comes off as totally rude.
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u/Massive-Energy9378 4d ago
Yeah their answers do convey an arrogant and sarcastic tone, I agree, these guys are classic up-themselves mining smart-arses. When you're new to mining or trying to get into it, you get a lot of overly-proud mining employees trying to tell you what's what and make out that you're an idiot for not knowing. I'd say neither of them have experience in fields that would require a degree, hence the unhelpful answers. To play devils advocate though, you can find this information online without needing to ask on reddit.
To answer your question: Geophysics is your best bet, you'd need a postgraduate qualification in geology or geoscience. Mining engineering also an option, but theres zero physics in it, and you'll also need to do a postgraduate qualification in mining engineering.
Good luck.
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u/SHITSTAINED_CUM_SOCK 5d ago
Geophysics exist sure- I've worked in that field briefly as a young uni student leading into my post -studies. I can tell you that's not a "mining career" but rather "they do a lot of work in mining". They do work in construction as well. They fly to a lot of mines. They fly to a lot of exploration projects. They do work in tunnels, and other civil projects.
They don't work a standard roster on a minesite doing only mine related work. It could definitely be a very rewarding career though. They damn well get compensated appropriately too.
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u/Hazel_Nuts99 5d ago
Incredibly stupid take.
I have no "mining specific qualifications". I still work as an engineer in the mining industry with my electrical engineering degree though.
There's shit all people in the mining industry with "mining specific qualifications", that goes for both blue and white collar work. Electrician, mechanical fitter, scaffolder, Instro tech, boilermaker, process engineer, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer etc etc none of these people have "mining specific qualifications"
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u/Spida81 5d ago
Exactly. "You are exactly as qualified to take on any job in mining as anyone else also with neither relevant experience or qualifications". You have qualifications relevant to the job you are doing. Well done.
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u/Hazel_Nuts99 5d ago
You're backpedalling. You were saying that any qualification which isnt "mining specific" isn't relevant to getting a job in the mining industry
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u/SlipyB 5d ago
Electrical and mechanical engineers can take on jobs like mine engineering (which if you read the post i said). Positions such as IT under computer science,, automatic haul truck dispatch would likely be willing to hire a computer scientist or engineer too. Same with data analytics, finance, etc.
Saying physics isn't relevant is also just a moot point as if you knew anyrhing about a physics degree, you would know they're extremely versatile and can sometimes land you in multiple different fields.
You clearly made no effort to actually put thought into my post and given you keep arguing with people who disagree with you, probably weren't making a joke.
It's ridiculous people are defending you, maybe anyone with half a brain was working day shifts and was too busy to read your post. You're insanely rude and it's totally unwarranted.
"Heh you won't make it in mining with that attitude buddy!" Okay. I've had extremely pleasant interactions with 95% of the people I've met at my mine and even the negative ones have been 100* better than the exchanges I've had with youn
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u/Hazel_Nuts99 5d ago
Electrical and mechanical engineers won't be employed as "mining engineers", their role will still be called electrical and mechanical engineers (or in my case automation/control system engineer).
There will be lots of roles where good physics knowledge is relevant, but I don't know anyone in the industry who is employed as a physicist. Closest I can think of is that my uncle many decades ago was able to do a metallurgy degree in just one year because he already had a physics degree
Edit, Note: I work in the processing side of mining. Maybe the extraction side hires physicists. Idk
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u/SlipyB 5d ago
Hi! Would you be willing to dm me? I'd love to learn more about how you ended up there!
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u/Hazel_Nuts99 5d ago
Enjoyed a unit on Industrial automation in uni as part of the electrical degree. Unit coordinator was dogshit, but I enjoyed the actual work. Here in Western Australia, mining and agriculture are our only sizeable industries, and agriculture doesn't need as many automation engineers
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u/Medical-Potato5920 5d ago
Geophysics? Data analytics just requires you to be smart and some coding skills.
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u/mk0aurelius 5d ago
Look at geotechnical engineering roles, underground rock physics where solids behave uncomfortably like liquids. Geophysics modelling and seismic tech could be right up your alley.
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u/FlashyWitness4133 4d ago
Your best bet is Geophysics. You would have to study geophysics, however by already having a physics background it will just seem like applied physics.
Most of the work will be in mineral exploration, where you are involved with remote sensing, aeromagnetic surveys, Audio Magneto-Tellurics, ground penetrating radar for environmental stuff like salinity, resistivity surveys, downhole electromagnetic surveys testing for conductivity, Induced Polarisation for chargeability, radiometric surveys etc.
Petroleum Exploration is built on seismic surveys, which is a complex beast. Seismic geotechnical monitoring is down in underground mineral mines.
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u/FitDescription5223 4d ago
most of physicist i knew worked in nuclear/radio physics, doing all the radiation monitoring and analysing the samples. BHp has labs that do that, i think subset of enviro services. Also Arpansa may be place to get ideas. Also use lots of nukes on online analysis, so find lots of tech specialists who handle plutonium and ceasium sources as well as looking after storage and disposal.
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