An expansive industry with countless opportunities, Mining “consists of the search for extraction, beneficiation, and processing of naturally occurring solid minerals from the earth.” These minerals include coal, iron, copper, or zinc and industrial minerals such as potash, limestone, and other crushed rocks. Everything in our lives depends on these materials, from building and chemical materials to everyday electronics. Coal supplies the United States with about 50 percent of its electricity and is also used to manufacture steel and plastics. To say this field is well worth investigating is an understatement. Choosing a career in today’s mining industry opens the [...]