Mining interview questions
500 questions with model answers, in four levels. Start with Basic, check yourself honestly, then move up.
Basic questions
- Mining Geology & Exploration (13)
- Mine Development (13)
- Surface Mining (13)
- Underground Coal Mining (13)
- Underground Metal Mining (13)
- Rock Mechanics & Ground Control (13)
- Drilling & Blasting (12)
- Mine Ventilation & Gases (12)
- Mine Machinery & Transport (12)
- Mine Planning, Valuation & Economics (12)
- Mine Safety & Legislation (12)
- Mineral Processing & Mine Environment (12)
Intermediate questions
- Mining Geology & Exploration (13)
- Mine Development (13)
- Surface Mining (13)
- Underground Coal Mining (13)
- Underground Metal Mining (13)
- Rock Mechanics & Ground Control (13)
- Drilling & Blasting (12)
- Mine Ventilation & Gases (12)
- Mine Machinery & Transport (12)
- Mine Planning, Valuation & Economics (12)
- Mine Safety & Legislation (12)
- Mineral Processing & Mine Environment (12)
Advanced questions
- Mining Geology & Exploration (11)
- Mine Development (11)
- Surface Mining (11)
- Underground Coal Mining (11)
- Underground Metal Mining (11)
- Rock Mechanics & Ground Control (10)
- Drilling & Blasting (10)
- Mine Ventilation & Gases (10)
- Mine Machinery & Transport (10)
- Mine Planning, Valuation & Economics (10)
- Mine Safety & Legislation (10)
- Mineral Processing & Mine Environment (10)
Tricky questions
- Mining Geology & Exploration (7)
- Mine Development (7)
- Surface Mining (7)
- Underground Coal Mining (6)
- Underground Metal Mining (6)
- Rock Mechanics & Ground Control (6)
- Drilling & Blasting (6)
- Mine Ventilation & Gases (6)
- Mine Machinery & Transport (6)
- Mine Planning, Valuation & Economics (6)
- Mine Safety & Legislation (6)
- Mineral Processing & Mine Environment (6)
Sample questions
- What is the difference between an ore and a mineral?
- Why are shafts lined?
- What is goaf (gob)?
- What is shotcrete?
- What is the minimum oxygen content required in mine air?
- How is ore tonnage calculated from volume?
- How is the true thickness of a bed found from a vertical borehole?
- What are the trade-offs between inclined and vertical shafts?
- How is depillaring done with a continuous miner?
- What is the angle of draw?
- How is heat stress assessed in deep mines?
- What is sensitivity analysis in mine evaluation?
- A gold vein is 200 m along strike, 100 m down dip, 2 m true thickness, density 3.0 t/m³ and grade 6 g/t. Estimate tonnage and contained gold.
- Size a truck fleet for 2,000 t/h using 100 t trucks with a 25 min cycle and 80% efficiency.
- Estimate the hourly output of an LHD with a 10 t bucket, 4 min cycle and 75% efficiency.
- How do you calculate the air quantity required for diesel equipment underground?
- How does geological uncertainty affect mine scheduling?
- Is a high-grade drill intersection enough to declare an ore body?
- Is coal dust only a health hazard?
- Is a self-rescuer the same as a breathing apparatus for rescue work?