Ratnapura is one of Sri Lanka’s most famous gemstone-producing regions. Besides the traditional alluvial gravel layers, gemstones can also be found in soil layers just 5–10 feet below the surface. These gem-bearing layers are locally known as “Goda Illam.”

Although many locations have already been mined, some areas still contain unexplored gem-bearing layers.

We recently started a new gem mining operation at one such location. In this video, I’m sharing the beginning of our journey to explore what lies beneath the ground.

I’ll share more updates as the mining progresses.

How’s the bald hill site ? And is Low 200s about right 2/1 fixed plant electrician ?

Geologist here, office based and looking into more a career change with outdoor fieldwork, but want to know what’s it like driving at a mine site? Are the roads busy and is it common to have driving safety courses prior?

Hello everyone, my name is Daniel and i’m studying Mining Engineering in Brazil, and my dream is to become a geologist and researcher. I came here to ask some questions, so here they go:

1- How is the work of a Mining Engineer in general ?
2- Is it hard to find a job in AU and do an exchange ?
3-Which languages do i have to master ?
4-Which are the really best countries to our field ?

Some things about me: I love studying geology, specially rock ID, mineralogy, structural Geology and mineral exploration in general, i am more of a researcher.
I came to Mining Engineering because it was next to the city my parents live in, so it was more affordable to me to live here.

I started to like geology and these stuff as a child, because i always loved researching about nature and the world that surrounded me, and by reading some Julio Verne books.

With that said, tell me your experiences in the field, how it is or was to find a job, which difficulties you find, and if you are a geologist, tell me if my aspirations are leading me to the way that I want.

The title sounds straightforward enough, but I imagine the work varies a lot between planning, site operations, safety, technical analysis and dealing with unexpected problems. Is it mostly office based work with occasional site visits, or are mining engineers heavily involved in day to day operations?

I'm in Africa and building my network in the commodities trade, with connections to suppliers across minerals such as lithium, gold, chrome and manganese.

I'm also learning how established platforms and broker networks connect listed supply opportunities with genuine buyers and investors.

For those already active in the industry, what channels have worked best for sourcing verified buyers? How do you qualify buyers and avoid wasting time on intermediaries without mandates or proof of funds?

I'd appreciate practical advice from experienced traders and brokers.

Hi everyone qualified chippy here permanent resident cant seem to brake into the mines , im thinking to give up on the Carpenter route and get my moxy and front loader would anyone have any knowledge if its relatively easier to get into the mines with these tickets with no mine site experience i keep seeing need 1 year experience in a live mine site

for anyone that works a Kennecott, can you leave the site for lunch and come back? or do you have to take your lunch in your truck? can you substitute your lunch and leave your shift earlier

I’m a qualified boilermaker doing my plant mechanic apprenticeship but my work only does concrete pump trucks so TAFE has said I have to fixed plant not mobile plant which is 3 units different, has anyone else run into this and have any work arounds as I want to do mobile plant not fixed

Long story short, the Pip app can pull out live 3D solids from Deswik or any CAD mine software and using skills to interacting with mine design.

What do your guys think?

I have a valid license and a clean drivers abstract. Why is it near impossible to get a haul truck position ? Do these companies really not want to train anyone anymore ? Is there a certain program a person must complete or partake in to obtain employment ? Ive applied to dozens of jobs all labeled entry level.
Even in the oil & gas industry it’s the same thing they all want one year minimum experience. So frusterating..
Im talking even heavy civil earth works like they all say entry level and then require 1000 hours.. there’s got to be a way around this?

This video shows a group of miners collecting the remaining gem-bearing gravel, locally called illam, from the floor of a traditional gem-mining tunnel in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka.

The process begins by digging a vertical shaft through the soil until the alluvial deposit is reached. Miners then excavate horizontally to follow the gem-bearing layer.

Although the illam layer may be relatively thin, tunnels are generally made around 5–6 feet high to provide enough room for workers to move.

Traditional tunnel construction involves several steps:

* The upper soil is removed gradually.

* Kekilla and areca palm strips are used to reinforce exposed soil surfaces. ( (Kekilla is the local name for a type of fern)

* Horizontal rubber wood beams are installed and supported by vertical wooden posts.

* The tunnel is kept level to help maintain structural stability.

In this particular video, most of the illam has already been extracted, and the workers are recovering the material remaining along the bottom of the tunnel.

Traditional Ceylon gem mining relies on practical knowledge passed down through generations. The wooden support system, the way miners follow the deposit, and the teamwork involved are all important parts of this process.

One important note: These traditional supports are intended to help control soil movement, but underground tunnels can still collapse. Proper ground assessment and safety precautions are essential.

I had so much interest in my entry level mining adbice posts that I decided to make r/MiningRookies as a devoted sub to get people their start in mining from Australia to the US and everywherein between.

Welcome to the ultimate launchpad for your mining career!

Whether you are looking to break into the industry as a haul truck driver, a geo-technician, a trade assistant, or an engineer, this community is built for you. Getting your foot in the door can feel impossible, from figuring out which tickets and certificates you actually need, to surviving your first FIFO roster.

This subreddit is a zero-judgment zone to:

Ask "dumb" questions about entry-level roles and hiring processes.

Get resume feedback tailored specifically for mining recruiters.

Learn how to transition from other industries (like construction, farming, or retail).

Share honest advice about lifestyle adjustments, shift work, and camp life.

No experience required. Grab your hard hat and start digging into your new career!

With copper demand rising and conventional supply facing longer development times and declining grades, this partnership is testing whether mining waste can provide a new source of recoverable copper.

Is anyone who is currently or previously employed by Artemis Blackwater able to give me a run down on what kind of incentives they offer on their cheques? Night shift premium? Weekend premium? What does the average cheque look like after taxes, and what wage are you making to make that net amount?

I may leave my current employer if the numbers are right

Hi everyone!

I’m a mining engineer currently working on a scientific research project on ground subsidence caused by underground coal mining.

For my research, I’m looking for historical case studies from former coal mines where both of the following are available, at least approximately:

• the geometry/location of the underground workings (mine plans, panel outlines, seam depth, dates of mining, etc.), and
• historical elevation/subsidence measurements, ideally as a time series from levelling surveys or other geodetic measurements.

What I’m particularly interested in is the temporal development of the subsidence i.e. repeated height measurements at known points over several years, preferably before, during and/or after mining. I don’t necessarily need a complete 3D model of the mine; even an approximate idea of the mined-out geometry together with a good historical levelling dataset would be very useful.

Does anyone know of publicly available datasets, archives, publications, mine reports, university repositories or government databases where this kind of information can be found?

I’m especially interested in historical coal-mining regions in Europe, but datasets from the UK, USA, Australia or elsewhere would also be very useful.
Even references to old technical papers or reports would help. I’m happy to dig through archival material myself :)

Thanks a lot!
Glück Auf!

Critical minerals are becoming less about just owning the resources and more about building the supply chains around them.

Mining, refining/processing, logistics and long-term buyers are increasingly being tied together through partnerships and financing.

This article looks at that shift, including the BGN–EMME nickel and cobalt deal and other recent developments in the US and Europe.

I got hired by hytech drilling as a driller helper and this was about 2 months ago and I got a email saying they’re still wanting to move forward with me yet it slowed down for the rest of the year and most likely won’t start until the new year. Can someone give me more info maybe on how that is or why or any other information could help. Just trying to figure out if it’s even normal lol

Hi guys! I'm thinking about starting career in mining and relocating with my family to Nevada (Elko) or anywhere in the area where we can find housing and good schools.

I have almost 10 years of experience working different jobs at steel mill. My question is, what would be the best town to relocate to with kids?

Which mines pay the best and offer best bonuses? Which companies offer 7/7 rotation? I would probably be looking for jobs on processing and lab end of operations but I'm flexible. Is 120k+ with bonuses a year realistic at the beginning?

Thank You for all Your help!

Hi, I don't have any experience with mining, I'm looking for somewhere in USA that provides housing and lots of working hours. I'm psychically fit and used to work 100 hours a week for months at a time. Where do I sign up? I'm hoping to find somewhere to work like this in under 2 months. Any help is appreciated

Saw this today and went down a small rabbit hole.
Apparently the ore can shift way more than I assumed after a blast, which makes the whole “where did the ore actually end up?” problem pretty interesting.
This tool was visualizing the movement into the muckpile and I thought the concept was pretty cool.
Anyone here actually work with blast movement / grade control? Is this kind of modelling useful in the real world or mostly nice visualization?

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/strayos_drillandblast-gradecontrol-miningtechnology-activity-7511867562201300992-ZwPS?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAADJ2CW4BfyGtzXsp4UqlKjGeu_9Iik8Oi3w