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A miner is a person who extracts ore, coal, chalk, clay, or other minerals from the earth through mining. There are two senses in which the term is used. In its narrowest sense, a miner is someone who works at the rock face; cutting, blasting, or otherwise working and removing the rock. In a broader sense, a "miner" is anyone working within a mine, not just a worker at the rock face.

Renowned as one of the most dangerous jobs in the world - and for good reason. Cave-ins, explosions, toxic air, and extreme temperatures are some of the most perilous hazards observed to take place in underground mining, as well as the overall long-term health effects of underground mining conditions. In some countries, miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance.

In regions with a long mining tradition, many communities have developed cultural traditions and aspects specific to the various regions, in the forms of particular equipment, symbolism, music, and the like.

Roles

Different functions of the individual miner. Many of the roles are specific to a type of mining, such as coal mining.
Roles considered to be "miners" in the narrower sense have included:
*Hewer (also known as "cake" or "pickman"), whose job was to hew the rock.
**Collier, a hewer who hews coal with a pick.
*Driller, who works a rock drill to bore holes for placing dynamite or other explosives.

Other roles within mines that did not involve breaking rock (and thus fit the broader definition) have included:
*Loader (also called a "bandsman"), who loads the mining carts with coal at the arm.
*Putter (also known as a "drags-man"), who works the carts around the mine.
*Barrow-man, who transported the broken coal from the face in wheelbarrows.
* Hurrier, who transported coal carts from a mine to the surface.
*Timbers, who fashions and installs timber supports to support the walls and ceiling in an underground mine.

In addition to miners working in the seam, a mine employs other workers in duties in the sea. In addition to the office staff of various sorts, these may include:
*Brakesman, who operate the winding engine.
*Breaker boy who removes impurities from coal.
*Emergency Structure Engineer, who makes sure that cave-ins are dealt with when called

Modern miners

Mining engineers use the principles of math and science to develop philosophical solutions to technical problems for miners.
In most cases, a bachelor's degree in engineering, mining engineering or geological engineering is required. Because technology is constantly changing, miners and mining engineers need to continue their education.

The basics of mining engineering includes finding, extracting, and preparing minerals, metals and coal. These mined products are used for electric power generation and manufacturing industries. Mining engineers also supervise the construction of underground mine operations and create ways to transport the extracted minerals to processing plants.

Gallery

File:Keilhaue Bergmann Hammer VEB - BKW - GLÜCKAUF -Träger des Vaterländischen VO in Gold - Betrieb im VE BKK Senftenberg - Lupus in Saxonia Bild 00017.jpg, Ceremony hammer of a miner VEB Kombinat Senftenberg (GDR) - with honorary uniform
File:Limestone mine 1950 (JOKAMT2Teo60-3).tif, A group of miners at the limestone mine in Sipoo, Finland, 1950
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-16800-0004, Bergmann mit Spitzhacke.jpg, A brown coal miner with a pickaxe. West Germany, 1952
File:Miner in a gallery Potosi (pixinn.net).jpg, Miner in a mine of the "Cerro Rico" at Potosí, Bolivia, 2006
File:Coal miner spraying rock dust.jpg, Miner spraying rockdust in a mine in West Virginia, 2009
File:Mursko Središće, Trg bana J. Jelačića - spomenik rudaru.jpg, Coal Miner's Memorial in Mursko Središće, Croatia
File:Sunshine Mine Disaster.jpg, Sunshine Miners Memorial in Silver Valley, Idaho
File:Mine crew from London Mine standing in a group for a photograph in 1896 - DPLA - f62e038b1cc944e2a09ebad5474adeec (cropped).jpg, London Mine members posing for a group photograph in Park County, Colorado in 1896

See also

* Amateur geology
* Mineral collecting
* Miner's apron
* Miner's cap
* Miner's habit
* Mining helmet
* Prospecting
* Salt mining
* Underground mining (hard rock)

Distinguish from

*Minor (disambiguation)

References

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Resource extraction occupations