Mining

Mining is a critical activity in generating energy. Without it, we wouldn't have the many gadgets we use today that draw electricity, such as the computer or PDA you're using to read this blog, or the lights above you that make seeing it possible. Although this industry mines for a variety of minerals (such as gold, silver, limestone, marble and gypsum), this post will focus on the minerals used for energy: coal--which accounts for 72% of Colorado's electricity. BTW, energy is also derived from uranium and indirectly molybdenum--an agent for removing sulfur from crude oil.

The Colorado Mining Association (CMA) ranks Colorado 7th in the U.S for Coal Production and 4th in Underground Coal Mining. Their website also contains a map showing where the mines are located in Colorado. CMA also claims that the 13,800 mining jobs (5,100 direct jobs and 8,700 in mining support industries) in Colorado earn top wages: Colorado Coal Miners make an average of $93,598, compared to $42,931 for the average Colorado industrial worker. For a comprehensive description of the industry, refer to the Bureau of Labor Statistic's (BLS) Mining Industry career guide. The BLS also reports on workplace illnesses and injuries by industry sector. Their 2005 report shows Mining to have the lowest numbers of illness and injuries compared to all other industries, including construction.

I recently had the privilege of touring one of Colorado's surface coal mines, Trapper Mine, located in the remote area of Craig, Colorado (a 6-hour drive northwest of Denver, but only 50 miles from Vernal, Utah). I stress "remote" because it's important for jobseekers to know that there are few, if any, services in the immediate vicinity that cater to those accustomed to running to their local 24-hour grocery store to pick up groceries or to Village Inn for a late-night sundae. If you would miss the convenience and hustle & bustle of the busy city life, these jobs are not for you. In addition, and as Colorado natives know, the winters in Colorado are harsh. Many core occupations in the energy industry require you to work outdoors, whether it's in a blizzard 30 degrees below zero, or a scorching summer that's 125 above (or hotter if you work near equipment that emits heat). If you can't stand extreme temperatures, consider an alternate career indoors--which may require more education to make the same salary.

Housing is yet another issue to consider; it's scarce and expensive. Even though you may be able to afford a home on a miner's salary, you may have to live in temporary housing until you find a home that's suitable for you. If these are non-issues for you, and you're a hard worker willing to learn and like working with big yellow toys or explosives (or even land reclamation--for which Trapper has received numerous awards), there's a high-paying job waiting for you in mining!

Trapper Mine employs 174 people around the clock to supply coal to their neighboring powerplant, Tri-State G&T. The average wages for Trapper's mostly union employees is $26/hour (35 staff people are non-union). Jobs include those that are hard to fill: engineers, foreman, and managers; as well as entry level welders, truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, and mechanics (they hire many mechanics with AA degrees straight out of WyoTech). Entry level employees who work night shifts can promote to Monday through Friday "day jobs" which include Blast Helpers.

Trapper mines three pits (one of which is the first photo in this post), and operates three draglines. Draglines are huge excavating machines which move dirt from one pit, filling in the previous pit. Pictured below is their Molly Brown dragline.

To give you an idea of how enormous a dragline is, here are photos of all of us in just its bucket (the part that scoops up each dirtful), the Molly Brown next to a bulldozer, and a video of the Molly Brown in action.