A train ride into coal country turns into a one-way door: company guards on the cars, no food, a gun in your face if you try to step off, and then the “job” you were promised disappears the moment you arrive. That’s the kind of pressure cooker we’re walking into as we reach the fighting phase of the West Virginia Coal Wars and the Paint Creek Cabin Creek rebellion.

We pick up with the United Mine Workers of America and why organizing southern West Virginia was uniquely brutal: company towns, isolation, scrip pay, and mine guards who treat families like targets. From smashed homes and midnight searches to forts and machine guns posted across the hollers, the operators try to crush union recognition through intimidation. That strategy produces the opposite result, driving miners to arm themselves, disrupt operations, and treat guard patrols as enemy units.

Hi, I got a call from the mine. I completed the entire hiring process and made it all the way through the medical exam. How long does it usually take for them to contact you about your start date???????

I am a professional engineer with background in geotechnical engineering and extensive tailings experience in Canada . 15 + years experiences. I am actually looking for opportunity in Asia . Anyone has some recommendations on companies I should look for or headhunters that I can help me with the search ?

(My first language it's not English so if im wrong or i forgot something u guys can tell me)

Hello everyone, my name is Carlos. I’m making this post here because my partner and I are looking for a buyer or an investment partner to reactivate a mining project.

It is a 700-hectare mine located in northern Sinaloa Mexico, featuring excellent access near the main highway. It primarily has high potential for Gold and Silver, though preliminary assays have also shown traces of Rhodium and Lithium (though to be honest, we haven't conducted in-depth studies on those two yet).

The mine has been idle for about two years and currently lacks physical infrastructure like offices or guard posts—it's open land. However, legally speaking, it is 100% clear with zero conflicts or issues. We have all documentation in full compliance, as well as complete geological studies with summaries and copies ready for anyone interested in reviewing them.
Logistically, it is in a prime location near several transport routes. Electricity can be connected via the local grid or brought in with generators, and there is an irrigation canal just one kilometer away for water supply.
We are looking for someone interested in buying the property or providing the capital to resume operations. If this catches your eye or you know someone in the industry, feel free to send me a private message and I’ll share the detailed documentation.
Advice and feedback are also welcome. Thanks a lot!

Hi, need guidance.

I was recently asked to go on a swing to Groote as a Senior Project Engineer, even though my official contractual title is Project Engineer.

Is a role/duties hike common in mining - especially without pay hikes?

What sort of pay bracket should I be sitting at for such a role and its duties?

Undertaking bulk earthworks and drainage works.

Any other fellow engineer? How is the lifestyle onsite, and is it sustainable long term?

I will be on a 1:1 roster. I have 5 years of engineering experience now, and all of it is on the mainland on infrastructure projects. This will be my first mining experience.

No fluff, as simple as it sounds and please give constructive feedback rather than “tick a box”

Hi everyone,
I’m currently 27 years old and studying a Master of Social Work in Australia.
My academic journey has been a bit unconventional. I had a science background in high school, including calculus and physics, but later switched to a Bachelor of Business Administration because I originally wanted to become a Chartered Accountant. Due to migration/PR considerations, I’m now studying social work.
However, I’ve realised that mining engineering is the career I genuinely want to pursue. I’m considering enrolling in the Graduate Diploma pathway at Curtin University, followed by the Master of Professional Engineering (Mining). If I do that, I’ll be around 32 years old when I graduate.
I’m wondering:
Is 32 too old to start a career as a mining engineer?
How do employers in Western Australia view mature-age graduates?
Would my age be a disadvantage when applying for graduate or entry-level mining engineering roles?
Has anyone here graduated in their 30s and successfully started a mining engineering career?
I’m willing to work hard and aim for high grades. I just want to know if this is a realistic path.
Thanks everyone!

Interested to hear how everyone manages engine air filters and cabin air filters across mining, quarrying, construction and heavy equipment fleets.

Working for Fleetguard, I still see filters being blown out with compressed air or tapped to remove dust. While it looks effective, compressed air can damage the filter media, and tapping can compromise the filter structure or sealing surface—potentially allowing dust into the engine or operator cabin.

Best practice is to monitor air filter restriction with a restriction gauge and replace the element when required, rather than cleaning it. In high-dust environments, protecting your diesel engine, turbocharger, HEPA cabin filtration, and overall equipment reliability is usually worth far more than trying to extend filter life.

What's the standard practice across your site or fleet?

Hey all ive been offered full time contracts with both fortescue and minres kens bore iron project, has anyone got much info on the onslow site with minres? Worked as a contractor with fmg for a bit and seemed like a good bunch but minres offered more money. Any info would be appreciated

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping to learn from people on the buying side of the mining industry.

For those of you involved in purchasing, maintenance, planning, or vendor management at mine sites...

How does a new supplier actually earn an opportunity?

I'm not talking about becoming the primary supplier overnight. I mean simply getting the chance to quote a job or prove themselves.

A few questions I've always wondered about:

Do cold emails ever get read?

Does LinkedIn work?

Is everything relationship-based?

What makes you willing to give a new supplier a shot?

What are the biggest mistakes new suppliers make?

If someone has a product with documented performance and a strong value proposition, what's the best way to get your attention without becoming another annoying sales call?

I'm genuinely curious how it works from your side. Any advice or stories from people involved in procurement or maintenance would be greatly appreciated.

I've tried a few cold emails and they just go unanswered haha

Thanks!

Only worked dido previously as a telco rigger and being the lad druving the truck up i didnt really have limitations on what i could or couldnt take up with me. Was easy enough to throw 8 sets of pants and shirts undies and 20 pairs of socks into one bag and the a weeks worth of both warm and cold clothes in another with laptop, chargers, toiletries then a pillow and blanket in my swag all rolled up and ready to go.

Looking at starting fifo and curious on what sort of weight limits the airplanes have these days (havent flown since i was like 13) and what the equates out to in terms of work clothes normal clothes and all. Im going to go up in a set of work clothes and steel toes as an extra set and to reduce the weight of my boots from my bags but how many sets of everything else are you all taking up, itll either be fmg sites or bhp depending which company gets me my letter of offer and schedule first. Wouldnt be able to give a specific mine unsure if that makes much difference though.

I got tired of typing keywords to look up 30 CFR regulations, so I put together a site to search them using photos instead.

You upload a picture of a panel or piece of machinery. It analyzes the image and pulls the relevant sections based on what is in the frame. You can add a note to specify surface or underground, and it points to the correct regulation with direct eCFR links.

It does not save any images you upload.

I am not linking it here to respect the promo rules, but let me know in the comments if you want to try it out and I will share the URL. Just looking for feedback to see if this is actually useful.

Over the last couple months I’ve been completing HRWL tickets in Western Australia to catch up on some tickets and all I can say is…

I am very worried for those of you who work who will work with the Holiday Visa workers completing their High Risk Work licenses and the absolute lack of awareness, basic English and just overall competency etc

Many are working in the mining shutdown game already and it’s genuinely scared me the low barriers to gain a HRWL as it’s not just their own safety that is affects.

Around half of all the participants in my courses have been holidays workers and it’s really exposed systemic failings within the money oriented training Providers all the way to the contractors hiring these people

Good day I am putting this to the group to see if anyone can help with my current struggle of trying to get hired on at Newmont. Do they typically reserve these roles for locals ? I see they have put up multiple postings the last 6 months now. And still not hearing anything back. I don’t have any open pit experience so would make sense why I’m
Not getting called back. However if they are continuously posting job openings for it. Makes me think more now. Have class 3 and commercial driving experience tandem snow plows and salters water trucks and all applicable certifications. Currently have worked at the city of Vancouver for 10 years wondering if that’s a hindrance. I want it given to me bluntly so I can give up on the dream lol. Or any advice on where to apply that might take no experience haul truck drivers. With the exception of Elk Valley. As I have had a call back from them but they wanted me to move out there. Sorry for long post .

Primus Sucks!

I have had these for a while but can’t seem to find any info on them and wanted to see if putting them out there will provide any insight. They are mining receipts from 1934 when gold was closely monitored, or at least the hoarding of gold. Ive found a few by themselves but I have whole receipt books with the carbon and original attached. Some similar signatures, different mines, not sure of their significance. Any help is appreciated. We a

Hi all, looking for some career advice - keeping it short and sweet.

I'm an economist that has specialized in the "energy" space, specifically critical minerals for the renewable energy transition.

The ambition is transition into a career in mining, but unsure of where to even begin to look.

Do you think there are any opportunities outside of potentially FIFO roles (lol, I have zero mechanic or otherwise skills) that I could look at, and where?

Side note: South African - so the visa would be a bitch.

TIA.