According to the International Iranian Stone Exhibition, mining engineering and mining industry is considered as an upstream industry that has met the main and major needs of human civilization from ancient times to today.

Including materials and consumables of other industries such as copper, lead, zinc, gold, building stones, etc. Today, with the development of technology and industry, the need for strategic mineral materials has become and also for the sustainable supply of mineral materials as raw materials for downstream industries, the need to design larger and deeper mines, which increases with the size of mines engineering complexities and their design. Now the question arises that considering the necessity of using engineering science in mining and exploration, to what extent is specialized training in this field and what is the effect of future programs in this field on the scientific level of mining engineering in the country?

Mining engineering is a set of sciences and technologies that begins with the exploration of a deposit (mineral reserves with economic value) and continues until its processing. Mining engineering is the first science with which humanity has been closely associated since the beginning.
From the beginning of civilization, people began to use stone and ceramics until later, when the exploitation of surface and near-surface metals began. Mining engineering was established for the first time in the UK as the first academic engineering discipline in history. This profession is one of the 10 most difficult professions in the world due to its difficult conditions.

Utilizing the knowledge of foreign experts

Sara Yousefifar, an expert in geology and economics, said about holding mining and environmental training courses from exploration to processing by specialized groups: "These trainings have been done so far by institutions such as the mining engineering system." Certainly, holding theoretical courses alone will not be enough to educate people, while in universities, despite the need for mining students, there is no news of holding practical theoretical courses.

He believes that expert and experienced Iranian experts who are active in other countries can be invited and their knowledge can be used to develop and grow mining activities in line with environmental issues. Of course, gaining experience for Iranian mining activists and experts from graduates of other countries will also be effective. But it is certain that if there is a problem in the educational structure, the other parts will also have problems.

Yousefifar further stated: In Iran, mining experts and activists are not supported as they should be, and many of them inevitably become members of engineering assemblies outside Iran. Therefore, if the level of application and education in Iran does not increase, we will not have growth in the field of mining.

Need to write international reports

Mohsen Najaran, an activist in the geochemistry department, also said about the educational issues in the mining sector: "The qualifications of mining experts are not limited to the education and training that people have received." In fact, in the field of geology, experience and operational work is the best training, and if we only invite the elders of this field for growth and progress in the mining sector and deal only with its theoretical aspect, the situation will not change.

He said: "One of the important discussions in the fields of geology and mineralogy is writing a report at the international level, which will provide the ground for reporting and documenting by having complete and accurate information." Also, the standardization of equipment and laboratories and the presence of skilled personnel are other issues required for the preparation of a documentary report.

The writing of an accurate international report and documentation must be based on sound operational and systematic principles that do not exist in Iran and ultimately cannot be written.

"Exploration, extraction and processing are all interdependent, and the best training for experts in the various mining sectors is learning related sciences to help make better and more rational decisions," Najaran said.

Design is one of the most important parts

Ahmad Hammami Tatmaj, a mineral exploration expert, said: "There are various programs in the field of mining and mining industries with a wide range and can be used for such things as conducting applied research projects, providing technical knowledge of industrial production of new products, technical and economic evaluation of mining projects, optimization consulting Manufactured products and standardization, providing specialized laboratory services and pilot samples in various fields of mining engineering and environmental mentioned.

He stated: Design of open and underground mines, design of mineral processing plant, environmental studies of mining projects, design and manufacture of technical software in the field of mining engineering and mineral environment, development of standards, instructions, rules and criteria in the fields of exploration, extraction, mechanics Mineral processing and environment, assessment and estimation of mineral capacity reserves are other projects that are considered by miners and mining activists.

Hammami Tamataj believes that the study of new sciences and technologies such as bio and nanotechnology in the mining environment and mineral processing, extraction and recovery of precious materials and rare earth elements from ores and mineral wastes and wastes of other industries, design of tailings dams, activities ‌ Training and specialization in specialized fields of mining engineering and environment is one of the topics that can provide the field of mining in accordance with environmental laws and not harming it.

According to the exploration expert, if we do not have a plan to dispose of tailings and mineral wastes, working in this field will bring many problems and environmental hazards.

He added: Holding specialized courses for designing mines and mineral processing factories, training in waste management and mineral wastes, technical and economic evaluation courses for mining projects, training courses for various mining software and mineral environment, safety and inspection in mines and mining industries can also be held. To prepare for the implementation of projects.

Use the latest information in the world

Fariba Miri, a mining expert, said about the effect of training miners and people active in this field with the aim of protecting the environment: "Using the latest information in the field of mining and environment and identifying weaknesses in education and research and eliminating them is one of the important issues." . Also, since the mining and mineral industries have a special place in the employment and economy of the country, the correct methods of investing in it should be taught and there should be mutual cooperation between the university and industry and mining, and the university alone should not be responsible for this issue.

He believes that the mining and environmental sectors need skilled, creative and efficient personnel. Unfortunately, despite the significant increase in graduates in mining engineering, graduates in this field are not ready to enter this sector and must first gain experience, and this shows the weakness of the education system.

Miri believes that the training programs in this sector should be in line with the advancement of technology and the needs of the country, because many problems and damages that occur in the field of mining and industry, especially in the environment and mining safety, are due to poor training.

We need to retrain and update information

Behnaz Sotoudeh, a mining activist with 25 years of experience in this field, said about the educational and environmental issues of the mining sector: In the last 25 years, in the mining sector and its related sub-sectors, it seems that education is limited to the university sector and experts after graduation Very few seek retraining and updating their information and knowledge.

According to this member of the Mining Engineering System Organization, another important issue that can be mentioned is the lack of motivation of university professors to update their information in software and the use of new computer technologies, as well as training in the use of modern and up-to-date machinery in mining and education. Has caused complaints from mining students.

Behnaz Sotoudeh added: "How many times have I dealt with students who complained about the inadequacy and insufficiency of professors' knowledge." In my opinion, first we need to assess the need to start mining according to the mineral that determines the priority of the market, then to teach and follow the new methods of exploration, extraction and processing of that mineral.

The need to spend money and time to get training

Alireza Khodaparast, an activist and mining designer, said about the educational topics in the field of mining and environment: I do. In fact, if one wants to study internationally, one needs to spend time and money. This mining activist and designer believes that paying for receiving the latest knowledge in the world is necessary to advance the goals in the field of mining.

Khodaparast stated that currently the training courses that are held in Iran do not have the necessary standards and the current situation and the level of progress in the field of mining is proof of this. Underground mine optimization, production planning using up-to-date software. However, in Iran, they do not or do not have a plan for designing open pit mines, designing and planning production, maximizing the current net value and reducing the waste disposal ratio, etc. in the mine. Khodaparast emphasized: Any complex can invite Top-level foreign consultants in the implementation of projects to guide experts active in the project and by cultivating them to improve the conditions of miners.

Interaction replaces the confrontation between the environment and the mine

Ahmad Azargun, an expert in mineral exploration, believes that the first thing that comes to mind about the environment and mining is the confrontation between these two institutions instead of the interaction between them.

Regarding the discussion of education and environmental issues, he said: "In mining activities, the issue of environment includes from the beginning of exploration operations (protected areas and wildlife) to extraction and processing operations and finally the end of mine life and operations to repair and rehabilitate the mining area." Therefore, in educational and university courses, a unit for this topic, ie the need to pay attention to the environment in mining, its preservation and revitalization, should be considered and presented to students. Of course, in the last 2 years, with the change of the undergraduate curriculum, this issue has been applied to some extent.

The mineral exploration expert continued: "Fortunately, in the master's exam in recent years, a trend called mining and the environment was presented, which deserves thanks." Starting such a movement can bring a favorable future for the preservation of the mining environment. Azargoon believes that since the environment has been manipulated by humans and needs to be repaired, improved and restored to its natural and similar state, it is necessary for miners to pay serious attention to this. However, according to research, the issue of mining rehabilitation in many provinces, including Fars, has been ignored.

The mineral exploration expert stressed: "Considering the water shortage and drought crisis in a large part of the country and the direct connection of groundwater resources with the environment and mining, it should be noted that any action leads to environmental damage, pollution and reduction." Groundwater resources will only harm human beings.

Concluding remarks

Mining engineering in our country, unfortunately, in addition to all the above-mentioned educational shortcomings, has many shortcomings. Among other things, there is no suitable capacity in the labor market for graduates of this field, and this issue can have a negative impact on the mining engineering community in the coming years and the country's engineering community will be empty in terms of scientific and mining engineering capacities. This event, despite the fact that our country has a special place in the world in terms of minerals, can create a big problem for our country and our mining community in the coming years.