Rapidly Advancing Mining Tech Propels Innovation

Technology has changed almost every industry in our modern world, and mining is no exception. According to Deloitte’s “Tracking the trends 2019: The top 10 issues transforming the future of mining” report, mining companies now need to be “looking at specific tasks within each role and whether these could be disrupted by technology, now or in the future.” The mining industry is constantly looking for new ways to use technology to improve safety, boost efficiency and protect the environment.

Contrary to current perceptions, mining is one of the most high-tech industries in the world, using autonomous machinery, advanced data analytics and predictive monitoring to operate state-of-the art mines. Take a look inside a modern-day mining operation to see how the industry employs new technologies.

Because of the large role technology plays in day-to-day operations, the industry relies on a tech-savvy workforce. According to the Deloitte report, the industry must attract and retain the “most in-demand cohort of talent in the world.” And yet, millennials – the first truly tech-forward generation – are under-represented across the mining industry.

Along with employing advanced technologies for production, the minerals that the industry brings to market are the key elements that society relies on for advanced innovations in industries like healthcare and defense. For example, gold makes life-saving cardiac technologies possible and silver is an essential element in smartphones. Without mining, our nation would fall behind in technological advancements.

From your laptop to the advanced weapons systems used by our military, we need minerals for technological advancement. It’s critical that we support U.S. mining in order to continue to serve as the global leader in this space. Encouraging responsible domestic mineral production fuels American innovation and economic prosperity, and can employ a future workforce of technology-first millennials.