Miners

Retrievers of Ore & Precious Metals

The sound of a pickaxe on stone echoes down the narrow corridors as a Dwarf slowly carves out the precious ore in the walls. Hours are spent swinging and picking away at the rough stone, slowly but surely opening the once-covered treasury to the air. With each swing of a pick, the ore beneath comes closer and closer to the Blacksmith's forge, ready to be turned into any number of things once everything has been carted to the surface and a true perusal can begin under the lights.
A swift river rushes past as a Human stands next to it, pan in hand, using the slower waters at the edge to wash away the sediment, slowly revealing tiny flecks of color. While not much, each of those tiny flecks can be melted together, creating small ingots of gold, silver, and other metals that can be then sold at market. She does not toil beneath the layers of rock like others do, but her work does not make her any less in this profession, in fact, her work in the sun is much revered.
Throughout the world, under layers of rocks in caverns and caves, and alongside rushing rivers, Miners harvesting precious ores and gems can be found. Without these men and women doing the difficult dirty work, so many comforts of the world would be missing, the decorations that adorn buildings never there. Amongst the Dwarves and beyond, this profession is praised for the necessities it grants all.

Career

Qualifications

Mining, whether with a pickaxe and hammer or with a pan, requires a certain amount of education. While most countries and kingdoms allow apprenticeships and some personal reading to become a Miner, the Dwarven Kingdom and Kingdom of Gems are much more strict in their requirements. Dwarves must attend the School of Mines, focusing on mining, to be allowed into the profession of mining. Other countries and kingdoms may send people to the School of Mines to gain an education in mining as well if those places have amicable relations with the Dwarves.

Career Progression

Mining requires a lot of physical labor and people in the profession can do a variety of jobs that fall under the mining profession. Those who have served in the profession for a number of years and have a professional education, most likely at the School of Mines, may gain the title of Mining Engineer, allowing them to serve as the main planner for new mines and veins off existing mines. More schooling is needed for these engineers as they are in charge of all safety, planning, and execution of new mines or new areas.

Perception

Social Status

While being a Miner is an important role, one’s standing in society is dependent on which country or kingdom one is from. In places such as the Dwarven Kingdom and the Kingdom of Gems, Miners are treated with great respect as the job is difficult, and much of their society would not exist without the work that Miners do. In other places, Miners are seen as necessary, but many stray away from the dirty and sometimes back-breaking work that these people do.

Type

Engineering

Other Associated professions

• Blacksmiths
• Metallurgists

Related Technologies

• Metallurgy
• Metalworking

Related Materials

• Boom Steel
• Zap Steel

Tools

Mining utilizes a variety of tools depending on what type of mining one participates in. Most frequently, Miners will utilize pickaxes, hammers, chisels, and other tools meant to break apart thick rock with smaller versions of these tools used once the ore has been uncovered. Those who pan for ore in rivers may use special flat pans, screens, and sieves to sort out different sizes of sediment before finding the ore they are looking for.