For years, the mining industry in general has been thought of as something of an ‘old boys’ club.’ But as quickly as the many facets of mining are changing, so too is our understanding of the industry’s demographic makeup. Saying today that mining is a man’s world is as antiquated a view as assuming miners themselves still use nothing but a pickaxe to unearth some of the world’s most important raw materials.
Our ‘Meet Your Miners’ series is here to lay to rest outdated ideologies while also introducing you to the amazing people who work both directly and indirectly with mining each day. One of those very workers is Linsey Burger, a Gilchrest Ore. native and nine-year veteran of the Nevada mining community.
Burger joined Newmont Mining Corporation as a truck driver at the Twin Creeks mine in 2004 and quickly made inroads to advance her career. A self-proclaimed lover of the outdoors, Burger enjoys camping, rafting, weekend pack trips into the Ruby Mountains and fishing among other activities. Because of this, she knew she wanted to expand her career experience and get outside the haul truck cabin.
“I quickly realized that I wanted a more physically active job and was given the opportunity to work within the Blasting Department on the Powder Crew. It was a much better fit for me,” said Burger
Moving into the blasting department was certainly a better fit for her personality and career interests, and the opportunity also found Burger working with explosive materials on a daily basis. While the distinction between man and woman in her field has vanished in importance, the difference between safe and unsafe is as important as ever.
“I come to work every day expecting to go home in the same condition I arrived in,” says Burger. “I expect my father, who works at the Phoenix mine, and my uncle and cousin here at Twin Creeks, to go home to their families at the end of the day as well. Thinking of my family and my co-workers not just as equipment operators or mechanics, but as people with families helps me keep safety personal.”
As an experienced leader in her field, with nine years under her work belt, we asked Burger about her views on career opportunities for women in the mining industry. “I feel the career opportunities for women in mining are endless! The only thing limiting a woman in mining is her belief in herself.”