Mineral Processing and Waste Management

Subject ENGR90011 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

March, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 1 one hour lecture + 1 two hour tutorial per week. Total 36 hours
Total Time Commitment:


Estimated commitment of 144 hours per semester
Prerequisites: 400-684 (ENGR0010) Mineral economics (may be taken concrrently).
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: Students undertaking this subject will be expected to be competent in the use of Microsoft Excel or alternative spreadsheet software.
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For The purposes of considering request for easonable Adjustments under the Disability for Education(Cwth2005),and students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit

website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Prof Priyan Mendis

Contact

Melbourne School of Engineering
Ground Floor
Old Engineering Building #173
The University of Melbourne VIC 3010 AUSTRALIA

General telephone enquiries
+ 61 3 8344 6703
+ 61 3 8344 6507

Facsimiles
+ 61 3 9349 2182
+ 61 3 8344 7707


Email: eng-info@unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview: This course introduces the scientific and engineering principles involved in the winning of minerals and metals from ores. Unit operations include: comminution, classification, solid-liquid separation and concentration operations.

Tailings disposal systems: impoundment on surface, treatment of recycle or decant water, sub-aqueous discharge to fresh and marine waters. Construction, maintenance and stability of embankments, waste piles, dams, and dikes. Prediction, prevention and control of acid rock drainage from exposed faces or waste dumps.
Objectives:

On completion of this subject, the students should have developed the skills and knowledge to understand the the scientific and engineering principles involved in the winning of minerals and metals from ores, and in safe handling and disposal of the resultant residues.

Specifically, they should be familiar with :
• Formation of minerals.
• Occurrence of economically important minerals.
• Identification of ores and minerals and their properties.
• Various ore-dressing operations: comminution, sizing and sorting, jigging, tabling, flotation, magnetic and electrostatic separations.
• Extraction of mineral species.
• Various separation processes for beneficiation of minerals, including adsorption, electrolysis, electrowinning, leaching, and solvent extraction by precipitation and by reaction.
• Typical examples from the local mineral processing industry
• Tailings disposal systems: impoundment on surface, treatment of recycle or decant water, sub-aqueous discharge to fresh and marine waters.
• Construction, maintenance and stability of embankments, waste piles, dams, and dikes.
• Prediction, prevention and control of acid rock drainage from exposed faces or waste dumps.
• Control of dust, noise, and gas emissions.
• Reclamation and revegetation.
• Government regulations concerning environmental protection in the design, operation and closure of mines and mills.
Assessment: • Formally supervised written examination - 3 hours 50% (end of semester). This final exam is a hurdle. A student must pass the exam to pass the subject.
• Written class test - 1 hour 20% (mid semester);
• A project (2000 word limit) 30% (end of semester).
Prescribed Texts: B. Wills, 1988. Mineral Processing Technology: An Introduction to the Practical Aspects of Ore Treatment and Mineral Recovery, Pergamon; 4th Ed., 785 pages.
Recommended Texts: J.A. Meech, 1999. ProcES – an Introductory Expert System on Mineral Processing.
Available at http://www.mining.ubc.ca/faculty/meech/MINE290/
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: On completion of this subject, the students should have developed:

• Analytical, critical and creative thinking, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning;
• Sense of intellectual curiosity;
• Ability to interpret data and research results;
• Sense of intellectual integrity and ethics of scholarship;
• Writing, problem-solving and communication skills;
• Ability to learn in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies;
• Capacity to confront unfamiliar problems;
• Ability to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature;
• Ability to develop models of practical applications and evaluate their performance by rigorous analytical means and by programming computer simulations;
• Capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work.
Notes: Students will need access to a calculator or preferably a PC/laptop with spreadsheet software to conduct evaluation analyses.
Related Course(s): Graduate Certificate in Engineering (Environmental Engineering)
Master of Mining Engineering
Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering

Download PDF version.