Course content

The course describes the mineral processing circuits as a system based on combining the fundamental unit operations. Principles for process design will be given along with examples of processes for various raw materials. The basic principles of scaling and projecting circuits are addressed. The course will also present advances in comminution technology along with alternative separation methods. The importance of efficient processing for sustainable utilisation of mineral resources will be stressed throughout the course.

Learning outcome

Competences:

The students should be able to discuss and communicate the role and importance of mineral processing in the mineral production value chain from mineral deposit to product with respect to technical performance, marked aspects and sustainability.

The students should be able to analyse the link between the properties of the raw material and the choice of processing solution and use this knowledge to identify critical process choices for a given mineral deposit, as well as proposing specific solutions based on own calculations.

The students should be in possession of fundamental practical mineral processing competence that enables them to conduct mineral processing experiments.

Knowledge and skills:

The students should be able to use the main principles for designing mineral processing circuits, as well as the basic principles for dimensioning and scaling. The students should be able to describe the most common circuits and solutions used in comminution and separation, and to explain the principles behind these solutions. The students should have an overview of common processes for different raw materials. The students should have an overview of the most common techniques for metallurgical accounting and modelling of unit operations.

The students should be able to design flow sheets and suggest processes by combining the basic unit operations, as well as performing simple dimensioning of selected process circuits. The students should be able to assess such processes by calculation and analysis of mass balances and separation efficiency, and should master basic digital calculation tools.

The students should be able to use fundamental mineral processing laboratory equipment, and to plan, perform and report their own mineral processing experiments.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures. Self study. Online courses. Obligatory exercises (theoretical and/or practical). The course is assessed by use of questionnaire.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic knowledge in physics, chemistry, mineralogy and mineral processing.

Required previous knowledge

TGB4301 Mineral Processing, Basic Course or similar basic course in mineral processing covering, crushing, grinding, separation theory, separation calculations, screening and classifying, gravity separation, magnetic separation, flotation, electrical separation and sensor-based sorting.

Course materials

Wills, B.A. and Napier-Munn, T.J. 2016: Wills mineral processing technology, 8th ed., Elsevier.

Additional written material; scientific papers, reports and notes. Lecture presentations (ppt).