The increasing demand for metals in a growing global economy is being met with decreasing ore grades which requires more efficient mineral extraction and recovery techniques.
This course reviews the fundamental principles, and terminology of mineral processing techniques in details from initial classification, crushing, and grinding to dewatering and tailings disposal.
The basic concentration techniques based on the physical properties of minerals such as magnetic, electric, gravity separation as well as froth flotation will be discussed.
Who Should Attend ?
This course is for people with a basic to intermediate understanding of the principles of minerals processing techniquies.
The course will serve as a refresher and as a way to integrate their specific knowledge into the broad technical aspects of the mineral processing sector.
The course will be ideal for freshly graduated engineers.
Course Schedule
Day-1
Introduction to mineral processing
Basic definitions
Mineral properties utilized in separation
Importance of concentrating operations
Typical flowsheets
Ore handling
Ore transportation and storage
Mechanical and pneumatic conveying systems
Removal of harmful materials.
Particle size analysis
Methods of particle size measurement and shape classification
Mathematicaland graphical treatment of particle distributions.
Comminution
Principles of comminution and comminution laws
Grindability
Comminution equipment
Day-2
Crushing and grinding
Primary and secondary crushers
Crushing circuits and controls
Tumbling and stirred mills
Grinding circuits.
Screening and classification
Types of screens
Laboratory sizing
Wet and dry sieving.
Representation of size analysis data
Industrial screens and their efficiency
Principles of classification
Classifier types and performance features
Hydrocyclones: Principles, operation and efficiency
Gravity concentration
Principles of gravity separation
Free settling
Separation in vertical currents
Jigging–theory and principles
Operation of jigs, performance and efficiency
Tabling and factors affecting their performance
Spiral concentrators
Day-3
Dense media separation
Dense medium compositions
Heavy liquid testing
Classification of DMS
Partition curves
Typical DMS circuits
Froth flotation
Principles of flotation
Collectors, frothers and regulators
Reagents and conditioning
Typical flotation separations
Day-4
Solid-liquid separation
Thickeners, types, selection and design features
Filters- types and applications
Concentrate drying
Major influences on solid-liquid separation
Magnetic and electrical separation and ore sorting
Magnetic and electronic separation principles.
Wet versus dry magnetic separation
Low and high intensity magnetic separation
Performance, efficiency and industrial applications
Electrostatic separation:Principles, methods and applications
Day-5
Hydrometallurgy
Principles of hydrometallurgy
Factors influencing leaching rates
Bacterial leaching
Methods of solution purification and recovery of metals from solutio
Reaction kinetics.
Tailings disposal
Methods of tailings disposal and contaminant control
Tailing pond sdesign and applications
Principles and applications of slurry transportation