411-304 Mineral and Process Engineering 1

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

421-205 Mathematics for Engineers 2.2, 411-205 Fluid Mechanics 1 and 411-206 Reactor Engineering 1

Corequisites

411-302 Transport Phenomena 2 and 411-303 Fluids/Solids Processing

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The aim of this subject is the analysis, modelling and design of physical and chemical processes for extracting valuable minerals and metals from ores.

The topics to be covered are: Survey of metallurgical processes and unit operations, metallurgical terminology and calculations. Metallurgical testwork and process design. Mineralogy and petrology of ores. Thermodynamics of metal extraction systems and equilibria, stability of oxides and sulphides, process options for oxides and sulphides. Sampling and assay errors, separation efficiency, the two product formula, material balance smoothing. Population balances for particulate systems. Modelling of mineral liberation, the simulation of grinding and classification circuits incorporating liberation. Gravity separation, dense medium separation, magnetic, electrostatic and eddy-current separation. Froth flotation: surface chemistry, transport processes in the pulp and froth phases, equipment design and modelling. Coal washing: washability curves, organic efficiency, ash error, probability error, error area. Hydrometallurgical processes: leaching, resin/carbon in pulp processes, elution, electrowinning, cementation, solvent extraction. Diagnostic leaching

Assessment

One class test during semester 1 contributing 20% to the final mark, as well as an examination not exceeding three-hours at the end of semester 1, contributing 80% to the final mark