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A ROADMAP FOR MINERALS PROCESSING EDUCATION
Developing and Sustaining Capability in
Process Mineralogy

E WIGHTMAN AND C EVANS
JULIUS KRUTTSCHNITT MINERAL RESEARCH CENTRE
SUSTAINABLE MINERALS INSTITUTE
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

Abstract

There are a number of disciplines in the minerals industry for which
concern has been expressed regarding the sustainability of human
capital. The boom-bust cycles that occur in the industry, the trend in
tertiary education towards consolidation or in some cases cessation of
minerals related programs and the increasing frequency of fly-in fly-
out operations can all contribute towards a decline in the number of
professionals with basic skills in process mineralogy. This paper describes
approaches taken by the authors to incorporate process mineralogy
into three levels of education, namely undergraduate, recent graduate
and experienced professionals. The primary objective in designing the
learning activities is the development of authentic learning experiences
that provide participants with relevant skills in process mineralogy.
Selected examples of approaches used by other education groups
globally to address this issue are also provided.

Keywords

Education, process mineralogy

Developing and Sustaining Capability 181
in Process Mineralogy