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MINERALS INDUSTRY EDUCATION AND TRAINING II
crystallography, the physical and chemical properties of minerals and how
to recognise and identify common minerals. However in some instances
mineralogy is offered as part of a metallurgy program. Table 1 summarises
the courses identified at five universities: two from South Arica, two from
Canada and one from Australia.
At the University of Queensland (which interestingly does not appear in the
data from LinkedIn), mineralogy related courses are offered through Earth
Sciences and Chemical Engineering. The Earth Sciences course is similar
in content to those in other countries shown in Table 1 in geology related
disciplines. In the Chemical Engineering program the courses offered
explicitly cover process mineralogy with a basic introduction provided as
part of a third year compulsory course for those studying Chemical and
Metallurgical Engineering. An advanced fourth year elective is also offered.
The aims of the third year course, taken from the course profile, are to
(https://www.uq.edu.au/study/course.html?course_code=MINE3219):
Develop an understanding of ore characteristics and how valuable
minerals are liberated from ores for recovery through the process of
rock breakage - comminution.
Provide an understanding of the following key concepts:
w The physical and chemical properties of minerals are determined by
the bonding of species within these compounds and the respective
crystal structures.
w The physical and chemical properties of minerals are determined by
the bonding of species within these compounds and the respective
crystal structures.
w The degree of liberation that must be achieved through ore breakage
is a function of the subsequent separation processes that are to be
employed.
w Rock and ore breakage characteristics are dependent on the
comminution technology employed and the ore characteristics.
w The ore characteristics and degree of liberation can be predicted or
assessed using quantitative process mineralogy techniques.
Innovative Practice in Mineral
186 Section 5
Processing Education
