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  2. Minerals and Solids Processing [ENS5561]

School: Engineering

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Minerals and Solids Processing

  • Unit Code

    ENS5561

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

There is a wide range of processing technologies used in the minerals industry with varying characteristics that determine how and why they are used. This unit provides the underpinning fundamental physical, chemical and transport processes that are important to minerals processing. A key feature of minerals processing is the influence of raw materials and market needs on processes and products. Students will learn the importance of the integrated "mine to metal"approach to process design and optimisation,to gain an understanding of the challenges that dictate the sustainable supply of these materials.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from ENS3112

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded ENS4114

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse at a qualitative level the relationship between the fundamental processes, the process objectives and the final equipment design for mineral and material processing.
  2. Describe the principles of physical and chemical processes that allow selective separation of minerals from ores, and of elements from mineral concentrates, metals and materials.
  3. Select appropriate processing routes for a given ore deposit or source materials with awareness of the economic and environmental impacts.
  4. Use process flowsheets to describe the processes undertaken in mineral and material processing.

Unit Content

  1. Hydrometallurgical processes: precipitation, crystallisation and separation.
  2. Key issues in minerals processing from ore to recycling.
  3. Liberation and particle size reduction processes: comminution, blasting, crushing, grinding.
  4. Ore properties and grade recovery, breakage and sizing.
  5. Pyrometallurgical processes including kinetics and equilibria with applications in steel making and non-ferrous metals.
  6. Sedimentation, bubble flow, froth flotation and dewatering.
  7. Separation processes: screening, classification, gravity separation and partition curves. Dense medium separation, magnetic and electrical separation.
  8. Solvent extraction, ion exchange and electrowinning.
  9. Synthesis of mineral processing flowsheets.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, tutorials and laboratories.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Laboratory Work ^Laboratory reports30%
TestMid-semester test20%
Examination ^End of semester examination50%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Text References

  • Woodcock, J.T. & Hamilton, J.K. (Editors), (1993). The Sir Maurice Mawby memorial volume (Volumes 1 and 2), Second, Monograph No. 19 Melbourne, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
  • Hayes, P.C. (2003). Process principles in minerals and materials production (3rd ed.). Queensland, Australia: Hayes Publishing.
  • Wills, B.A. & Napier-Munn, T.J. (2006). Wills' mineral processing technology (7th ed.). Oxford, England: Elsevier.

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

ENS5561|1|1

School: Engineering

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Minerals and Solids Processing

  • Unit Code

    ENS5561

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

There is a wide range of processing technologies used in the minerals industry with varying characteristics that determine how and why they are used. This unit provides the underpinning fundamental physical, chemical and transport processes that are important to minerals processing. A key feature of minerals processing is the influence of raw materials and market needs on processes and products. Students will learn the importance of the integrated "mine to metal"approach to process design and optimisation,to gain an understanding of the challenges that dictate the sustainable supply of these materials.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 1 units from ENS3112

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded ENS4114

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse at a qualitative level the relationship between the fundamental processes, the process objectives and the final equipment design for mineral and material processing.
  2. Describe the principles of physical and chemical processes that allow selective separation of minerals from ores, and of elements from mineral concentrates, metals and materials.
  3. Select appropriate processing routes for a given ore deposit or source materials with awareness of the economic and environmental impacts.
  4. Use process flowsheets to describe the processes undertaken in mineral and material processing.

Unit Content

  1. Hydrometallurgical processes: precipitation, crystallisation and separation.
  2. Key issues in minerals processing from ore to recycling.
  3. Liberation and particle size reduction processes: comminution, blasting, crushing, grinding.
  4. Ore properties and grade recovery, breakage and sizing.
  5. Pyrometallurgical processes including kinetics and equilibria with applications in steel making and non-ferrous metals.
  6. Sedimentation, bubble flow, froth flotation and dewatering.
  7. Separation processes: screening, classification, gravity separation and partition curves. Dense medium separation, magnetic and electrical separation.
  8. Solvent extraction, ion exchange and electrowinning.
  9. Synthesis of mineral processing flowsheets.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, tutorials and laboratories.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Laboratory Work ^Laboratory reports30%
TestMid-semester test20%
Examination ^End of semester examination50%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Text References

  • Woodcock, J.T. & Hamilton, J.K. (Editors), (1993). The Sir Maurice Mawby memorial volume (Volumes 1 and 2), Second, Monograph No. 19 Melbourne, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
  • Hayes, P.C. (2003). Process principles in minerals and materials production (3rd ed.). Queensland, Australia: Hayes Publishing.
  • Wills, B.A. & Napier-Munn, T.J. (2006). Wills' mineral processing technology (7th ed.). Oxford, England: Elsevier.

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

ENS5561|1|2