An overview to the field of mining beneficiation and comminution, systems and equipment used for the mining and mineral processing industry. Fundamentals of basic separation and mineral beneficiation of surface and underground mining, economic planning, environmental concerns, safety and terminology will be explored. This course is an introduction course for technical mineral recovery and ore treatment.
Course Information
Credits: 4
Prerequisites: Placement in the Mill Operations OE program
Instructional Goals
- Describe the different types of crushing and grinding circuits and their basic operation.
- Explain the principles, operation, and basic trouble-shooting of crushing and grinding circuits.
- Describe conveyor systems and their basic operation.
- Describe screen and classification processes used in mill operations.
- Describe the safety concerns and safety systems applied to these mill circuits.
- Describe normal and emergency operations of mill circuits
- Explain mill circuit capacities vs efficiency/recovery
Student Outcomes
| Student Outcomes Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to do the following: | Assessment Procedures This outcome will be assessed by one or more of the following: |
|---|---|
| Students demonstrate an understanding of safety as applied to working in a mill facility. | Performance answering identified mill safety test questions |
| Students demonstrate proper safety practices around rotating equipment. | Observed performance demonstrating proper (general) safety practices required around rotating equipment |
| Students demonstrate knowledge of various types of crushing equipment | Performance answering identified crushing circuit equipment test questions Observed performance identifying crusher components |
| Students demonstrate knowledge of various types of grinding equipment circuits | Performance answering identified grinding equipment circuit test questions Observed performance identifying grinding unit components |
| Students demonstrate knowledge of various types of conveyors systems. | Performance answering identified conveyor test questions Observed performance identifying conveyor components and associated equipment |
| Students demonstrate knowledge of various types of screen applications. | Performance answering identified screen application and sizing questions Observed performance identifying screen deck components and associated equipment |
| Students demonstrate knowledge of various types of material classifiers. | Performance answering identified hydraulic, mechanical, and hydrocyclone classifier test questions Observed performance identifying classifier components and associated equipment |
Course Outline
- Conveyors
- Conveyor system terminology
- Conveyor system components
- Conveyor safety systems
- Normal conveyor operations
- Emergency conveyor operations
- Industrial Screen Systems
- Industrial Screen system terminology
- Industrial Screen system components
- Normal Industrial Screen system operation
- Emergency Industrial Screen operation
- Industrial Screen safety concerns
- Classification equipment and systems
- Classification equipment types
- Classification terminology
- Principles of classification
- Hydraulic, Mechanical classifiers
- Hydrocyclones, Hydrocyclone operation
- Crushing & Grinding Circuits
- Crusher circuit terminology
- Crusher circuit components
- Crusher circuit operation
- Grinding circuit terminology
- Grinding circuit components
- Grinding circuit operation
- Mill Equipment Safety
- General safety standards with rotating equipment
- General equipment LOTO safety standards
- Specific safety concerns with Crushers & Grinding units
- Specific safety concerns with screens & classifiers
- Mill equipment electrical safety
- Mill Operation and Efficiency (Stockpile through Grinding Circuit)
- Guidelines for proper conveyor operation/efficiency
- Guidelines for proper crusher circuit operation/efficiency
- Guidelines for proper grinding circuit operation/efficiency
- Mill circuits process variables
- Mill capacity vs Mill efficiency/recovery
Suggested Text
Wills’ Mineral Processing Technology, 8th edition
B.A Wills, James Finch PhD, Butterworth-Heinemann publisher, 2015
Bibliography
DACUM Research Chart for Mill Operator
Produced for Teck Alaska Inc. Red Dog Mine – June 2015
Prepared by John P. Hakala
Apprenticeship USA United States Department of Labor