COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND GEOSCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING
MET 101
Mineral Processing
ENGR. GEORGE DOTDOT GOMEZ
Instructor
1st Semester AY 2022-2023
1
MET 101 COURSE OUTCOMES
After completion of the course, the student must be able to:
a. Distinguish different types of equipment used in comminution, beneficiation
(gravity, magnetic, and electrostatic separation), size classification screening and
dewatering operations;
b. Evaluate various size reduction processes and identify the right equipment
combination thereof for application;
c. Evaluate classification and screening efficiencies and perform particle size
analysis and screening/ classification efficiency calculations;
d. Evaluate various classification method; flotation, gravity concentration, magnetic,
and electrostatic separation processes, and identify proper concentration/
separation technique that should be applied to recover common valuable;
e. Describe the different dewatering techniques used in Mineral Processing plants
and identify the features of tailings storage facilities;
f. Prepare flow diagrams for gravity, magnetic, electrostatic separation methods for
recovery of valuable minerals incorporating therein proper equipment selection
and material balance.
MET 101 TOPIC TITLE
Week 1
TOPIC
Introduction to
1 Mineral Processing
MET 101 INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this topic, the student must be able to:
a. Recall/review geology topics:
(1.) how minerals are formed and how it associate with ores,
(2.) Know the difference between minerals, rocks and ores.
b. Explain the importance of mineral processing.
MET 101 TOPIC OUTLINE
3.1 Properties of Minerals in relation to processing
3.2 Goals and Basic of Mineral Processing
3.3 Metallurgical Efficiency
3.4 Economic Concern
3.5 Unit Operations
MET 101 TOPIC OUTLINE
3.6 Examples of Mineral Processing Operations
3.7 Environmental Consequences of Mineral Processing
3.8
3.9
4.0
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3.1 Properties of Minerals in relation to Processing
Minerals
-Minerals are natural inorganic substances
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Mineral Processing
possessing definite chemical composition and atomic
structure.
- have given names according to their chemical
composition. (e.g., galena-lead sulphide, PbS;
sphalerite- zinc sulphide, ZnS).
3.1 Properties of Minerals in relation to Processing
Ores
-the accumulation of minerals in sufficient quantity
as to be capable of economic extraction.
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-classified into metallic and non-metallic ore
minerals.
Rock
- naturally occurring solid mass or aggregates of
minerals.
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3.2 Goals and Basic of Mineral Processing
- Mineral processing is regarded as the processing of ores to yield
concentrated products.
- Most of the processes involve physical concentration procedures
during which the chemical nature of the mineral(s) in question does not
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Mineral Processing
change.
- In hydrometallurgical processing, however, chemical reactions
invariably occur; these systems are operated at ambient or elevated
temperatures depending on the kinetics of the processes.
- The ultimate goal in the production of metals is to yield metals in their
purest form.
- Generalized flow chart of extraction of metals.
3.3 Metallurgical Efficiency
- One of the most important and basic concepts in mineral processing is
metallurgical efficiency.
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- Two terms are commonly used to describe the efficiency of
metallurgical processes: recovery and grade.
- Mine Head Grade
- Mill Head Grade
- Rate of recovery
- Break even cut-off grade
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3.4 Economic Concerns
- Most metals are present in extremely small concentrations in nature.
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- The prices of various minerals differs relatively to its abundance.
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-For example, the monetary value of 516 t of gold was $12.8
billion in 1996, compared to $10.7 billion for 5.3 million t of copper
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and lead.
Mineral
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3.5 Unit Operation
Numerous steps, called unit operations, are involved in achieving the goal of
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extracting minerals and metals from ores in their purest possible form. These steps
include:
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-Reduction. The process of crushing and grinding ores is known as
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comminution. The purpose of the comminution process is threefold: (1) to liberate
Mineral
valuable minerals from the ore matrix, (2) to increase surface area for high
reactivity, and (3) to facilitate the transport of ore particles between unit
operations.
-Size separation. Crushed and ground products generally require classification
by particle size. Sizing can be accomplished by using classifiers, screens, or water
elutriators. Screens are used for coarse particulate sizing; cyclones are used with
fine particulates. ES 10 Class Orientation and Course Overview 12
3.5 Unit Operation
-Concentration. Physicochemical properties of minerals and other solids are
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used in concentration operations. Froth flotation, gravity concentration, and
magnetic and electrostatic concentration are used extensively in the industry.
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- Dewatering. Most mineral processing operations are conducted in the
presence of water. Solids must be separated from water for metal production. This
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is accomplished with thickeners and filters.
-Aqueous dissolution. Many metals are recovered from ores by dissolving the
desired metal(s)— in a process termed leaching—with various lixiviants in the
presence of oxygen. Following leaching, the dissolved metals can be concentrated
by carbon adsorption, ion exchange, or solvent extraction. Purified and
concentrated metals may be recovered from solution with a number of reduction
techniques, including cementation and electrowinning.
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3.6 Examples of Mineral Processing Operation
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Class participation
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ES 10 Class Orientation and Course Overview 14
3.7 Environmental Consequences of Mineral Processing
During the course of mining and metal extraction, an unavoidable consequence is
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that the environment will be disturbed.
-The hills and valleys will be excavated during mining,
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-and because strong reagents are used in solubilization processes, the rocks
and water involved will be contaminated.
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The mineral industry is very conscious of these phenomena and spends large
amounts of capital on remediating the environment and neutralizing toxic wastes.
ES 10 Class Orientation and Course Overview 15
ASSESSMENT
Quiz Next Meeting
MET 101 MINERAL PROCESSING
REFERENCES
B. A. Wills and D. W. Hopkins (Auth.) - Mineral Processing Technology. An
Introduction to the Practical Aspects of Ore Treatment and Mineral
Recovery-Pergamon (1985)
Maurice C Fuerstenau_ Kenneth N Han - Principles of mineral processing-
Society for Mining
MET 101 MINERAL PROCESSING
ANNOUNCEMENT
-please do advance reading on the next topic “Ore Handling”
MET 101 MINERAL PROCESSING
END OF THE PRESENTATION
ES 10 Class Orientation and Course Overview 19
