The module provides the opportunity for graduates from a range of disciplines to study important aspects of the mining cycle. These include mineral economics, processing of mineral ores to produce concentrates or metal and environmental impacts and remediation techniques. When linked to other specific modules, it forms part of the specialist training for the MSc in Mining Engineering, Mining Geology,Exploration Geology and Mine Environmental Management..

This module aims to provide you with a broad understanding of both the macro-economic and the industry specific economic environment in which mines and projects operate and are evaluated. It introduces you to financial analysis and explores how technical and operational parameters influence the revenue stream and cost structure at mines.

This module has been designed to develop a systematic understanding of the unit processes used in mineral processing and an appreciation of how these unit processes are combined to produce an overall treatment system for a range of minerals and metals.

This module familiarises the student with the legal and regulatory environmental framework within which companies explore, exploit and manage mineral resources. It highlights the key environmental impacts and issues arising from mineral exploration and exploitation and introduces concepts of Social Licence To Operate and Corporate Social Responsibility.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 Understand the basic principles of mineral economics and perform simple financial techniques in the appraisal of mining operations;

2 Articulate how mineral processing and hydrometallurgical techniques can be used to produce saleable mineral and metal products;

3 Analyse the effect of mining on the environment, the planning of extractive operations to minimise impact, and the legislation associated with the environmental impact of mining. Knowledge of how to deal with environmental damage and disasters associated with mining;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

4 Communicate knowledgeably with others on economic, processing and environmental issues associated with mining;

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

5 Utilise a range of computer based learning resources;

6 Professionally present written information;

7 Plan and manage self-study time and tasks; accessing additional resources to provide sufficient independent study in support of the syllabus.

Economic Topics:

1 Mineral Economics. Industry fundamentals and macro-economic environment. The effects of supply and demand and  key price drivers that effect mineral commodity prices.  Introduction to capital expenditure, operating costs and unit/cash cost curves;

2 Financial Analysis. Role of cash flow modelling & financial analysis/valuation of mining projects and operations. Coverage of the main components of such an analysis. General coverage of risk/sensitivity analysis, the main technical and engineering factors considered and the most common sources of business risk in the mining industry.

Processing Topics:

1. Introduction to mineral separation and extractive metallurgical techniques, including:  comminution, physical separation,froth flotation, hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy and electrometallurgy..  

2 Introduction to Process Mineralogy and Geometallurgy focussing on the link between mineralogy of an ore and the selection of a circuit.

3 Laboratory demonstrations on mineral separation techniques

Environmental Topics:

1. Issues associated with the environmental impact of mining, both opencast and underground. Visual impact, noise, dust, effects on watercourses and groundwater, effects of chemicals used in processing, acid mine drainage and methods for amelioration of these impacts;

2. Environmental legislation and global legislative and socio-economic environments in context of the extractive industries and

environmental Case studies – research and discussion based investigations.

Basic Reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Reading list for this module: