Raw Materials and Industry
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding
The course aims to provide students basic knowledge on supplying of mineral raw materials and specifically: basics of economy and trade of mineral commodities, mineral prospection, resources and reserves evaluation, exploitation, beneficiation and environmental hazard. Students will acquire also specific knowledge on the main Industrial Minerals.
Applying knowledge and understanding
The students will be able to understand dynamics of mineral trade and economics and to apply them to mining strategies of companies, they will be able to plan exploitation and beneficiation methods according to different characteristics of mineral deposits, they will be able to understand and evaluate resources and reserves key reports. They will be able to apply their knowledge on industrial minerals to their research and exploitation and will be able to evaluate the main environmental hazards related to mineral exploitation. Students will be also able to compute parameters for meeting quality standards of mineral commodities.
The course aims to provide students basic knowledge on supplying of mineral raw materials and specifically: basics of economy and trade of mineral commodities, mineral prospection, resources and reserves evaluation, exploitation, beneficiation and environmental hazard. Students will acquire also specific knowledge on the main Industrial Minerals.
Applying knowledge and understanding
The students will be able to understand dynamics of mineral trade and economics and to apply them to mining strategies of companies, they will be able to plan exploitation and beneficiation methods according to different characteristics of mineral deposits, they will be able to understand and evaluate resources and reserves key reports. They will be able to apply their knowledge on industrial minerals to their research and exploitation and will be able to evaluate the main environmental hazards related to mineral exploitation. Students will be also able to compute parameters for meeting quality standards of mineral commodities.
Expected learning outcomes
Making judgements
Students will be able to formulate hypotheses on main economic trends in mineral commoditiy markets and to autonomously evaluate commercial parameters of raw minerals, particularly of industrial minerals. Students will be able to address in the field to al the components of exploitation and beneficiation plants and to evaluate technologies used.
Communication skills
Students will develop language technical and specific language skills that will aloow him/her to interact with all porfessional experts in the field of mineral exploitation: workers, technicians mining engineers, economicists and so on.
Learning skills The course provides basis for widening and deepening knowledge and competences in the mineral exploitation industry, that can be applied to specific sectors.
Students will be able to formulate hypotheses on main economic trends in mineral commoditiy markets and to autonomously evaluate commercial parameters of raw minerals, particularly of industrial minerals. Students will be able to address in the field to al the components of exploitation and beneficiation plants and to evaluate technologies used.
Communication skills
Students will develop language technical and specific language skills that will aloow him/her to interact with all porfessional experts in the field of mineral exploitation: workers, technicians mining engineers, economicists and so on.
Learning skills The course provides basis for widening and deepening knowledge and competences in the mineral exploitation industry, that can be applied to specific sectors.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
1) Economic and geologic factors
1a) Mines and global markets
- Definitions and classifications
- Global market
- Economic trends
- Life cycle of a mine
- Supplying strategies, duration and exahustion of resources
- Critical and conflict metals
- Circular economy and sustainability
- 1b) Geologic factors
- Goals and strategies
- Mineral prospection
- Times and costs
- Geologica risks
- Ecploitation methods
- Beneficiation methods
- Environmental issues
2) Industrial Minerals
- Generalities and classification
2a) Minerals for ceramic industry
- Feldspar
- Kaolin
2b) Minerals for chemical industry
- Halite
- Sulfur
- Fluorite
- Apatite
2c) Minerals for oil industry
- Barite
- Bentonite
2d) Abrasives
- Pumice
- Garnet
2e) Filler
- Talc
2f) Refractories
- Zircon
- Olivine
- Chromite
3) Geodynamic environments and metallic minerals
- Elements of ore deposits
- Space and time distribution of metallic minerals
4) Innovative approaches to evaluation of environmental hazard in abandoned mine lands
- Field survey and discrimination of areas
- Acid Mine Driainage
- Zoning
5)) Case studies
- Chromite, Madagascar
- Pyrite, Albania
- Manganese, Turkey
- Olivine, Italy
1a) Mines and global markets
- Definitions and classifications
- Global market
- Economic trends
- Life cycle of a mine
- Supplying strategies, duration and exahustion of resources
- Critical and conflict metals
- Circular economy and sustainability
- 1b) Geologic factors
- Goals and strategies
- Mineral prospection
- Times and costs
- Geologica risks
- Ecploitation methods
- Beneficiation methods
- Environmental issues
2) Industrial Minerals
- Generalities and classification
2a) Minerals for ceramic industry
- Feldspar
- Kaolin
2b) Minerals for chemical industry
- Halite
- Sulfur
- Fluorite
- Apatite
2c) Minerals for oil industry
- Barite
- Bentonite
2d) Abrasives
- Pumice
- Garnet
2e) Filler
- Talc
2f) Refractories
- Zircon
- Olivine
- Chromite
3) Geodynamic environments and metallic minerals
- Elements of ore deposits
- Space and time distribution of metallic minerals
4) Innovative approaches to evaluation of environmental hazard in abandoned mine lands
- Field survey and discrimination of areas
- Acid Mine Driainage
- Zoning
5)) Case studies
- Chromite, Madagascar
- Pyrite, Albania
- Manganese, Turkey
- Olivine, Italy
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge in mineralogy: classification of minerals, chemical formulae, metal content, cations and anions.
Basic knowledge in petrography: classification of rocks: the main petrogenetic processes.
Basic knowledge in geochemistry: grouping of elements according to their geochemical behaviour, element distribution in crust and mantle.
Ability to solve simple stoichiometric exercises.
Basic knowledge in petrography: classification of rocks: the main petrogenetic processes.
Basic knowledge in geochemistry: grouping of elements according to their geochemical behaviour, element distribution in crust and mantle.
Ability to solve simple stoichiometric exercises.
Teaching methods
48 hours of frontal lessons. Teahcer promotes and welcomes an ctive partecipation to the classes, thorough questions, expression of doubt, examples or personal experiences.
Teaching Resources
Files provided by the teacher in pdf or ppt format. Reference textbook for Industrial Minerals: Industrial Minerals & Rocks: Commodities, Markets, and Uses Author: J. E. Kogel, editore SME. Reference textbook for economic geology: Economic Geology, Author: W. L. Pohl, Wiley-Blackwell.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam. During the exam teacher will evaluate:
the level of knowledge of subjects covered by the teaching
the correct use of terminology
the ability to navigate thorough the geographic distribution of raw materials and in the dynamics of markets that change the raw materials flow
the ability to connect geological and economic aspects in one frame
The ability to solve simple exercises on industrial classification of some raw materials.
the level of knowledge of subjects covered by the teaching
the correct use of terminology
the ability to navigate thorough the geographic distribution of raw materials and in the dynamics of markets that change the raw materials flow
the ability to connect geological and economic aspects in one frame
The ability to solve simple exercises on industrial classification of some raw materials.
GEO/09 - MINING RESOURCES, MINERALOGIC AND PETROGRAPHIC APPLICATIONS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor:
Grieco Giovanni
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Grieco GiovanniProfessor(s)