Delving into the evolving world of mining, the second edition of How Mining Works merges fundamental concepts with the latest advancements making it an essential resource for both newcomers and seasoned professionals in the mining industry. This edition, with its updated figures and added content, continues to demystify mining operations and their impacts, providing a comprehensive yet accessible overview. This colorful book offers an engaging experience for acquiring a strong working knowledge of mining. It covers everything from basic geology, various mining operations, and ore processing methods to the broader context of labor practices, environmental sustainability, and the future of mining. Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply curious about the mining world, this book offers an enriching journey through one of the most dynamic and vital industries of our time.
Scott Dunbar began his career in consulting engineering and was involved in a variety of problems and challenges in geophysical, civil and geotechnical engineering, and later in water resources and mine waste management. He worked on projects in Canada, the United States, Central and South America, the UK, Sweden, and in the Middle East. Scott joined the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 1997. He taught courses in mine project economics, mine waste management, mine design, and modeling and simulation. From 2000-2008 he was the founding director of the Integrated Engineering Program at UBC, an undergraduate program that focuses on the interdisciplinary nature of engineering practice, teamwork in design, independent learning, and communication skills. From 2014 to 2023 he was head of the Department of Mining Engineering. Scott's research explores a key question: What will a mine look like 50 to 100 years from now? His colleagues and students used ideas from all of the science and engineering disciplines to develop concepts and methods for advanced mining and mineral processing. A more recent interest is combining technologies and innovative organizational models of the mineral supply system to provide the metals society needs as its economies and population grow.
Preface to the Second Edition . v Preface to the First Edition. vii 1 The Where, What, and How. 1 The Structure of Planet Earth. 1 Definitions. 3 Concentrations of Metals. 13 Ore-Forming Processes. 15 Mine Exploration. 26 2 Mining Methods. 37 Surface Mining. 37 Underground Mining. 43 Mining Operations and Equipment. 53 Some Big Ideas. 65 3 Mineral Processing and Metal Refining. 67 Comminution. 67 Smelting and Refining. 84 Hydrometallurgy . 89 Physical Separation Methods. 106 4 Nonmetallic Minerals. 113 Coal. 113 Diamonds . 119 Aggregates . 123 5 Mine Waste Management. 129 Tailings. 130 Waste Rock . 139 Wastewater . 141 Acid Rock Drainage. 141 Mine Waste Treatment and Disposal Methods. 144 6 Mining, Society, and the Environment . 151 Human Resources . 151 Safety. 153 Health . 156 Mining and Society . 158 Mining and the Environment. 164 Mining and Sustainability. 167 Summary. 172 7 Mining and Money. 179 The Metal Supply System . 180 Metal Prices. 184 Resources and Reserves . 190 Reporting of Resources and Reserves. 196 Economic Analysis. 198 8 A Future of Mining. 203 Drivers of Innovation in Mining. 203 Paths for Innovation. 207 Biotechnology to the Rescue?. 210 Advanced Machines and Systems. 215 In Extremis: A Virtual Metal Supply Company. 218 Appendix A: All the Chemistry You Need to Know . 223 Appendix B: Grade Distributions and Grade-Tonnage Curves . 229 Index. 233
