Paper format. National Professional Examination 09-MMP-A3 Mineral
Processing, May 2015. Closed book, 3 hours, approved Casio or Sharp calculator only.
Five problems totalling 100 marks plus a 2-mark bonus: Problem 1 (34), Problem 2 (7),
Problem 3 (17), Problem 4 (30, answer any five of nine), Problem 5 (12, answer any six
of nine). Every question and every option is worked below, because the set is a study
resource rather than a timed sitting.
Reference texts.
- B. A. Wills and J. Finch, Wills' Mineral Processing Technology, 8th ed.,
Butterworth-Heinemann, 2016 — the standard reference for this exam code
(comminution ch. 5–7, classification ch. 9, gravity ch. 10, flotation ch. 12,
magnetic and electrostatic ch. 13, dewatering ch. 15, tailings ch. 16).
- R. Dunne, S. K. Kawatra and C. Young (eds.), SME Mineral Processing and
Extractive Metallurgy Handbook, SME, 2019.
- A. F. Taggart, Handbook of Mineral Dressing, Wiley — the classical
source for metallurgical accounting and economic efficiency.
- F. F. Bond, "Crushing and grinding calculations", British Chemical Engineering,
1961 — the third theory of comminution used in Problem 1(c).
- Canadian practice: CIM Best Practice Guidelines and the Mining Association of Canada
Towards Sustainable Mining tailings protocol, which govern the tailings
management referred to in Problem 4(vii).
