Metallurgy / Chemical / Process Engineering
Metallurgists work at mineral processing sites and may specialise in either primary (extractive) or secondary (physical) metallurgy. Primary metallurgists are most often employed by the minerals industry and they may perform the following tasks:
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Study and apply physical methods for separating minerals from their ores using magnetic, electric, gravity or chemical methods;
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Apply methods for extracting commercial quantities of minerals from their ores;
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Supervise sampling from various stages of processing;
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Advise operators on changes necessary to improve the process;
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Improve process methods;
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Develop and control methods of storing and treating waste material, and
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Prepare technical reports.
Process Engineers transform low value, impure raw materials into commercially valuable products. The main sources of these raw materials are low grade minerals, by-products of other processing operations and recycled materials. Minerals process engineers are employed in all stages of raw materials processing and, in the minerals industry, may perform the following tasks:
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Process design and development;
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Process control and management;
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Pure and applied research;
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Study and apply chemical and process metallurgy techniques;
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Coordinate recovery of samples for laboratory analysis and testing;
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Choose and operate a combination of treatments to produce the deired quality of products at optimum efficiency; and
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Prepare cost budgets of operations to evaluate economic feasibility of processes.
Metallurgy/Processing typically suits someone who likes chemistry, maths and physics and is interested in engineering and science, has an aptitude for computing and design and has good problem solving skills. Metallurgists and Process Engineers need to be able to work as part of a team as well as independently. Good oral and written communication skills are also valued.
Money
Mill Superintendent: $120,000 – $180,000
Senior Metallurgist: $110,000 – $150,000
Process Engineer: $75,000 – $110,000
Metallurgist: $70,000 – $110,000
Graduate Metallurgist: $60,000 – $80,000
Source: www.hays.com.au (July 2008)
Pathways
Requires the completion of an engineering degree at University.
