Initiatives

The Western Cape Mineral Processing Facility is involved in a number of initiatives aimed at improving the quality of mineral processing education in the Western Cape. Initiatives include a drive to promote pyrometallurgy, the introduction of mineral processing simulation packages into the curriculum, the regular hosting of distinguished mineral processing visitors and the promotion of mineral processing and the activities of the WCMPF. A future initiative is the development and/or utilisation of Web-Based mineral processing education modules.

Pyrometallurgy

Pyrometallurgy plays an increasingly important role in the South African mineral processing industry. Recent projections by the CSIR shows that the value of pyrometallurgical products will increase from a current figure of $10 billion to an expected $20 billion in the year 2020. The WCMPF has upgraded academic curricula to include a greater component of pyrometallurgy and has introduced a pilot-scale DC Plasma Arc Furnace into the mineral processing practical programme as an example of an industrial pyrometallurgical unit operation. The WCMPF has also placed greater educational emphasis on metals produced though modern pyrometallurgical processes such as ferro-chrome alloys, titanium, tungsten and aluminium. The pyrometallurgical initiative is being championed by Jacques Eksteen who is also establishing a pyrometallurgical research facility at the University of Stellenbosch.

Mineral Processing Simulation Packages

Simulation packages are currently introduced into the mineral processing undergraduate programmes by way of opportunity or convenience rather than as structured components of the curriculum. The WCMPF are currently evaluating several commercial mineral processing simulation packages to determine which of these are most suitable for the undergraduate mineral processing programme.

Distinguished Visitors

The WCMPF does not obtain funding for hosting distinguished visitors but capitalises on visitors funded from the Minerals Education Trust Fund Visitors Grant or hosted by the extensive research operations within the respective departments of the three institutions. Most visitors are willing to present an afternoon seminar to students while visitors funded by the Minerals Education Trust Fund usually present a two to three week set of special lectures as part of the undergraduate mineral processing programme. Visitors who have contributed significantly to the activities of WCMPF in recent years include: Professor Janus Laskowski (University of British Columbia), Professor John Ralston (Ian Wark Research Institute), Professor Stephen Simukanga (Zambian School of Mines), Professor Marcus Reuter (Technical University of Delft), Mr Kobus van der Kolf (Billiton Process Research) and Mr Ian Barker (Mintek). In 2000/2001 the WCMPF intend to host Professor Alban Lynch (Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre) and Professor Hans Schulze (Max Planck Institute for Colloid Science).

Promotion of the WCMPF and Mineral Processing

The members of the WCMPF are active in promoting their activities to industry and academia alike through publications, posters and presentations. The WCMPF have published and/or presented a number of papers overviewing its activities and emphasising the benefits of inter-institutional collaborative educational ventures in a more dynamic and challenging tertiary educational environment. These papers and presentations have generally been well received and the subsequent positive feedback has indicated that the WCMPF is a novel venture in the area of mineral processing education which may serve as a template for future educators. Examples of recent papers, posters and presentations relevant to the WCMPF include:

• A Nesbitt & L Lorenzen, Practical training for increased technological development in Chemical Engineering (the Western Cape Experience)", Fifth Symposium of the Research Council of Zimbabwe, Harare Zimbabwe, 1996.
• A Nesbitt, Quality practical training for Chemical Engineers in the Western Cape, International conference held by the International Network for
• Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education, Kruger National Park, 1997.
• A Van Der Westhuisen, N Hayward, A Nesbit, CT O'Connor & L Lorenzen, The Western Cape Mineral Processing Facility, Minerals Processing 97, SAIMM Conference, Cape Town, August 1997.
• D Deglon & A Nesbitt, The Western Cape Mineral Processing Facility, Mine Metallurgical Managers Association (MMA) Bulletin 1/98, May 1998.
• J Eksteen, N Badenhorst & D Deglon, Commissioning and testing of the new WCMPF DC Plasma Arc Furnace, Minerals Processing 99, SAIMM Conference, Cape Town, August 1999.

The members of the WCMPF are also active in promoting careers in mineral processing to scholars through schools days and events such as Minquiz. Minquiz is a science and technology quiz for matriculants (organised by Mintek) with the aim of promoting careers in science and technology, especially in mining, mineral processing and geology. The quiz attracts a large number of bright and eager matriculants, with between 30 and 50 schools participating each year. In addition to the quiz, students are given a presentation on mineral processing and are taken on a tour of engineering departments. Minquiz is a wonderful opportunity to capture the pupils' imaginations in terms of careers in the mineral processing industry. In March 2000 the members of the WCMPF organised the Western Cape Minquiz competition which was attended by over 150 pupils from 50 schools in the Western Cape.

Web-Based Education

The WCMPF are currently considering the possibility of developing Web-Based mineral processing education modules and/or using modules already produced by institutions such as the University of Queensland and Utah. This initiative will have to integrate with the educational policies of the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch and the Cape Technikon and is under review.