Smartminer is an online mining college which combines Runge’s mining expertise with Catalyst Interactive’s content delivery expertise. Smartminer is a blended learning offering which has been developed to enhance, not only for professionals and technical staff in the mining industry, but also those seeking an understanding on how mining works, from how deposits form, right through mine planning and extraction to sales and marketing. It provides a flexible and new approach to employee training.

Smartminer facilitates the delivery of training solutions and benefits regardless of where employees are located and what timezone they are in. Smartminer will upskill your workforce - quickly and easily. Smartminer provides professional development training across many general and technical streams for all your staff when you need it and where you need it without large investments of time or money.

Smartminer and the University of Ballarat through the School of Mining Engineering have now partnered together. Smartminer is endorsed by the University of Ballarat.

Course Overview

Module 1: Overview

Global Mining in Perspective

Welcome
- Short module introduction
- Learning objectives
- Time to complete module
Why do we mine?
Mining & Us
- Government
  - Risk management in global mining
  - Economic & environmental risks inherent in mining
  - Learning checkpoint
- Museum
  - A brief history of mining
  - The world’s oldest underground mine
  - Mine development through the ages
  - An important source of mining history
  - Advances in mining technology
- Learning checkpoint

Home
- Mined resources used in the home
- Learning checkpoint

Mine Office
- People in mining
- Environmental considerations for mining
- Case study: Environmental regulations in Australia
- A look at sustainability
- Ensuring sustainability in the mining industry
- Learning checkpoint

Industry
- The global mining industry
- Key commodities from the mining industry
- Main players in the global mining industry
- Learning checkpoint

Conclusion

Module 2: Form it

How Deposits are Formed

Welcome
- Short module introduction
- Learning objectives
- Time to complete module
The earth’s interior
Plate tectonics
Timeline of earth’s formation
Basic geology – the rock cycle
Rock types
Classification of metallic & non-metallic ore deposits
Metallic ore deposits
Ore deposits associated with igneous rocks
Massive sulphide deposits
Ore deposits in metamorphic rocks
Ore deposits in sedimentary rocks
Fossil fuel deposits
Finding coal deposits
Oil & gas reservoirs
Checkpoint
Conclusion

Module 3: Quantify it

Exploration and Evaluation

Welcome
- Short module introduction
- Learning objectives
- Time to complete module
Lifecycle of a mining project
- Exploration
- Development
- Production
Exploration
Mining exploration approval process
Finding deposits
- Working with other exploration companies
- Using remote sensing techniques
- Exploration drilling
Example of exploring using remote sensing techniques
Checkpoint
Geological modelling
Checkpoint
Reporting
- Solid minerals
- Oil & gas
Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) code
Mineral resources & ore reserves
- Mineral resources
- Ore reserves
Modifying factors
Checkpoint
Petroleum resources management system
Conclusion

Module 4: Plan it

Mine Planning in Practice

Welcome
- Short module introduction
- Learning objectives
- Time to complete module
What are we mining?
Mine planning
Mining evaluation studies
Mine planning phases
- Conceptual / Scoping
- Prefeasibility
- Feasibility
Taking stock
Checkpoint
Detailed mine design considerations
Mining methodology
Checkpoint
Mining methods
Equipment selection
Types of equipment: underground mine
Initial deposit evaluation
- Cut off grade analysis
- Pit optimisation
- Margin ranking
Checkpoint
Scheduling
- Sequence
- Simulation
- Reporting
Process engineering
Infrastructure considerations
Environmental considerations
Economic analysis
Checkpoint
Summary & case study
Conclusion

Module 5: Extract it

Extracting the commodity

Welcome
- Short module introduction
- Learning objectives
Navigating this module
- Open cut extraction
- Underground extraction
- Oil & gas extraction
- Time to complete module
Section 1: Open Cut Extraction
- Overview of open cut mining
- Section 2: Underground extraction
  - Overview of underground mining
  - Types of underground mining
  - Underground mining methods
  - Underground mining terminology
  - Underground mine infrastructure
  - Underground ventilation
  - Underground mining cycle
  - Underground mining considerations
  - Checkpoint
  - Conclusion
- Section 3: Oil & Gas extraction
  - Preparation
  - Extraction stages for oil & gas
  - Checkpoint
  - Conclusion
- Conclusion

Module 6: Convert it

Processing the raw material

Welcome
- Learning objectives
What is the purpose of Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy?
- Mining Process revisited
- Physical and Chemical Properties of minerals
- Minerals Processing
Checkpoint
Principal Stages of Mineral Processing
- Comminution
  - Crushing
  - Grinding
- Separation
  - Classification
    - Iron Ore Case Study
  - Separation
    - Dense medium
    - Magnetic
    - Electrostatic
    - Froth
    - Flotation
    - Optical
    - Radiometric
  - Dewatering
  - Concentrates
  - Tailings
Coal Case Study
Extractive Metallurgy
- Smelting and Refining
  - Pyrometallurgy
  - Hydrometallurgy
Checkpoint
Case Studies
- Gold
- Copper Sulphide
- Copper Oxide
- Aluminium
- Oil Sands
Oil Processing
Fractional Distillation
Fractions and Cracking
Natural Gas Processing
Coal Seam Gas Processing
- CSG Case Study
Checkpoint
Conclusion

Module 7: Move it

Transportation and infrastructure

Welcome
- Short module introduction
- Learning objectives
- Time to complete module
Where are we up to
Transportation
- Why do we move it?
- Where do we move it?
- How do we move it?
Transportation methods
- Shipping
- Pipeline
- Rail
- Road
- Conveyor
- Other methods
- Advantages & disadvantages
Checkpoint
What can go wrong?
Checkpoint
Conclusion

Module 8: Sell it

Sales and marketing

Welcome
- Short module introduction
- Learning objectives
- Time to complete module
Selling Commodities
Market factors influencing price
Market participants
- Buyers
- Sellers
Overview of supply and demand
Checkpoint
Prices
- Today
- Future
Buying and selling
Commodities and their markets
How it all fits together
Checkpoint
Conclusion

Module 9: Imagine it

Future Trends in Mining

Welcome
- Short module introduction
- Learning objectives
- Time to complete module
Challenges driving innovation
The future
Forming it in the future
- Innovative surface exploration
- Geochemical techniques
Quantifying it in the future
- Deep sea exploration
- Hydrothermal vents
- Advanced deep sea drilling
- AuScope national virtual core library
Planning in the future
- Environmental impacts
Automation
Intelligent mining systems
Unique sensory systems
Space exploration pushing the frontier of mining
Changing roles in the future
Extracting in the future
- Extracting coal and metals
- Extracting and utilising natural gas
- Extracting oil
Converting it in the future
- CSIRO case study
Moving it in the future
- Transport innovations
- Challenges of loading
- Automated loading
Sales and marketing in the future
A mine site of the future
- Rio Tinto case study
Improving skills in the future
Future trends in occupational health and safety
Checkpoint
Conclusion
What’s next?

Frequently Asked Questions

Smartminer Technical FAQs Smartminer Course FAQs

How long do I have access to the Smartminer courseware?

You have access to the course content for 12 months from when you first actually log into the course so you can revisit the course any time during the 12 months. You can also become a member of our Runge "Community of Practice" which entitled you to submit any related mining questions to learning@runge.com.au and we will undertake to have an answer back to your within 48 hours.

How long does it take to complete all the modules?

That depends on a number of factors including:

Existing knowledge of the mining industry
How much detail you wish to learn on each and every topic covered
Whether English is your native language

On average, the modules are around 45 minutes in length each, and obviously you can choose to stop and start when you like. Bookmarking brings you back to where you last logged off. Remember the course is self-paced and quite interactive, so the time taken will vary with each individual learner. That is part of the advantage of this type of course compared to a "once off" event in the classroom. Learners who are not native English speakers may also take a little longer to complete each module because of the need to use some reasonably technically mining terms to explain some concepts in the course.

Is there some form of assessment at the end of each module?

There are "Checkpoints" distributed throughout each module for you to check your progressive level of understanding. Then there is a voluntary Summative Assessment (Module 10) at the end of the course for those learners who wish to test their overall understanding of the course content and print a permanent record of their achievement. It consists of 25 randomly generated questions (MCQ, True/False/Matching). Each time you take the test, a different set of 25 questions will be generated.

Will I receive a certificate after completing this course?

You are able to sit the Summative Assessment (Module 10) multiple times and each time it will be different. If you receive 75% or above in your test results, you will be allowed to obtain and print out a “Certificate of Attainment” for your CV or personal career record.

I completed part of the course, but when I log back in, why does it not book marked the page that I last left off?

It is essential to click on the EXIT button on the bottom left hand corner of the Smartminer course interface in order for the system to bookmark the page that you were working on. Clicking the windows “X” button will simple close Smartminer but not save the progress that you have made.

DISCLAIMER

This FAQ is accurate at the time of post [01/2011]. Runge is not liable for any loss or damages to hardware and software resulting from the advice given in this FAQ regarding Smartminer Technical FAQs and Course FAQs. Smartminer remains a property of Runge Limited and is subjected to International copyright laws.

Smartminer Testimonials

"As someone with no experience of the mining industry I recently completed the SmartMiner "Introduction to Mining" course as a primer to give me the basics. I found it provided me with a well-structured and organised introduction to the what, why and how of the mining industry that made sense and has enabled me to have intelligent conversations with mining industry professionals around my areas of expertise. The course has the right balance between length and level of detail; long enough to get beyond the superficial but not requiring so much time as to be onerous. It put into context and made sense of all those odd bits of knowledge (and misconceptions) of mining we have all acquired over the years and was a very worthwhile use of my time."

Andy Heys
IT Consultant, IBM Australia

"Smartminer is definitely a good start for anyone who wishes to gain some basic knowledge about mining. With the easy-to-digest information, simple diagrams, colourful pictures and live videos, it makes learning about mining much more fun. Still have doubt about Smartminer? Don’t hesitate to enjoy the online learning experience yourself!!!"

Software Quality Engineer
Mining Software Development Organization

"I found the course very interesting. Use of different multimedia throughout the course was excellent idea because it kept my attention all the way. Real world examples really helped in understanding some of the problems in the mining industry."

Software Engineer
Mining Technology Services Company