Ph.D. Mining Engineering

Ph.D. Mining Engineering

Version: October 2016

A guide for prospective Doctoral Students: Ph.D. in Mining Engineering

2

Welcome candidates! Embarking on a PhD is a wonderful experience at the crossroads of fundamental sciences and engineering. It is your first step as a researcher oriented to following a career in Academia or the Industry, both on the public or private sector. Your original research is the core of your PhD. Your thesis will be carried out under the guidance and supervision of your thesis director and sometimes a co-director. During your studies, you will also have the opportunity to be involved in teaching activities. Teaching is a fundamental part of learning. A PhD will help you to strength and develop from language and communication, to management and leadership skills preparing you for your future career. During your studies, remember to use these opportunities!


3

1. Introduction Mining is essential to our everyday lives and its vital for our future. Several technologies rely on the mining extraction of cooper, gold, lithium, and others. From batteries, medical equipment’s, hybrid vehicles to new renewable sources of energy, mining resources are critical for the sustainable development of transportation, housing, and others consumer’s products. Mining is also the most important economic activity in Chile, and its industry is also referent to rest of the industry worldwide. Chile is also a referent for the mining industry worldwide. El Teniente is the largest underground mine in the planet and a large expansion is in progress. Chuquicamata is facing one of biggest engineering challenges ever known: a transition from the largest open pit in the world to one of the biggest underground mining system. The industry is also facing costs increase, lower grades, climate change, and restriction on the use of water. Society is also asking for more environmental-friendly metallurgy process. These new challenges require experts with the highest qualified academic standards The PhD in Mining Engineering program is an opportunity for those interested on developing the mining industry of the future. Our graduates will have a broad understanding of the mining process, and will be able to lead scientific research and technological development applied to the mining activity. The student will have the opportunity of specializing on one of the following areas: • Ore reserve estimation, • Rock mechanics, • Design, planning and mining technology, • Automation and robotics for the mining industry, • Geo-metallurgy.

Image: Big mining operations in Chile (2016) Modified from Consejo Minero www.consejominero.cl

http://www.consejominero.cl/


4

2. The doctoral program The Doctoral Program in Mining Engineering prepares high-level specialists who master their research area within the Mining Engineering field and are capable of developing scientific and technological knowledge and original research applied to mining. The areas considered are defined by the strengths of the faculty staff and include each of the activities of the mineral extraction process. In particular, doctoral candidates will follow: • Ore Body Evaluation, • Rock Mechanics, • Mine Design, • Mine Planning • Mine Technology, • Automation and Robotics for Mining and, • Geo-Mine-Metallurgy

Beauchef 850

Beauchef 851

Each of these areas will include issues of the environment, sustainable development, and community relations as essential elements of the training program. In particular, the courses Mining Sustainability (MI5051) and Waste Handling in the Mining Industry (MI71D) will be part of the doctoral program, providing to the doctoral candidate relevant aspects of the mentioned subjects.

It is expected that the research carried out in these areas extends and deeps the knowledge and produces a significant impact on the industry. For this reason, it is considered to receive applicants with diverse backgrounds, whose motivation is to apply their knowledge to the mining industry.

Graduates of the program will be qualified to lead and conduct research and development in universities, agencies and companies in the mining area, exercise academic work and act as specialist consultants for companies in the field of mining, with high levels of excellence and generating developments and technology that enhance the mining industry


5

3. Application Students wishing to apply for Doctoral programs offered by the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, must have a bachelor or master degree in a similar area, granted by a national or international university certifying a solid background in the specific area of the doctoral program. The Academic Committee of the Ph.D. program will review each application taking into account the candidate’s background.

The application to the Ph.D. program is through the Graduate School of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences:

Apply here1

Deadline Program start May Spring Semester (August) October Fall Semester (March)

Applicants have to submit all their educational records at the moment of application, including:

• Resume

• Certified translation of Bachelor's and/or Master's diploma into English if not originally in Spanish or English.

• Official certificate of the Academic Record or Grades from all academic institutions of higher education you list in your application (after and not including high-school). English or Spanish translation are required during application.

• Motivational letter

• Two letters of recommendation.

If required, prospective candidates might be interviewed by the Academic Committee to known their research interest and their motivation. Even though is not mandatory, we strongly encourage candidates to contact one of the Faculty members2 (Page 12) before applying. You may ask to your potential supervisor information about research opportunities and funding. Send an e-mail including a CV and a brief description of your research interest.

1 https://ucampus.uchile.cl/m/fcfm_postgrado_postulacion/ 2 http://www2.minas.uchile.cl/department-of-mining-engineering/faculty/126224/full-time

https://ucampus.uchile.cl/m/fcfm_postgrado_postulacion/

http://www2.minas.uchile.cl/department-of-mining-engineering/faculty/126224/full-time


https://ucampus.uchile.cl/m/fcfm_postgrado_postulacion/



6

Additional information/ documents might be asked for foreign students including:

• Certificate of Academic Record with a table and its equivalent with the Chilean system. The grade scale in Chile goes from 1,0 to 7,0.

• Once you are accepted, you have to provide a certified translation of your Bachelor's and/or Master's diploma into Spanish endorsed by the Chilean Foreign Ministry or Ministry of Education (in Chile) or the Chilean Consulate in your origin country.

Accepted foreign students must apply at the corresponding Chilean Consulate for a student visa before arriving. It is very important that you deal with the immigration formalities before entering Chile and to prepare several documents. A tourist visa will not be accepted. You can find information about the Chilean consulates and Embassies around the world in the following link:

http://chile.gob.cl/en/consulados/

4. Selection of Applicants A committee will evaluate and make a decision on your application, taking into account:

• Academic Degree: Students with Bachelor and/or Master will be evaluated according to their work experience and proven ability to carry out research. The Committee may choose to recommend you to enroll in the Master program instead (Mining or Extractive Metallurgy).

• Research Interests • Recommendation letters • Work Experience:

Eventually, professional experience, both in research or the industry, will be considered as an asset.

The Program Committee will consider the previous formation of the student and they will validate the subjects which contents are covered by courses that the candidate has previously approved.

In special cases, the Program Committee may require an admission exam to those applicants whose background cannot be duly countersigned in connection with the admission requirements and selection criteria mentioned above. In particular, it shall apply to applicants whose degrees/diploma are slightly related with the main discipline of the Program.

A maximum number of students enrolled is not contemplated, but the Program Committee should ensure maintain adequate student/professor ratio, in order to ensure the necessary counseling, dedication and guidance required in this educational level.

Admission is competitive, so please carefully

prepare your application.


7

5. Research areas Rock Mechanics, Mine Design, and Mine Technology This area tackles problems associated with mine design, considering the geo-mechanical conditions of the rock. In particular, it addresses issues of fragmentation processes, rock deformation, rock excavation, and mass selective underground mining.

Ore Body Evaluation This area considers characterization, geological and geo-metallurgical modelling, estimation and geo-statistical simulation of categorical and continuous variables and its link to subsequent stages of the operation, planning and mine design.

Mine Planning The main research topics are related to optimization and scheduling of mine reserves, considering design, operational and geo-metallurgical restrictions.

Automation and Robotics for Mining This research area aims to integrate automation technologies and robotics to mining, considering how this affects the design and operation.

Geo-Mining-Metallurgy This research area focus on the integration of the geological characterization and the physical and chemical processes of mining and metallurgical stages. The integrated view allows a better understanding of the consequences and effects of any change in these stages.

All these areas may have participation in ATMC, CSIRO Chile, and/or other centers associated to the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Mathematics.


8

6. Program Characteristics The Ph.D. in Mining Engineering Program has a regular duration of 4 years (maximum duration is 10 semesters) and it considers a curricular structure that includes:

• Mandatory courses (30 credits)

• Formative mandatory courses (24 credits). These courses will depend on the student's area of research, as well as their previous training.

• Elective courses (18 credits) defined within the specialization areas.

• A Qualification Exam, according to the procedures defined in the General Rules of Graduate Studies of the University of Chile.

• A Thesis (120 credits): must be an individual research, which must represent an original, creative and relevant contribution to Mining Engineering, its topic must be approved by the Academic Committee of the program and by the Faculty Graduate School.

The curriculum considers a total of 192 credits, understanding as a credit an hour working week for a semester. It is expected that students on a full time can pass their courses in 3 semesters and during the third semester start their thesis work. In the case of part-time students, the time will be longer, estimated at four to five semesters to complete the courses. The Academic Committee of the program may approve one or more of these courses, according to the background of each student.

The PhD. degree will not have associated mentions.

a. Courses

i. Common mandatory courses

All students must enroll the common mandatory courses (30 credits):

• MI8130 (6 credits) – Mining Engineering Analysis • MI8131 (6 credits) – PhD Thesis Seminar • MI8132 (12 credits) – Research Unit • MI8133 (6 credits) – Special Topics in Mining

ii. Formative mandatory Courses

Formative mandatory training courses (24 credits) will be defined after agreement between the Doctoral candidate, the Supervisor, and the Academic Committee.


9

• MI5021 (6 credits) – Mineral Processing Engineering • MI5022 (6 credits) – Analysis and Simulation of Minerallurgical Processes • MI5041 (6 credits) – Ore Body Evaluation • MI5051 (6 credits) – Sustainability in Mining • MI5071 (6 credits) – Mining Systems • MI5072 (6 credits) – Simulation of Mining Processes • MI5073 (6 credits) – Mine Planning • MI5081 (6 credits) – Mineral Economics • MI6041 (6 credits) – Geostatistical Simulation • MI6061 (6 credits) – Numerical Modelling in Rock Mechanics • MI6071 (6 credits) – Rock Fragmentation in Mining Processes • MI6072 (6 credits) – Mine Design

Students with equivalent training in Mining Engineering may validate these courses. This recognition is subject to the decision of the Academic Committee after reviewing the curriculum of the applicant

iii. Elective Courses

Finally, students will finish their curriculum by completing 18 credits from elective courses. These courses can be chosen according to the area of specialization followed by the student. The courses can be selected from 60/70-level courses offered by the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, all of which are potentially eligible.

As a reference it is presented a list of potentially eligible courses:

• MI6061 (6 credits) – Numerical Modelling in Rock Mechanics • MI6072 (6 credits) – Mine Design • MI6071 (6 credits) – Numerical Modelling in Rock Mechanics • MI6041 (6 credits) – Geostatistical Simulation • MI73E (6 credits) – Research Seminar • MI71D (6 credits) – Waste Handling in the Mining Industry • MI73D (6 credits) – Special Topics in Mineral Economics • MI75D (6 credits) – Advanced Topics in Ore Body Evaluation • MI75E (6 credits) – Advanced Topics in Mine Planning • MI75F (6 credits) – Multivariable Geostatistics • MI75G (6 credits) – Geostatistical Project • MI74D (6 credits) – Geomechanical Fundamentals of Caving Mining Methods • MI74E (6 credits) – Avanced Topics in Underground Mining Preparation • MI74G (6 credits) – Advanced Topics in Caving Mine Design and Planning • MI75H (6 credits) – Mine Planning Laboratory • GL6001 (6 credits) – Mass Removals • GL62A (6 credits) – Geological Models of Deposits • GF700 (12 UD) – Geophysical Prospecting I • GF731 (12 UD) – Theoretical Seismology I


10

• EL67E (10 UD) – Electric Machines for the Industry and Mining • EL708 (10 UD) – Advanced Image Processing • EL710 (10 UD) – Fundamentals of Mobile Robotics • EM755 (10 UD) – Fuzzy Sets and Intelligent Systems • IN640 (10 UD) – Analysis of Transport Systems • IN643 (10 UD) – Introduction to Data Mining • IN70L (10 UD) – Logistics and Production • IN77O (10 UD) – Models and Algorithms Optimization • MA606 (15 UD) – Graph Theory • MA740 (15 UD) – Stochastic Processes • MA774 (10 UD) – Optimization and Dynamic Systems

Elective courses should be related with the candidate’s research area. They can be registered after an agreement between the Candidate and its Supervisor.

After completing 72 credits, doctoral students must enroll in the Graduate School their Thesis work. Considering a full-time dedication, a duration of five semesters is estimated

b. Qualification Exam

The Qualifying Exam requirement is to have completed at least 75% of the program courses and pass the course MI78B - Doctoral Thesis Seminar. As part of this course, a research proposal must be formulated, conduct the review of the state of the art and have the first results at the conceptual level of the thesis proposal. These results are obtained during the course MI78C - Research Unit.

The student must present the thesis topic before the Academic Committee of the program and request date to defend the proposal. If the issue is considered suitable for a doctoral thesis, the Committee will define the Commission for the qualifying exam and its date.

The test itself is oral in nature, it must be surrendered before a Commission of two Program Professors and Visiting External Professor, and in it the degree of knowledge that students have about the area they developed their thesis topic is evaluated. This means that the student must have a thorough knowledge of systems and mining processes carried out in that area and deploy a broad understanding of the tools that will allow propose a novel solution to the problem. It will be evaluated whether the student has the vision and analysis tools to carry out the thesis and is able to propose innovative solutions of their own creation and develop independent research and high level.

c. Thesis

The Thesis is the core activity of the Program and consists of an individual research, which must represent an original, creative and relevant contribution to Mining Engineering or to Engineering


11

Sciences. For the approval of the thesis, a Thesis Committee will be constituted, who will approve the candidate’s topic theme.

The thesis begins with the approval of the qualification exam and shall be completed within seven semesters from the date of acceptance of the subject. After this period, the registration of thesis topic will lose validity. In certain cases, the Graduate School, with the favorable report of the Doctoral Committee, may authorize an extension.

To ensure a proper progress in research, semester progress reviews will be established through public presentations of the subject. With this purpose, the student must enroll these courses: EP91A –EP91B –EP91C –EP91D

The Academic Committee of the program will designate an Exam Committee. This Committee will be composed by scholars whose specialty is related to the discipline. The supervisor will attend the exam, but will only have the right to speak. At least two members of the committee must be external Faculty. The Committee may accept, reject or suggest modifications. In case of refusal, the Academic Committee of the program may set a new opportunity for the thesis defense.

7. Fees and financial support a. Tuition

Tuition cost: UF 800 (full program – ask for different payment methods)

The UF value may be consulted at the Banco Central de Chile

(http://si3.bcentral.cl/Indicadoressiete/secure/Indicadoresdiarios.aspx)

b. Financial support

Doctoral candidates working full time in funded research projects will be eligible for scholarships covering fully or partially the cost of the program.

Each applicant should request his/her thesis supervisor for available funding.

Phone: 56-22978 4505 e-mail: [email protected]

http://si3.bcentral.cl/Indicadoressiete/secure/Indicadoresdiarios.aspx

mailto:[email protected]


12

8. Faculty

Name Degree Research areas

Prof. Manuel Caraballo [email protected]

Ph.D. in Environmental Geochemistry and Mineralogy, Universidad de Huelva, Spain.

Environment and Geometallurgy

Prof. Raúl Castro R. [email protected]

Ph.D. in Mining Engineering. U. Queensland, Australia

Mine Design, Rock Mechanics, Mine Technology

Prof. Diana Comte [email protected]

Ph.D. Seismology and Earth Sciences, UNAM, Mexico

Mine Design, Rock Mechanics, Mine Technology

Prof. Xavier Emery [email protected]

Ph.D. Geostatistics, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris, France

Geostatistics, Ore Body Evaluation

Prof. Christian Ihle [email protected]

Ph.D. Fluid Dynamics, Universidad de Chile, Chile

Transport Phenomena, Fluid dynamics, Solid-liquid separation

Prof. Willy Kracht [email protected]

Ph.D. in Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Canada

Minerals Processing

Prof. Javier Ruiz del Solar [email protected]

Doctor Engineer, Technical University Berlin, Alemania

Automatization and Robotics for Mining

Prof. Brian Townley [email protected]

Ph. D. Geology, Queens University, Canada

Economic geology, Exploration

Prof. Javier Vallejos [email protected]

Ph.D. in Mining Engineering, Queens University, Canada

Geomechanics, Numerical Modelling, Mine Design

Prof. Tomás Vargas [email protected]

Ph.D. in Electrometallurgy, Imperial College, UK Electrometallurgy

More information: http://ingenieria.uchile.cl/facultad/cuerpo-academico

mailto:%[email protected]










http://ingenieria.uchile.cl/facultad/cuerpo-academico


13

9. Contact

Dr. Brian Townley Coordinator of Ph.D. Program in Mining Engineering Department of Geology -University of Chile e-mail: [email protected]

Barbara Gordon Traeger, M.A. Head of Postgraduate Office, Department of Mining Engineering -University of Chilee-mail: [email protected] Av. Tupper 2069, Santiago de Chile


Documents

Ph.D. Mining Engineering