Mineral processing technicians work on fine-tuning, improving and optimizing mineral concentration and extraction processes as well as controlling mining effluents. They are employed by concentration and extraction factories, mining laboratories, quarries, smelter complexes, specialized analysis laboratories and research centres.
Tasks entrusted to mineral processing technicians are two-fold:
Where applied research and technical services are concerned, they conduct testing on gravimetric or magnetic concentration, pelletization, flotation, hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgical extraction; they help develop mineralurgical processes and perform chemical, physical or mechanical characterization of samples.
Where production is concerned, technicians implement mineralurgical processes and monitor their effectiveness and also ensure environmental control of mine wastes.
Mineral processing technicians work under the supervision of a chief analyst, a metallurgist, a plant manager, a process or environmental engineer and a production supervisor. They work in collaboration with instrumentation technicians, process operators, maintenance personnel, consultants and construction contractors.