Foundations of Modern Mining from Coursera

Our insatiable demand for metals over the years has been spurred by unprecedented economic growth across many countries in the world. It is important to know that the very structure upon which we are built depends on the products of mining. This course on Foundations of Modern Mining will equip you with the essential knowledge and skills to navigate the complex processes involved in mining. It provides an informative overview of the entire mining cycle known as “PEDOCA” – Prospecting & Exploration, Development, Operation, Closure and After-Care.

This course is designed for individuals interested in developing foundational knowledge in modern mining, particularly professionals in the mining industry, or those with a related background who are eager to deepen their understanding of core mining principles.

Learners should have a basic understanding of maps, familiarity with mining equipment, some health, safety, and environmental knowledge, and a strong interest in mining

After completing this course, learners will be able to tackle operational challenges in the manufacturing industry by applying comprehensive knowledge gained. Also, they will be able to advance their careers, meet regulatory requirements, or drive transformation initiatives.

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Syllabus

Foundations of Modern Mining

The course will get the learner up to speed on key aspects of mining and its terminology and develop skills that can be immediately applied to mining roles as it has been validated by industry. This experiential course will be delivered through virtual presentations and interactive video lessons that will provide learners with a deep overview of all aspects of the modern mining sector.

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Provides an overview of the entire mining cycle, known as PEDOCA, which is a standard framework used in the mining industry

Equips learners with essential knowledge and skills to navigate the complex processes involved in mining, which is crucial for career advancement

Requires learners to have a basic understanding of maps, familiarity with mining equipment, and some health, safety, and environmental knowledge

Enables learners to tackle operational challenges in the manufacturing industry by applying comprehensive knowledge gained from the mining sector

Validated by industry, which ensures that the skills and knowledge gained are directly applicable to mining roles and current industry practices

Delivered through virtual presentations and interactive video lessons, which provides learners with a deep overview of all aspects of the modern mining sector

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Foundations of Modern Mining with these activities:

Review Basic Geology Concepts

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Reinforce your understanding of geological formations and mineral identification, which are fundamental to prospecting and exploration in mining.

Browse courses on Geology

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Review introductory geology textbooks or online resources.
Practice identifying common rock and mineral samples.
Familiarize yourself with geological maps and their interpretation.

Review 'Introduction to Mining: An Introductory Course'

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Gain a comprehensive overview of the mining industry, providing a solid foundation for understanding the course material.

View Introductory Mining Engineering on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Introduction to Mining'.
Read the chapters covering mining methods and processes.
Take notes on key terminology and concepts.

Review 'SME Mining Engineering Handbook'

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Deepen your understanding of mining engineering principles and practices, providing a practical context for the course material.

View History of Shock Waves, Explosions and Impact:... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of the SME Mining Engineering Handbook.
Focus on sections related to prospecting, development, and operation.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.

Four other activities

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Compile a Glossary of Mining Terms

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Create a comprehensive glossary of mining-related terms to enhance understanding and facilitate communication within the industry.

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Gather mining-related terms from various sources.
Define each term clearly and concisely.
Organize the glossary alphabetically.

Create a Presentation on Sustainable Mining Practices

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Research and present on environmentally responsible mining techniques, reinforcing the importance of sustainable practices in the mining industry.

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Research sustainable mining methods and technologies.
Prepare a presentation outlining these practices.
Include examples of successful sustainable mining projects.

Develop a Conceptual Mine Plan

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Apply the knowledge gained from the course to create a basic mine plan, integrating prospecting, development, operation, closure, and after-care considerations.

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Select a hypothetical mineral deposit.
Outline a plan for prospecting and exploration.
Describe the development and operational phases.
Address closure and after-care requirements.

Follow Tutorials on Mining Software

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Learn to use industry-standard software for mine planning and geological modeling, enhancing practical skills and employability.

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Identify relevant mining software tutorials online.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step.
Practice using the software with sample datasets.

Career center

Learners who complete Foundations of Modern Mining will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Mining Engineer

A mining engineer plans and designs mines, ensuring the safe and efficient extraction of minerals. This course, Foundations of Modern Mining, introduces the entire mining cycle, from prospecting to after-care, which is essential knowledge for any mining engineer. Understanding the PEDOCA cycle, as covered in this course, is crucial for a mining engineer to effectively manage operations and contribute to the entire project lifecycle. Familiarity with mining equipment, as assumed by the course, further prepares one for the engineering challenges of the role.

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Geologist

Geologists study the earth and its composition, often involved in locating mineral deposits and assessing their viability. This course provides essential knowledge about the mining cycle, particularly the prospecting and exploration phase, which directly aligns with the work of a geologist in the mining sector. A geologist will find the overview of the mining sector and its terminology in this course extremely relevant. This course will benefit a geologist who desires to expand their knowledge from exploration to the full life cycle of a mine.

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Mine Manager

A mine manager oversees all operations within a mine, ensuring productivity and safety. Foundations of Modern Mining will help a mine manager understand the complete mining cycle, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, and meet regulatory requirements. The course provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of the mining sector and is useful for a mine manager who must lead and manage entire operations.

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Environmental Specialist

An environmental specialist in the mining industry ensures operations comply with regulations and minimize environmental damage. This course, Foundations of Modern Mining, includes content relevant to the closure and after-care phases of mining, which are critical for environmental protection. This knowledge allows an environmental specialist to understand the long-term impacts of mining, making this course a relevant resource. The course will be helpful for an environmental specialist who seeks to broaden their understanding of the mining sector.

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Safety Officer

Safety officers are essential in mining, guaranteeing safe work practices and compliance with health regulations. The course assumes some prior health, safety, and environmental knowledge, which pairs well with the responsibilities of a safety officer in mining. A safety officer will benefit from the course's comprehensive overview of the entire mining cycle, which will help them identify potential hazards across different stages. This course will help one better understand the challenges of modern mining.

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Mining Consultant

Mining consultants provide expert advice on various aspects of mining projects, from exploration to closure. The broad overview of the mining cycle provided in Foundations of Modern Mining will help a mining consultant develop a deep understanding of the industry. The course prepares a mining consultant to address complex challenges through a holistic understanding of mining operations. This course is designed to deepen one's understanding of core mining principles, making it highly applicable to the consulting role.

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Operations Manager

An operations manager is responsible for the efficient daily functioning of mining activities. This course will provide an operations manager with the necessary knowledge to understand the complexities of mining, which is essential for their role. With its coverage of the entire mining cycle, this course is a good foundation for an operations manager overseeing the day-to-day operations of a mining site. An operations manager will find that this course will help with tackling operational challenges.

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Supply Chain Manager

A supply chain manager oversees the procurement and delivery of materials necessary for mining operations. The course will help a supply chain manager appreciate the complexities of the mining cycle, and the importance of each phase. This course can provide valuable context for a supply chain manager, especially one who aims to optimize the flow of resources required for mining. The course’s overview of the mining sector will help enhance a supply chain manager's effectiveness.

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Project Manager

A project manager oversees specific mining projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. A project manager will benefit from understanding the full scope of mining, from initial exploration to site closure. Foundations of Modern Mining may be useful for providing this broad understanding of the mining cycle. This comprehensive overview of mining equips a project manager to handle the complexities of the project lifecycle.

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Equipment Sales Representative

An equipment sales representative sells and promotes mining equipment to mining companies. Although this course does not specify teaching about particular equipment, the general familiarity with mining equipment it assumes will assist the work of an equipment sales representative. The course provides a comprehensive overview of the mining sector, which will help an equipment sales representative speak with industry professionals. This course will familiarize the sales representative with key aspects of mining.

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Data Analyst

A data analyst examines data related to mining operations to optimize performance and efficiency. This course, Foundations of Modern Mining, will provide a data analyst a strong understanding of the core mining principles. The comprehensive overview of the entire mining cycle will provide very useful context for a data analyst trying to analyze mining data. A data analyst will find it beneficial to understand the terminology used in the mining sector.

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Regulatory Affairs Specialist

A regulatory affairs specialist ensures a mining company complies with local, national, and international regulations. This course is relevant because it mentions meeting regulatory requirements as a key outcome. The overview of the mining cycle, from prospecting to after-care, can help a regulatory affairs specialist to understand all compliance points. This course may be beneficial to a regulatory affairs specialist aiming to gain additional knowledge of the mining sector.

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Government Regulator

A government regulator ensures that mining operations adhere to regulations and laws. While the course does not deal specifically with regulation, it does provide a strong understanding of the entire mining cycle, which is useful for government regulators to understand. Foundations of Modern Mining provides an overview of key aspects of mining, which a government regulator will find helpful. This course may be useful for a government regulator who is new to the mining sector.

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Investment Analyst

An investment analyst assesses the financial viability of mining projects for investors. While not explicitly focused on finance, this course’s comprehensive overview of the mining cycle can help an investment analyst understand the various stages and their implications, which may be useful in assessing the value of mining investments. An investment analyst who desires to gain knowledge about core mining operations may find this course beneficial.

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Technical Writer

A technical writer creates documentation for various mining processes and equipment. While this course does not train one in writing, the foundational knowledge of the mining sector, as well as its terminology, will be useful. A technical writer may find it valuable to learn more about fundamental mining operations through the course's overview of the mining cycle. This course may be useful for a technical writer looking to expand their expertise.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Foundations of Modern Mining.

History of Shock Waves, Explosions and Impact

Save

This handbook comprehensive resource covering all aspects of mining engineering. It serves as an invaluable reference for understanding mining operations, equipment, and techniques. It is commonly used by industry professionals and as a textbook in mining engineering programs. Reading selected chapters will provide a deeper understanding of the topics covered in the course.

History of Shock Waves, Explosions and Impact: A...

Hardcover

$$$$

Introductory Mining Engineering

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Provides a broad overview of the mining industry, covering various mining methods, equipment, and processes. It is particularly useful for those new to the field, providing a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of modern mining. It is often used as a textbook for introductory mining courses. Reading this book before the course can help you grasp the fundamental concepts more easily.

Introductory Mining Engineering

Hardcover

$$$$

Introductory Mining Engineering

Kindle Edition

$$$$

Foundations of Modern Mining

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Activities

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