Course Description

The Mining Essentials Short Course provides an excellent overview of the entire mining life cycle including geology, mineral exploration, financing, feasibility studies, mining and environmental applications. The course is suitable for anyone working, interested or new to the mining industry, but who does not have a technical background in the sector. The course will quickly get you up to speed on key aspects of the industry and its terminology.  

This course includes 82 videos lasting approximately 7 hours along with 52 quizzes. If you are looking for a more comprehensive course, please see the Mining Essentials Full Course. 

Curriculum includes:

  • Chapter 1: Industry Overview
  • Chapter 2: Geology
  • Chapter 3: Mineral Deposits
  • Chapter 4: Mineral Exploration
  • Chapter 5: Mineral Resources and Reserves, and Mining Technical Studies
  • Chapter 6: Mining
  • Chapter 7: Mineral Processing
  • Chapter 8: Environmental Considerations
  • Chapter 9: Evaluating Exploration Companies and Technical New Releases


Audience:

  • Business professionals
  • Investors
  • Mining sector employees
  • Analysts & brokers
  • Investor relations
  • Directors & officers
  • Regulators
  • Lawyers and accountants
  • Government employees
  • Anyone with interest or involvement in the mining industry

President, Pakawau Geomanagement Inc.

Rob Stevens, Ph.D., P.Geo.

Dr. Rob Stevens is an engaging and dynamic trainer, facilitator, and project director for the mining industry who excels at helping people and organizations succeed. He is a skilled communicator and educator who is adept at combining technical expertise with training, team facilitation and project management to ensure projects excel. Rob is also an accomplished mining policy advisor for governments, associations, and industry. Over a career spanning 25+ years, Dr. Stevens has been the Vice President of Policy at the Association for Mineral Exploration, the Director of Learning at the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute (CIRDI) at UBC, an author and publisher, an Associate Dean and Professor at the BC Institute of Technology, the Executive Director at Geoscience BC and an exploration geologist. Rob is passionate about the mineral exploration and mining industry and enjoys the mix of science, engineering, business, community, discovery, and entrepreneurialism that are integral to the industry.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Industry Overview

    • Intro to Mining Operations

    • Mining Life Sequence

    • Mining Life Sequence

    • Global Perspective on Exploration

    • Global Perspective on Exploration

    • Commodities

    • Commodities

    • How Metals are Priced

    • How Metals Are Priced

    • Exploration Budgets

    • Exploration Budgets

    • Participants in Exploration and Mining

    • Participants in Exploration and Mining

    • Funding Mineral Exploration

    • Funding Mineral Exploration

    • Mining Lifecycle -Timelines & Expenditures (bonus video)
  • 2

    Geology

    • Intro to Geology

    • Elements, Minerals, Rocks

    • Elements, Minerals, Rocks

    • Minerals

    • Minerals

    • Rocks Overview

    • Rocks Overview

    • Formation of Deposits vs. Location Today (Time. Uplift and Erosion_

    • Structural Geology – Strike and Dip

    • Structural Geology - Strike and Dip

    • Structural Geology - Faults

    • Structural Geology - Faults

    • Plate Tectonics (Bonus video)

    • Plate Tectonics
  • 3

    Mineral Deposits

    • Introduction

    • What is a Mineral Deposit?

    • What is a Mineral Deposit?

    • Formation of Mineral Deposits (Hydrothermal)

    • Formation of Mineral Deposits (Hydrothermal)

    • Hydrothermal Mineral Deposits

    • Hydrothermal Mineral Deposits

    • Styles of Mineralization (e.g. veins, breccia)

    • Styles of Mineralization

    • Forms and Shapes of Mineral Deposits

    • Forms and Shapes of Mineral Deposits

    • Deposit Types by Commodity

    • Grade and Tonnage and Drill Intercepts

    • Grade and Tonnage and Drill Intercepts

    • Deposit Clusters and Area Plays (Bonus Video)
  • 4

    Mineral Exploration

    • Introduction to Exploration

    • Introduction to Exploration

    • Types of Exploration Properties

    • Types of Exploration Properties

    • Options Agreements

    • Mineral Exploration Techniques

    • Mineral Exploration Techniques

    • Presentation of Exploration Data

    • Geological Methods - Mapping

    • Geological Methods - Trenching

    • Geological Methods

    • Geochemical Methods – Rock Sampling

    • Geochemical Methods – Soil and Stream Sediment Sampling’

    • Geophysics - Magnetic Method

    • Geophysics - Magnetic Method Example

    • Geophysics - Magnetic Methods

    • Drilling Introduction

    • Drilling Introduction

    • Diamond Drilling

    • Diamond Drilling

    • Drill Core - Logging and Sampling

    • Drill Core - Logging and Sampling

    • Cut off Grade & Grade Capping

    • Cut off Grade & Grade Capping

    • Examples of Maps and Sections (Bonus Video)

    • Examples of Soil Sediment Results (Bonus Video)

    • Examples of Stream Sediment Results (Bonus Video)
  • 5

    Mineral Resources and Reserves and Mining Technical Studies

    • Resources & Reserves Overview - CIM Guidelines Part 1

    • Resources & Reserves - CIM Guidelines Part 1

    • Mineral Resources & Reserves - CIM Guidelines Part 2

    • Mineral Resources & Reserves - CIM Guidelines Part 2

    • Factors & Assumptions used in Estimations - Metal Prices

    • Factors & Assumptions used in Estimations - Metal Prices

    • Factors & Assumptions used in Estimations - Cut off Grade

    • Factors & Assumptions used in Estimations - Cut off Grade

    • Block Models

    • Block Models

    • Introduction to Feasibility Studies

    • Preliminary Economic Assessments, Pre-feasibility and Feasibility Studies

    • Components of Feasibility Studies

    • Components of Feasibility Studies

    • Key Outcomes of Feasibility Studies

    • Conversion from a Mineral Resource to Reserve - Case Studies (Bonus Video)
  • 6

    Mining

    • Intro to Mining Operations

    • Selecting the Mine Type

    • Selecting the Mining Method (Surface or Underground)

    • Surface Mining - Mine Layout

    • Surface Mining - Mine Layout

    • Surface Mining - Mine Layout Example

    • Surface Mining - Mine Layout Example

    • Stripping Ratio & Production Scheduling

    • Stripping Ratio and Production Scheduling

    • Open Pit Production Cycle

    • Open Pit Production Cycle

    • Underground Mine Layout

    • Underground Mining Layout

    • Underground Mining Methods

    • Underground Mining Methods

    • Cut & Fill Method

    • Room & Pillar Method

    • Drilling & Blasting (Bonus Video)

    • Underground Production Schedule (Bonus Video)
  • 7

    Mineral Processing

    • Introduction to Mineral Processing

    • Introduction to Mineral Processing

    • Process Plant Overview - From the Mine to Final Product

    • Crushing and Grinding

    • Crushing and Grinding

    • Gold & Silver Ore Recovery - CIP Method Part 1

    • Gold & Silver Ore Recovery - CIP Method Part 1

    • Gold & Silver Ore Recovery - CIP Method Part 2

    • Gold Recovery - Oxide Ore and Heap-Leach Methods

    • Heap-Leach Methods

    • Recovery of Base Metal Sulphide Ores - Flotation

    • Treating Base Metal Ores
  • 8

    Environmental Considerations

    • Introduction to Environmental Considerations

    • Sustainable Development

    • Sustainable Development

    • Environmental Assessment 1

    • Environmental Assessment 1

    • Environmental Assessment 2

    • Environmental Assessment 2

    • Closure and Reclamation

    • Closure and Reclamation

    • Closure and Reclamation - Example - Highland Valley Copper
  • 9

    Evaluating Exploration Companies and News Releases (Bonus Chapter)

    • Introdduction to Evaluating Exploration Companies

    • Reviewing Management

    • Evaluating the Financial Structure

    • Reviewing Exploration Projects

    • Evaluating Exploration Companies Quiz