The next generation of potential resources professionals get inspired by our operations
The next generation of potential resources professionals toured the Townsville Copper Refinery and Mount Isa Mines, to gain first-hand experience of working at our operations.
The Mount Isa Mines’ tour incorporated a careers display to showcase the numerous professions available in the resources sector with displays from geology, mines rescue, environmental science, process engineering and metallurgy representatives.
-
Ally McDonough, Graduate Metallurgist conducting a chemistry experiment with year five and six Mount Isa students.
-
Year five and six students from Mount Isa schools had the opportunity to walk through the Mount Isa Copper Concentrator.
Around 35 year five and six students from Mount Isa schools had the opportunity to walk through the Mount Isa Copper Concentrator to learn about the grinding and flotation processes.
Students had the opportunity to see works performed by electrical and mechanical maintenance personnel and metallurgists.
The students then boarded a bus to view the Zinc Concentrator, Lead Smelter, Copper Smelter, Rebuild Workshop and Structural Assets Workshop, and tailings thickeners.
-
Students in front of the Copper Concentrator’s Ball Mill at Mount Isa Mines.
-
Students learning about the Copper Concentrator flotation process at Mount Isa Mines.
Meanwhile, our Copper Refinery in Townsville welcomed year 11 Townsville Grammar School Chemistry students to take a look at our world-leading electrolytic copper refining process.
Students gained an overview of the operations during the tour by visiting the anode preparation machine, tankhouse, cathode stripping machine and shaft furnace.
The students put our Chemical Engineers to the test, with enthusiastic and thoughtful questions, leaving the Refinery’s engineers encouraged that students will be inspired to study for a career in the resources sector.
-
Mikayla McKenna, Graduate Metallurgist, explains the electrorefining process to students in the tankhouse.
-
Putting our Chemical Engineers to the test, with enthusiastic and thoughtful questions from the year 11 Townsville Grammar School Chemistry students.
Head of Faculty - Science at Townsville Grammar School, Bianca Battoraro, says it is a privilege for our students to have the opportunity to gain real world exposure to the electrorefining process.
“We’re very lucky to have a significant industrial operation like this on our doorstep in Townsville,” says Bianca.
“Visiting the Copper Refinery complements the students' educational experience, allowing direct interaction with skilled professionals to gain a better understanding of the chemical process and to experience an authentic working environment away from the classroom.”
-
Students went past the shaft furnace where they saw scrap anodes being recycled and melted down into new anodes.
-
Year 11 Townsville Grammar School Chemistry students and teachers touring the Townsville Copper Refinery.
Paul Taylor, Manager Refinery and Port Operations said welcoming senior students and educating them about our operations is important as we work towards reducing carbon emissions.
“Not only do students get to visit the refinery, but they learn about where our products come from and the processes that we use to refine them so they can be used in everyday items such as the electric wiring and pipes behind the walls in our homes, mobile phones and electric vehicles,” says Paul.
Monica Joseph, Acting Manager Training and Support Services for Mount Isa Mines says the tours are an opportunity to encourage younger students to consider taking up STEM subjects early in their education and to consider a career in resources.
Budding Chemical Engineers learning about our world class electrolytic copper refining process..
“The Townville Copper Refinery and Mount Isa Mines tours provided an opportunity for students to see the different career pathways available at our operations, while giving an understanding of our metallurgical and refining processes,” says Monica.
“We hope to inspire the next generation as we open our doors to the exciting world of a career in the resources industry which is providing the metals and minerals for today and tomorrow.”