Comminution Specialist at Anglo American

Company Description:

Anglo American has a portfolio of world-class mining operations. We mine, process, move and market the essential ingredients that enable a cleaner, more connected world and that meet fast growing consumer-driven demands for products from smartphones to electric cars. Our basic materials build homes, offices, railways and airports, and our diamonds fulfil people's dreams.

We are at the forefront of change in our industry; innovating with purpose – pushing boundaries to create new opportunities and demonstrate our values.    As the custodians of precious natural resources – diamonds (through De Beers), copper, platinum and other precious metals, iron ore, coal and nickel – we rely on our high-performing teams to combine integrity, creativity and smart innovation with the utmost consideration for local communities, our customers and the world at large. 

Job Description:

The Comminution Specialist is responsible for providing specialist technical input on comminution circuits in our Southern African Platinum, Diamond and Iron Ore operations and projects. This scope includes AG, SAG and Ball mills, as well as fine grinding technologies, together with the associated crushers and classification equipment.

Key responsibilities include: 

• Provide technical input and support to operations and projects for process trouble shooting and the resolution of metallurgical problems in comminution plants.

• Lead investigations and coordinate the implementation of initiatives in collaboration with Operations and the Lead Comminution for the optimization of comminution processes to deliver step changes in performance.

• Conduct operational performance analysis, systematic comminution process characterization test work, and develop and maintain comminution circuit process models.

• Undertake optimisation studies for mill liners using Discrete Element Modelling (DEM) or other methods to optimise liner profiles.

• Support the application of geometallurgy to understand and optimize comminution plants.

• Provide technical input to advanced process control implementation in comminution circuits, and the use of data analytics to identify operating strategies.

• Support of comminution related Technology Development and Technology Deployment projects.

• Support the implementation of the Anglo Operating Model and Critical Controls into our Southern African operations.

Qualifications:

• A minimum undergraduate qualification (Bachelors / Honours degree or equivalent) in Metallurgy or Chemical Engineering

• Desirable: A postgraduate qualification (Masters / Doctoral degree or equivalent) in a relevant technical discipline

Role-specific knowledge and experience:

• Operational experience including optimisation of comminution circuits highly desirable.

• Experience in operating and providing technical support to comminution plants

• Experience with process analysis and process modelling software, including statistical data analysis, mass balancing and comminution process modelling

• Familiar with comminution plant sampling requirements

• Experience in mill liner design and optimisation

• Familiar with comminution circuit advanced process control and advanced instrumentation

• Familiar with new comminution circuits design and technologies

Additional information:

Who we are

Anglo American is a global diversified mining business. Our portfolio of world-class mining operations provides the metals and minerals that make modern life possible. We use innovative practices and the latest technologies to discover new resources and mine, process, move and market our products to our customers around the world. 

As a responsible miner – of diamonds (through De Beers), copper, platinum and other precious metals, iron ore and nickel – we are the custodians of what are precious natural resources. We work together with our key partners and stakeholders to unlock the sustainable value that those resources represent for our shareholders, the communities and countries in which we operate and for society at large. Anglo American is re-imagining mining to improve people’s lives.