Isaac Muhandu
Metallurgist
Solwezi
Summary
Adaptable Metallurgist with 7 years of hands-on experience in the mineral processing industry of copper, zinc, nickel and gold. Recognized for outstanding technical and analytical skills. Well-versed in crushing, milling and flotation techniques for high production and recovery of base metals. Resourceful professional possessing thorough knowledge of mathematical and scientific principles paired with strong communication and team coordination abilities. Proficient in microsoft office, PI vision and SCADA systems. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Metallurgist
First Quantum Minerals
Solwezi
07.2022 - Current
- Provide technical support to crushing, milling and flotation to ensure set key performance indicators (KPI's) and production targets are met.
- Maximizing crushing rates by optimizing crusher operating parameters and bottle necks that affect availability of crushers.
- Monitoring crusher performance, this involves running crushers at optimal closed side setting (CSS) for desired product whilst meeting design power draw. Crushing section comprises of three ThyssenKrupp KB 63-89 gyratory crushers installed with 1000 kW (150mm CSS). Two Metso MP2500 secondary crushers (50mm CSS) and one Metso MP1250 pebble crusher (18mm CSS).
- Performance monitoring of crushers during three stages of life of the mantle and concave liners on primary crushers and mantle and bowl of the secondary and pebble crushers.
- Maximizing mill performance, milling rates and sending good grind to flotation through classification.
- Optimizing mill performance by making sure charge levels are maintained in both the SAG mill (18%) and Ball mill (33%). Speeds are maintained between 75% - 80% of the critical speed depending on the profile of liners. For effective grinding efficiency, the mill density is maintained at 75% in the SAG and 80% in the Ball mill.
- Doing surveys around the mills for performance monitoring. This entails doing screen analysis on the samples cut, perform mass balance around the circuit for better understanding on mill performance.
- Mill ball consumption for both the SAG and Ball mill controlled to make sure costs are reduced or maintained according to budget. This is also assisted by recycling SAG mill balls to the Ball mill.
- Monitoring mill liner performance by doing inspections at shut downs. Liner height and plate thickness are measured to give guidance on the maximum speed to run the mill at and predict change outs. Grate slot measurements, Feed end and Discharge end liners monitoring.
- Trommel and vibratory screen slot measurements for cyclone transfer size optimization for better decisions on change outs.
- Cyclone optimization by running right feed density and pressure for effective classification.
- Cyclone wear monitoring done to increase availability of units and maintain budgets.
Milling Supervisor
First Quantum Minerals
Solwezi
12.2017 - 07.2022
- Process control accountability from the plant feed stockpile, SAG feed conveyors, SAG and Ball Mills, flash flotation, critical on-line measurements, pumping and classification to flotation feed surge tanks.
- Accountable to oversee process control of operations utilizing PCS 7/Siemens plant management system focusing on achieving consistent and maximized production.
- Maintain safety of self, field operators and others in Milling area through strict compliance to HSE standards, procedures and instructions.
- Maintaining good grind and densities for economical flotation downstream.
- Maintain availability of milling units.
Flash Flot Operator
First Quantum Minerals
Solwezi
07.2017 - 12.2017
- Maintaining smooth operation of flash float cells. This had to be achieved by making sure that the cells are continuously floating by sending good copper concentrate about 10% to 15% Cu to flotation circuit for re-cleaning.
- Maintaining proper house-keeping around the area.
- Maintaining safety of myself and everyone around my work area.
Concentrator Plant Controller
First Quantum Minerals
Solwezi
07.2014 - 09.2015
- Managed a crew of 12 field operators per shift.
- Running the crushing, milling and flotation plants by using Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA).
- Maintaining desired closed side settings (CSS) on all crushers (Primary, Secondary and pebble crushers) so that wanted product size is constant.
- To monitor and make sure good grind is sent to flotation for better recovery and good concentrate quality.
- Maintaining ball charge in both the ball mill and SAG mill for effective milling.
- Making good recovery and good concentrate quality which is sent for smelting.
- Responsible for making sure consumables (reagents and steel balls) are not used above budget.
Intern Comminution Metallurgist
First Quantum Minerals
Solwezi
11.2013 - 07.2014
- To determine performance of the primary, secondary and pebble crushers as well as the semi-autogenous (SAG) mill and ball mill. This involved coming up with particle size distribution curves of all the material entering and leaving the units then determining P80 and F80 for the products.
- Running gravity concentrators (Falcons) and sending concentrate to the gold plant for further treatment. This followed by making sure the unit’s availability is maximized.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Metallurgy And Mineral Processing
The University Of Zambia
Lusaka 04.2001 -
Skills
Technical Report Writing
Certification
First Aid
Reference
Reference to be provided upon request
Timeline
Metallurgist
First Quantum Minerals
07.2022 - Current
Professional Engineer
01-2021
First Aid
01-2019
Milling Supervisor
First Quantum Minerals
12.2017 - 07.2022
Flash Flot Operator
First Quantum Minerals
07.2017 - 12.2017
Concentrator Plant Controller
First Quantum Minerals
07.2014 - 09.2015
Intern Comminution Metallurgist
First Quantum Minerals
11.2013 - 07.2014
Bachelor of Science - Metallurgy And Mineral Processing
The University Of Zambia
04.2001 -
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