Operator, mineral processing

Mineral and stone processing plant operators operate and monitor machines and equipment for processing rock, minerals and stone to obtain refined products for immediate use or further processing.

• adjusting and operating stationary machines and equipment for cutting, crushing and grinding rock, minerals and stone according to the specifications for the operation;
• placing blocks and slabs of stone on machines for cutting, sawing and further processing;
• monitoring and maintaining the flow of unprocessed rock, minerals and stone on conveyors feeding the machines;
• operating equipment for washing, filtering, settling, screening, sorting, extracting, mixing, removing waste materials and recovering minerals;
• combining mineral ores with solvents to facilitate further processing;
• separating metal and mineral concentrates from ores and alluvial deposits by thickening, flotation, gravity concentration, filtration and/or magnetic and electrostatic separation;
• monitoring gauges and control panels, adjusting valves and control buttons to ensure safe and efficient equipment operation, detecting faults, and assisting in the maintenance and repair of machinery and equipment;
• visually or manually examining processed materials to ensure conformity with established standards and specifications, and taking samples for laboratory analysis;
• recording information on processing carried out during the shift, such as quantities, types and sizes of materials produced;
• sorting, stacking and moving processed minerals and stone for packing, further processing or transport.
• Examples of occupations in this unit group:
• Machine operator, ore processing
• Machine operator, flotation plants and equipment
• Machine operator, non-metallic mineral beneficiation plants and equipment
• Machine operator, ore beneficiation plants and equipment
• Operator, rock-cutting machine
• Operator, mill in beneficiation plant