| Effective Term: | 2026/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability |
| Unit Title: | Surface Mining Operations and Equipment |
| Unit ID: | ENGPG9410 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | (ENMIN3070) (ENMIN5018) |
| ASCED: | 030303 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit introduces students to different surface mining systems (e.g. open pit mining and strip mining), surface mining operation processes (e.g. drilling, blasting, loading, hauling and land reclamation), equipment and their selection and matching, and surface mining design, plan and optimisation. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | |  | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Critically evaluate the processes and principles involved in surface mine development, including regulatory, environmental, and operational considerations. |
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| K2. | Analyse and justify the various surface mining systems (e.g. open pit, strip mining) in terms of efficiency, suitability, and environmental impact. |
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| K3. | Critically appraise the operation and application of key equipment used in surface mining in relation to different mining conditions. |
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| K4. | Analyse the role and significance of land reclamation and land management in sustainable surface mining operations. |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Synthesise appropriate systems for the various types of mineral deposits in varying conditions. |
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| S2. | Evaluate and justify the appropriate number and size of equipment based on operational requirements and deposit characteristics. |
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| S3. | Analyse and design a surface mining operation that meets given geological, economic, and environmental constraints. |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Plan, design, and defend surface mining systems and operations to determine their suitability for specific scenarios. |
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| A2. | Research and justify the use of equipment in surface mining operations based on performance and suitability. |
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| A3. | Design comprehensive surface mining processes, including drilling, blasting, loading, hauling (including haul roads), and land reclamation. |
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| Other outcomes: |
| Unit Content: |
•Surface Mining Systems: Open pit mining, Strip mining, and Miscellaneous surface mining systems •Surface Mining Equipment: Cyclic methods - shovels, hydraulic excavators, wheeled loaders, trucks, draglines, scrapers, etc. Continuous methods - bucket wheel excavators, continuous surface miners •Basic estimating and costing •Surface mining design, plan and optimisation |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate high-level skills to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups Students will be required to display (in person and/or online) high-level skills in-person and/or online in: • Effective verbal and non-verbal communication via a range of synchronous and asynchronous methods • Active listening for meaning and influencing • High-level empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating extended conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply leadership skills and behaviours Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating, contributing to, and enabling collegial environments • Showing self-awareness and the ability to self-reflect for personal growth • Inspiring and enabling others • Making informed and evidence-based decisions through consultation with others • Displaying initiative and ability to solve problems | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complex and ambiguous environments, using their imagination to create new ideas Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically on complex problems • Synthesising, evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Proposing alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts through deep inquiry • Proposing creative solutions in problem solving | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work proficiently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks Students will be required to display high-level skills in: • Finding, accessing, collating, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and appropriately and securely sharing complex digital information at a high-level • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Using digital tools appropriately to conduct research • Contributing proficiently to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and utilising digital learning opportunities | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to think ethically and sustainably. Students will be required to display skills in: • The responsible conduct of research • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in multiple global economic environmental and societal contexts • Demonstrating commitment to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Generating research solutions which are sustainable,ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable • Extending lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Demonstrate extended actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | Professional Standards |
| 1. |
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3 |
Tutorial problems |
Solutions of selected problems |
20 - 30% |
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| 2. |
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3 |
Practical exercises |
Report |
20 - 30% |
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| 3. |
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3 |
Examination of some or all of the unit materials |
Test(s) |
40 - 60% |
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