Master in

Extractive Metallurgy

Version: October 2016

 A guide for prospective Master Students: Master in Extractive Metallurgy

1. Introduction
The Master in Extractive Metallurgy program considers a
structure of basic and advanced courses, plus a research
project. The research areas related to the program are:
• Mineral Processing,
• Pyro-metallurgy,
• Geo-Mining-Metallurgy,
• Hydrometallurgy and,
• Electrochemistry.
The objective of this Master program in Engineering Sciences, mention Extractive Metallurgy is
to prepare highly qualified graduates that can contribute to the technological development, based
on fundamental and applied research, of the mining industry related to mineral processing and
extractive metallurgy systems.

2. How to apply?
Students wishing to apply for Master programs offered by the Faculty of Physical and
Mathematical Sciences, must have a bachelor or a professional degree in a similar area, granted
by a national or international university certifying a solid background in the specific area of the
master program. The Academic Committee will review each application taking into account the
candidate’s background.
The application to the program is through the Graduate School of the Faculty of Physical and
Mathematical Sciences:

Deadline Program start

1
Apply here May Spring Semester (August)
October Fall Semester (March)

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https://ucampus.uchile.cl/m/fcfm_postgrado_postulacion/
 A guide for prospective Master Students: Master in Extractive Metallurgy

Applicants have to submit all their educational records at the moment of application, including:

• Resume
• Certified translation of Bachelor's diploma into English if not originally in Spanish
or English.
• Official certificate of the Academic Record or Grades from all academic institutions of
higher education you list in your application (after and not including high-school). English
or Spanish translation are required during application.
• Motivational letter
• Two letters of recommendation.
If required, prospective candidates might be interviewed by the Academic Committee to known
their research interest and their motivation.

Even though is not mandatory, we strongly encourage candidates to contact one of the Faculty
members 2 before applying. You may ask to your potential supervisor information about research
opportunities and funding. Send an e-mail including a CV and a brief description of your interests.

The Academic Committee of the Program will recommend acceptance Admission is

or refusal of the applications to the Graduate School of the Faculty of competitive, so
Physical and Mathematical Sciences. please carefully
prepare your
Additional information/ documents might be asked for foreign students application.
including:

• Certificate of Academic Record with a table and its equivalent with the Chilean
system. The grade scale in Chile goes from 1,0 to 7,0.

• Once you are accepted, you have to provide a certified translation of your Bachelor's
diploma into Spanish endorsed by the Chilean Foreign Ministry or Ministry of
Education (in Chile) or the Chilean Consulate in your origin country.
Accepted foreign students must apply at the corresponding Chilean Consulate for a student visa
before arriving. It is very important that you deal with the immigration formalities before
entering Chile and to prepare several documents. A tourist visa will not be accepted.

You can find information about the Chilean consulates and Embassies around the world in the
following link:
http://chile.gob.cl/en/consulados/

2
http://www2.minas.uchile.cl/department-of-mining-engineering/faculty/126224/full-time
 A guide for prospective Master Students: Master in Extractive Metallurgy

General Observations:
1. Diplomas must be issued by an official and competent authorities of each university.

2. Accepted candidates that have already completed courses/exams related to the areas of
research of the Master, may apply for course recognition. Based on the information
provided by the candidate, the Committee will decide which courses/exams can be
transferred.
Interested candidates must fill out a specific Form provided by the Graduate School
([email protected]). The Form must be submitted to the Graduate School
accompanied by the approval of the Committee and an official certificate of the Academic
Record or Grades.

3. Fees and financial support

a. Tuition
UF 300 (full program – ask for different payment methods)
The UF value may be consulted at the Banco Central de Chile
(http://si3.bcentral.cl/Indicadoressiete/secure/Indicadoresdiarios.aspx)

b. Financial support
There are possibilities of compensation or financial assistance for student teaching assistantships
for undergraduate and graduate, along with participation in a research project related to their thesis.
Remuneration and financial aid are competitive and there is no guarantee that all the applicants
will obtain it. For more information, contact directly the potential supervisor.

c. Scholarships
The AGCI provides a number of scholarships for Latin American students who begin studies
in Chilean Master programs accredited for 4 years. This includes full payment of tuition and
resources for student maintenance.
• For further information, visit: http://www.agci.cl/becas.html
• For foreign applicants: http://www.agci.cl/becasextr.html
On the other hand, CONICYT give scholarships to Master students of accredited programs.
• Further information at: http://www.conicyt.cl/becas/index.html
 A guide for prospective Master Students: Master in Extractive Metallurgy

4. Characteristics of the Program

The program last approximately 3 semesters, including the development of a thesis. To obtain the
Master degree, it is required:
• Minimum residence of 2 semesters and max.
• Duration of the program: Maximum 6 semesters for full time students, and 10 semesters
for part time students.
• The approval of all courses with grades not less than 5,0.
• The approval of an exam.

a. Courses
i. Mandatory Courses
Mandatory courses meet the goal of delivering basic and common training to all program
participants.
• MI51A Pyrometallurgy (10 UD)
• MI51G Hydro-electrometallurgy (10 UD)
• MI52E Concentration of Minerals (10 UD)
• MI75A Advanced Dynamics and Control in Extractive Metallurgy (10 UD)
• MI75B Transport Phenomena in Extractive Metallurgy (10 UD)
• MI73A Directed Work (10 UD)
• MI76A Metallurgical Physical Chemical (10 UD)

ii. Elective courses (40 UD)

The student must register for 4 courses of 10 UDs each, in agreement with the Supervisor. Some
alternatives are:
• MI 71A Advanced Hydrometallurgy (10 UD)
• MI 78A Advances Pyrometallurgy (10 UD)
• MI 72A Modelling of Minerallurgical Processes (10 UD)
• MI 70A Special Topics in Extractive Metallurgy (10 UD)
• MI 77A Advanced Electrometallurgy (10 UD)
• MI 70C Conceptual Design of Mining Resources Processing (10 UD)
• MI 74A Characterization of Minerals (10 UD)
 A guide for prospective Master Students: Master in Extractive Metallurgy

*Generally, any course level 700 may be considered as an elective course if there is an agreement
between the student and the Supervisor.

iii. Thesis
The Thesis project consists of an individual work where the student must demonstrate its ability
to conduct basic or applied research in the Extractive metallurgy or Mineral processing area. It
also considers the ability of the candidate to develop critical analysis, to propose solutions, and to
explain them in a clear and comprehensive way. To ensure a proper progress in research, semester
progress reviews will be established through public presentations of the subject. With this purpose,
the student must enroll these courses:

• MI 79A Thesis I (25 UD)

• MI 79B Thesis II (25 UD)

5. Research Areas
The main research groups related to the Master’s program are:
Hydrometallurgy

• Leaching of minerals and concentrates

• Bacterial leaching
• Physical chemistry of hydrometallurgical solutions
• Electro-metallurgy
• Experimental developing and mathematical modelling of new electro-winning cells for
copper
• Design, thermodynamics and kinetics of new processes for separation and obtaining of
molybdenum and its compounds
• Effluent treatment by electrodialysis
• Anodic electrocatalysis
• Corrossion in electrometallurgic plants
• Magnetic effects of electrodeposition of metals

Pyrometallurgy

• Magneto-hydrodinamics
• Slag treatment
• Roasting of concentrates and anodic slimes
• Smelting of concentrates and continuous conversion
• Distribution of impurities in pyrometallurgical processes
• Numerical modelling of pyrometallurgical processes
 A guide for prospective Master Students: Master in Extractive Metallurgy

• Physical chemical characterization of high temperature metallurgical fluids

• Continuous refining of copper

Mineral Processing

• Modelling and simulation of minerallurgical processes

• Development of virtual sensors in mineral processing
• Analysis, optimization and control of minerallurgical processes
• Mineral sampling

Environment in Mining

• Quantification and characterization of mining and metallurgical waste

• Management and handling of arsenic in the Chilean industry of copper
• Methodology for the incorporation of environmental variables to the design of mining
and metallurgical projects

6. Facilities
The Beauchef campus has about 130,000 m2 of floor area. Both
the Faculty and the Department of Mining Engineering, have
modern infrastructure of laboratories, equipment and support
services, some of which represent unique facilities in Chile.

All researchers and students have access to the Central Library of

the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, one of the
most modern in the country, which allows the user to access existing national and international
publications at the highest level. The Central Library has more than 120,000 volumes of books on
open shelves, three thousand titles of printed journals and more than 52,000 digital. All graduate
students have computer and Internet access facilities.

The Faculty offers its students a pleasant environment with recreational areas, a gym, study rooms,
multi-courts and others. The Beauchef campus has a multi-court, an equipped gym with machines
and a sports gym for students

7. Contact
 A guide for prospective Master Students: Master in Extractive Metallurgy

Dr. Leandro Voisin A.

Coordinator of Master in Extractive Metallurgy program
Department of Mining Engineering - University of Chile
Av. Tupper 2069, Santiago-Chile
e-mail: [email protected]

Bárbara Gordon Traeger, M.A.

Department of Mining Engineering - University of Chile
Av. Tupper 2069, Santiago-Chile
Phone: 56-22978 4505
e-mail: [email protected]