Metal Accounting
Intake commences 3 March 2025
Learn how to accurately track and estimate metal production from delivery into the process plant through to saleable product
Quick facts
 Duration |
 Delivery |
 Course Type |
 2025 Intakes |
 PD Hours |
 Language |
40 hours
|
100% online |
Professional
|
3 March 2025
|
Up to 40 |
English |
Course overview
Gain an appreciation of the diversity, techniques and methodologies to accurately, reliably and efficiently track metal production from mine custody transfer point of ore delivery into the process plant through to saleable product; including recognising and quantifying metal accounting uncertainties and biases.
This course introduces the principles of the AMIRA P754 Code of Practice for Metal Accounting as a means for enabling reliable metal accounting.
Gain the foundation and framework to deliver more accurate metal accounting reports and data outputs to support sound corporate governance, improved workflow across the business, enhanced financial forecasting and improved efficiency in gaining more value from mineral deposits.
Techniques and methodologies are reinforced with real world examples, subject matter expert input and practical exercises that the learner can apply in their workplaces.
Gain skills to help you:
- report results in a transparent and accurate manner
- understand the impact of sound metal accounts on the broader business
- positively impacting company reputation, corporate governance and market credibility
- providing a reliable platform for improving operations and measuring the true impact of process changes and improved resource utilisation and sustainability.
- understand plant design requirements for enabling operational capability to deliver best practice metal accounting performance
- assist your business in understanding limitations, variability and risks in their metal accounting systems
- approach metal accounting with a value focus.
Support improved new mineral processing plant design, mine production and resource and financial planning and forecasting with a solid understanding of metal accounting requirements and how these relate to the overall mine to product value chain.
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Course pricing
Earn digital credentials
Showcase your studies, validate your knowledge
Verify your new skills and knowledge with a digital badge that you can add to your LinkedIn profile, email signature, intranet, or any other online account.
Your badge links to a detailed outline of the course, showcasing and validating your new skills in a format that employers and colleagues can easily access and trust. You can also choose to download a personalised certificate.
Who should attend?
• Site Metallurgists
• Metallurgists accountable as the Competent Person
• Chemical or Process Engineers transitioning to Metallurgy roles
• Metallurgical Managers
• Plant Design Metallurgists/Process Engineers
Other persons who can benefit from attending this introductory course by broadening their understanding of how the metal accounting process should work in practice are:
• Production & Reserves Geologists
• Mine Planning Engineers
• Product marketing, finance, commercial and IT personnel
Learning objectives
- Explain the principles of the AMIRA P754 Code of Practice for Metal Accounting and use it to critically appraise my site’s metal accounting practices
- Apply practical statistical methods to analyse, quantify and monitor accuracy (bias) and precision of primary metal accounting input measurements and related risk
- Identify current practices in metal accounting activities, and ways to improve practices in sampling, sample representativity, sample preparation, laboratory analysis, mass measurement, bias and error management, data management, reconciliation and reporting for metal accounting
- Recognise the potential risks of poor metal accounting practices and possible mitigation procedures
- Identify requirements for sound data storage and management
- Relate integrity of reported metal accounts with financial reporting and associated corporate governance principles
- Explain how different disciplines interact across the minerals industry to facilitate accurate and transparent metal accounting reporting
- Plan improvements to metal accounting practices that will ensure standardised, best practice metal accounting practices at my process plant/laboratory
Course structure
The eight-week course consists of six modules over six weeks, with a final two weeks to complete the written assessment. Each module consists of:
- Pre-recorded videos, featuring interviews with experienced industry experts
- Interactive learning activities and discussion
- ‘Take home’ analytical tools that can be used in the workplace
- Multiple choice questions
- Additional reading including case studies
The written assessment requires participants to complete short answer questions that address the content presented in each module.
There are three live sessions held throughout the course and these are also recorded and available within 24 hours for participants who are unable to attend.
Recommended text
The recommended text for this course is An Introduction to Metal Balancing and Reconciliation, available for purchase from the University of Queensland. Participants are able to secure a 10% discount on the purchase of this publication (available in hard copy only). Participants are urged to order in plenty of time to allow for order processing and shipping. Please complete this form and email it to jkpublications@uq.edu.au.
Free template
Business case to attend
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Module 1
Module 2
Basic Statistical Concepts for Measurement and Sampling
Module 3
Module 4
Sample Management, Sample Preparation and Laboratory Analysis
Module 5
Data Analysis
Module 6
Download the course brochure
Professional Certificate in Metal Accounting
Facilitators
Karen McCaffery
(CPMet), MIEAust. CPEng, NER
Areas of specific expertise include metal accounting, having developed and deployed a comprehensive metal accounting standard and guideline based on the AMIRA Metal Accounting Code of Practice for a mining major, developing and embedding sound applied geo-metallurgical practices into day-to-day operations and production business planning and, process operational performance improvement across the complete plant flowsheet.
With over 25 years expatriate experience, a large part of her work has also been to develop others including metallurgists, engineers, operators and technicians to build their skills and capability. This includes building and managing a successful new graduate training scheme for metallurgists, mechanical and electrical engineers.
John Jessop
BSc (Geophysics)
He has led a number of consulting engagements focused on process and governance weaknesses in various aspects of metal accounting and their resulting impact elsewhere in the business, as well as business process design and requirements analysis in preparation for metallurgical accounting and inventory management system implementations.
Dr Gail Gnoinski
She has a track record in the development and implementation of metal accounting best practices and improving efficiencies from the geo-metallurgical interface to the process plant and refinery/smelter and the final product, to capture value leakage and mitigate risk to ensure that organisations are better informed about the performance of their operations, and that financial reports are based on accurate and traceable data.
Gail is passionate about education in the minerals industry, and has actively led through mentorship of graduates, and facilitating workshops in sampling theory, geo-metallurgy, metal accounting reporting together with industry experts, aimed at the development and progression of operational knowledge and performance to competence and excellence.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the technical requirements to participate in the course? i.e. do I need a webcam, microphone, etc?
The course will be run entirely online via a cloud-based platform which can be accessed via computer, tablet or phone. Participants will simply need to have a working Internet connection and a computer, tablet or phone with sound to access the course. They will not be required to download any software and will not require any hardware like a webcam or microphone.
How long will the course take?
The entire course will run over eight weeks (six modules over six weeks plus another two weeks to finish the final assignment). It is expected that participants will take about 40 hours to finish the entire course. This includes attendance at live virtual classrooms and completion of all learning activities.
Must a participant complete and pass all modules in order to finish the course?
Yes, it is a requirement for participants to complete all modules and pass all learning activities, including the final assessment. A digital credential will be awarded upon successful completion.
Will the course be delivered in other languages?
No, the course is currently delivered in English only.