Teachers from four Mid West WA high schools attended an after school professional development in Geraldton on 7 September 2006. Dr Nick Welham of Murdoch University and Dr Dan Churach of CSRP ran the short course that gave an overview of copper production using heap leaching techniques. Teachers from Geraldton Senior College, Geraldton Grammar School, Strathalbyn Christian College and host Nagle Catholic College participated in the 1 hour 45 minute session.
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The PD began with Dr Welham presenting an overview of copper production with an emphasis on the mineralogy of the ore used as a starting material. Both the positives and negatives of using pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes were weighed in light of chemical, economic and environmental concerns. Finally, large scale heap leaching and electrowinning projects were described.
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After the introductory talk, the teachers worked in pairs and conducted a series of experiments which allowed them to leach copper from crushed ore. A great deal of discussion ensued as participants analysed which techniques resulted in greatest yields of metallic copper. The lab session concluded with by reclaiming copper first by cementation onto iron and then by using electrowinning techniques.
The short course concluded with a discussion of how these simple experiments could be carried out in the classroom with students from lower through upper secondary school. Applications to the Western Australian curriculum were stressed.