Precious Metals Ore Processing

Bern Klein

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.

Bern Klein is Head of the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of British Columbia. Additional responsibilities include Graduate Program Advisor, Supervisor of the Center for Coal and Mineral Processing Laboratory Facility, and Director of the Center for Industrial Minerals Innovation.

Bern's main areas of research include rheological approaches to improving mineral processing, application of natural industrial minerals to water treatment, development of integrated underground mining and mineral processing systems, and application of continuous centrifugal gravity concentrators as a clean processing technology. This research builds on 10 years of industrial experience aimed at designing mineral processes for precious metal, base metal and industrial mineral prospects. His background in design facilitates his research and teaching initiatives related to new mineral processing technologies.

In the area of rheology, he designed a patented fixture for measuring the rheological properties of settling mineral suspensions. The device has enabled a wide range of studies in investigating rheological aspects of mineral processing and slurry transport. Current research focuses on the three areas: processing of lateritic ores, aggregation/dispersion of iron ore slimes, and ultra-fine grinding.