The ECPH Encyclopedia of Mining and Metallurgy

Abstract

Mining and metallurgical engineering encompasses two major disciplines: mining engineering and metallurgical engineering.Mining engineering separates useful minerals from worthless minerals (often called gangue) or harmful minerals through processes such as mining and mineral processing, or separates multiple useful minerals to obtain raw materials for metallurgy, energy, chemical industry, building materials, and other industries.Mining in a broad sense also includes the extraction of coal, oil, and gas, but this volume mainly focuses on the mining of metal ores.Metallurgical engineering applies the principle of metallurgy to smelt, process, and ultimately obtain metallic materials necessary for human society's production and human life from the raw materials obtained in mineral engineering.Metallurgical engineering also provides the materials and technical support for various equipment required in mining engineering.Mining engineering and metallurgical engineering are the foundation industries on which human society relies for survival and development.They are interconnected, interdependent, and develop together.The discipline of mining and metallurgical engineering has a high degree of integration and interconnection with adjacent disciplines such as energy engineering, geological resources and geological engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, information technology and engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, mechanics, chemistry, physics, etc.Its development has widely absorbed the achievements of multiple disciplines.Mining and metallurgical engineering has had a significant impact on human civilization, social progress, political evolution, and improvement of living standard, continuously driving and promoting sustainable social and economic development.The emergence of metal tools, the invention of writing, and the formation of nations are collectively known as the three signs of human entry into civilized society.From the initial stages of using basic tools in the slash-and-burn cultivation to the use of bronze and later iron agricultural implements, human society has greatly advanced its productive forces.This progress has not only led to the prosperity of nations and the abundance of people's lives, but has also significantly enhanced humanity's ability to understand and transform nature.Meanwhile, the growth of social productive forces has, in turn, promoted the advancement of mining and metallurgical engineering technologies.The historical process demonstrates that the development of

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