2002-2003 UAF Catalog

Course Descriptions

Degrees and Programs Index


Applied Mining Technology

AMIT 101 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Introduction To Mining (3+0)

Fundamentals of surface and underground mining, economic planning, proper exploration designs, environmental concerns, safety factors.


AMIT 109 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Underground Mine Safety (1+0)

Rights of miners, self rescue devices, introduction to the work environment, escapeways, roof and ground control, ventilation, health, cleanup, hazard recognition, first aid, mine gasses, electrical hazards. Course fulfills the Mine Safety Health Administration requirements for new underground miner training. Students are awarded MSHA certificate upon course completion.


AMIT 110 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
New Underground Miner Training (3+0)

Orientation to the mine environment, general mine inspection, scaling, staging, drilling, rock bolting, blasting, mucking, and mine rescue. Provides the inexperienced underground miner with the mandatory MSHA federal training to become employable. Materials fee: $50.00.


AMIT 120 (2 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Explosives I (2+0)

Theory and safe use of explosives with a focus on blasting agents used for rock excavation.


AMIT 125 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Mineral Exploration Techniques (3+0)

Modern, scientific exploration and prospecting techniques utilized in Alaska since the 1970s. Exploration design, ore deposit models, exploration geochemistry and geophysics, drilling sampling and geostatistics.


AMIT 129 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Surface Mine Safety (1+0)

Rights of miners, introduction to the work environment, ground control, hazard recognition, first aid, and explosive safety. Course fulfills the Mine Safety Health Administration requirements for surface miner training. Students are awarded MSHA certificate upon completion of the class.


AMIT 130 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Surface Mining Operations (3+0)

Safe operations of a surface mine. Placer gold, sand and gravel, coal, and open pit metal mines.


AMIT 140 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Environmental Permitting (3+0)

Mineral development permits required in Alaska. Students are encouraged to provide their own case histories.


AMIT 151 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Settling Pond and Recycle Techniques (1+0)

Design of settling ponds and recycle systems. Students will work with individual case histories.


AMIT 152 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Fire Assay Techniques (1+0)

Sampling, theory and practice of fire assaying. Fluxes, oxidation and reduction reactions, fusion of assay charges, cupellation, annealing, micro-weighing and assay charge calculation.


AMIT 153 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Laboratory Analysis (1+0)

Production laboratory procedures for sample analysis, heap leaching and titrations. Individual projects required.


AMIT 154 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Water Quality and Flocculents (1+0)

Water quality processes using flocculents; removal of total suspended solids from placer mining waste water.


AMIT 155 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Drilling Technology (1+0)

Terminology and techniques used in exploration and production drilling.


AMIT 156 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Applied Cartography (1+0)

Map and chart preparation. Drafting skills for prospecting maps, mine maps, permits and data presentation.


AMIT 161 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Alaska Ore Deposits (1+0)

Geology, ore reserves and preliminary mining plans of significant Alaskan mineral deposits.


AMIT 162 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Geochemical Sampling (1+0)

Hands-on scientific sampling methods for rock, soil, pan concentrates, stream sediments, air and water.


AMIT 170 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Fundamentals of Coal Mining (3+0)

Origin and types of Alaskan and other coal deposits, exploration and planning methods, extraction processes for underground and surface mines, mining safety, coal preparation, and reclamation. Job requirements, safety, and environmental consideration. Optional field trip to an active coal mine.


AMIT 180 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Colored Stone Grading and Evaluation (3+0)

Grading, appraisals, and identification of colored stones. Formation and structure, properties, deposits and production, and descriptions of major gemstones.


AMIT 185 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Diamond Evaluation and Grading (1+0)

Colors and clarity grading of diamonds, mining of raw material, and detection of stimulants.


AMIT 205 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Geomagnetic Surveying (1+0)

Placer gold deposit prospecting using magnetic surveying. Student survey work and data interpretation.


AMIT 206 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Electromagnetic Surveying (1+0)

Electromagnetic geophysical exploration methods and operations using the VLF-EM-16, an exploration tool for gold and/or massive sulfide deposits.


AMIT 210 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Advanced Underground Mining (3+0)

Skill training conducted in safety, drilling, blasting, ground support, mucking, maintenance and utilities at the Silver Fox Mine.


AMIT 220 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Explosives II (1+0)

Advanced techniques in safe use of explosives. Students get "hands-on" experience in blasting.


AMIT 230 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Field Methods (1+0)

Topographic map reading using a compass and basic field procedures.


AMIT 231 (1 Credit) As Demand Warrants
Heap Leaching (1+0)

Heap leaching covering cyanide safety, leach pad construction and placement, cyanide processing, thiourea, case histories, applications to Alaska and economics.


AMIT 280 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Colored Stone Evaluation II (3+0)

Gemstones covered are garnet, pyroxene, organic, inorganic, and specialty stones. A continuation of Colored Stone Evaluation I. (Prerequisite: AMIT 180.)


AMIT 282 (1 - 2 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Mining Coop Work Experience

Practical work experience in a professional mining environment. For the student who has mastered basic mining techniques and terminology. Placement and work assignments depend upon student experience.