Overview

Summary:

Rob is a lecturer in Mineral Processing within the Camborne School of Mines, College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences. He received his BEng(Hons) in Mining Engineering from the University of Exeter (2004) and was awarded a PhD in Earth Resources from the same institute.

His main area of research is in the physical separation of minerals. With a particular interest in modelling and simulation, including fundemental modelling using techniques such as CFD-DEM. Rob has published on the use of CFD-DEM modelling to simulate the ejection of particles in a sensor-based sorter and currently has an EPSRC case student investigating the use of CFD and DEM to model ultra-fine gravity separation equipment to increase mine recovery and reduce environmental impact. Rob has expertise in modelling gravity separation equipment and is a work package leader and principle investigator for University of Exeter on the H2020 funded OptimOre project which aims to improve modelling of gravity separation equiipment through the use of automated mineralogy. As a part of this project he is also developing novel methods of modelling and controlling gravity separation equip[ment.

Professional Qualifications:

• Professional Graduate Instutute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (ProfGradIMMM)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Current Reesearch projects:

OPTIMORE (H2020) Optimize the crushing, milling and separation ore processing technologies for Tungsten and Tantalum mineral processing.
IMP@CT (H2020-SC5) Integrated Modular Plant and Containerized Tools for Selective, Low-impact mining of Small High-grade Deposits.
SOSRARE (NERC&EPSRC) Improving understanding rare earth elements (REE) concentration in natural systems to develop efficient and environmentally friendly methods of extraction.
CERES (H2020) Co-processing of coal and electronic mine waste.
SLOPES (RFCS) Smarter Lignite Open Pit Engineering Solutions.

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Publications

_{Copyright Notice: Any articles made available for download are for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the copyright holder.}

| 2024 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |

2024

• Norris PR, Fitzpatrick R, Santos AL. (2024) Continuous bioreactor leaching of nickel sulfide concentrates with moderately thermophilic bacteria and archaea, Minerals Engineering, volume 209, pages 108615-108615, article no. 108615, DOI:10.1016/j.mineng.2024.108615. [PDF]

2021

• Moore KR, Moradi S, Doyle K, Sydd O, Amaral V, Bodin J, Brito-Parada PR, Dudley F, Fitzpatrick R, Foster P. (2021) Sustainability of switch on-switch off (SOSO) mining: Human resource development tailored to technological solutions, Resources Policy, volume 73, pages 102167-102167, article no. 102167, DOI:10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102167. [PDF]
• Beylot A, Muller S, Segura-Salazar J, Brito-Parada P, Paneri A, Yan X, Lai F, Roethe R, Thomas G, Goettmann F. (2021) Switch on-switch off small-scale mining: Environmental performance in a life cycle perspective, Journal of Cleaner Production, volume 312, pages 127647-127647, article no. 127647, DOI:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127647. [PDF]

2020

• Al-Ali S, Wall F, Fitzpatrick R, Broom-Fendley S, Rollinson G, Brady A, Pickles J, Williams A, Dawes W. (2020) Key process mineralogy parameters for rare earth fluorcarbonate-bearing carbonatite deposits: the example of Songwe Hill, Malawi, Minerals Engineering, volume 159, DOI:10.1016/j.mineng.2020.106617. [PDF]

2019

• Owens CL, Nash G, hadler K, Fitzpatrick R, Anderson C, Wall F. (2019) Apatite enrichment by rare earth elements: A review of the effects of surface properties, Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, volume 256, pages 152-162, DOI:10.1016/j.cis.2019.01.004.

2018

• Owens CL, Nash GR, Hadler K, Fitzpatrick RS, Anderson CG, Wall F. (2018) Zeta potentials of the rare earth element fluorcarbonate minerals focusing on bastnäsite and parisite, Adv Colloid Interface Sci, volume 256, pages 152-162, DOI:10.1016/j.cis.2018.04.009. [PDF]
• Fitzpatrick RS, Hegarty P, Fergusson K, Rollinson G, Xie W, Mildren T. (2018) Optimisation of a Multi-Gravity Separator with Novel Modifications for the Recovery of Ferberite, Minerals, volume 8(5), pages 191-191, DOI:10.3390/min8050191.

2017

• Fitzpatrick RS, Ghorbani Y, Fergusson K, rollinson G, hegarty P, Mildren T. (2017) Recovery of fine tungsten-bearing minerals from waste streams using modified Multi-Gravity Separator, Physical Separation 2017, Falmouth, Uk, 15th - 16th Jun 2017.
• Ghorbani Y. (2017) A Process Mineralogy Approach to Gravity Concentration of Tantalum Bearing Minerals, Minerals, DOI:10.3390/min7100194.

2016

• Fitzpatrick RS, Ghorbani Y, Hegarty P, Rollinson G. (2016) Quantitative mineralogy for improved modelling of shaking tables, IMPC 2016 - 28th International Mineral Processing Congress, volume 2016-September.

2015

• Fitzpatrick RS, Glass HJ, Pascoe RD. (2015) CFD-DEM modelling of particle ejection by a sensor-based automated sorter, Minerals Engineering, volume 79, pages 176-184, DOI:10.1016/j.mineng.2015.06.009.
• Pascoe RD, Fitzpatrick R, Garratt JR. (2015) Prediction of automated sorter performance utilising a Monte Carlo simulation of feed characteristics, Minerals Engineering, volume 72, pages 101-107, DOI:10.1016/j.mineng.2014.12.026.

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