Complete WAEC Syllabus for Mining 2023, Text Books, and Topics

You need to study the WAEC Mining syllabus in order to take the test. It includes the goals and benchmarks, study materials, and format for the Mining test.

Studying the topic of mining will help you prepare for the exam. You can use it as a guide to help you decide which topics to read about. Additionally, there are notes on ideas that you ought to learn carefully.

Exam preparation without the use of mining is equivalent to going to the farm without your farming equipment. You won’t be effective in the end.

Make sure to use the syllabus when you start your exam preparations.

The West African Examination Council’s Mining and suggested texts are included in this article (WAEC).

You need to study the WAEC Mining syllabus in order to take the test. It includes the goals and benchmarks, study materials, and format for the Mining test.

Studying the topic of mining will help you prepare for the exam. You can use it as a guide to help you decide which topics to read about. Additionally, there are notes on ideas that you ought to learn carefully.

Exam preparation without the use of mining is equivalent to going to the farm without your farming equipment. You won’t be effective in the end.

Make sure to use the syllabus when you start your exam preparations.

The West African Examination Council’s Mining and suggested texts are included in this article (WAEC).

WAEC Mining

PREAMBLE

The goal of this syllabus is to gauge candidates’ familiarity with fundamental mining principles and practices in order to pique their interest in the sector.

It offers chances for the development of all-encompassing information, attitudes, and abilities that will encourage students’ mining practice and entrepreneurship.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The test will measure candidates’ proficiency with:

• explain the basic concepts associated with mining;
• acquire the basic knowledge of rocks and minerals;
•  recognize the special properties and values of gems and precious minerals;
•  explain the methods of extraction of minerals;
• explain the processing of minerals to useful products;
•  appreciate the importance of health, safety and environment in the mining industry;
• develop requisite skills for, and business attitudes to mining.

FIELD WORK

Excursions to mining industry sites including coal mines, oil derricks, petroleum refineries, industries, oil spill sites, comminution sites, tailing sites, etc. should expose the students to field work, and as part of their continuous assessment in schools, they should be evaluated there.

The fieldwork results should represent 40% of the students’ overall continuous assessment scores that will be submitted to the examining body.

EXAMINATION SCHEME

There will be two papers—Paper 1 and Paper 2—that must be taken together in one session for a total of 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Paper 1 will include forty multiple-choice objective questions that must all be answered in 40 minutes or less for a total of 40 marks.

Paper 2 will be divided into Sections A and B as shown below:

Ten concise, structured questions spanning the whole syllabus will make up Section A. For a total of 40 points, all questions must be solved in the allotted time.

Section B will have five essay-style questions, and applicants will have one hour and twenty-five minutes to respond to any three of them for 60 points.

WAEC Mining Syllabus

Contents	Notes
(A)  INTRODUCTION TO MINING	(a) Meaning and branches of mining (b) Terminology used in mining (c) Classification and importance of minerals (d) Distribution of minerals in Nigeria (e) History of mining (f) Mining activities in Nigeria(g) Importance of minerals to man and national economy
(B) BASIC GEOLOGY                 (C) STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT IN MINING (BASIC CONCEPTS)	(h) Minerals markets and cartels (i) Mine accounting and sources of finance for mining ventures (j) Aspects of Nigerian minerals and mining Act, 2007 (k) Mining titles acquisition (a) Definition of Geology and its scope (b) Relationship between Geology and Mining (c) Structure of the Earth (d) Relative abundance of elements in the Earth’s crust(e) Economic mineral potentials of Nigeria (f) Rocks  and rock types ( igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic) (g) Rock-forming minerals (h) Physical and chemical properties of rock-forming minerals (i) Rock cycle (j) Weathering (k) Simplified geological map of Nigeria (l) Mineral map of Nigeria (m) Collection and collation of geological data (n) Interpretation of topographical and geological maps (o) Drawing of  simple geological cross-section (a) Classification of mining methods (Surface and underground mining methods) (b) Choice of mining methods: Reasons for choosing surface or underground mining methods (c) Surface mining methods: quarrying, open pit mining, open cast mining, alluvial mining etc (d) Underground mining methods: room-and-pillar, longwall, cut-and-fill, shrinkage, block caving, sub-level etc (e) Comparison of surface and underground mining methods (f) Justification of choice of methods (g) Prospecting stage: meaning and outlines of prospecting techniques e.g. geological technique, geophysical technique, geochemical technique, remote sensing technique (h) Exploration stage: meaning and classification of exploration techniques (e.g. geological technique, geophysical technique, geochemical technique, remote sensing technique) (i) Meaning of feasibility study of a mining venture (j) Financial analysis in mining (k) Meaning of a mine, mine development, mineral processing design, mill design, mining as actual exploitation, list of unit operations in mining e.g. drilling, blasting etc. (l) Need for mineral processing, economic benefits of mineral processing, list of unit operations in mineral processing (m) Meaning and processes of metal extraction e.g. smelting (pyrometallurgy), hydrometallurgy and electrometallurgy

CONTENTS

NOTES

(D) MINING METHODS                      (E) INTRODUCTION TO MINERAL PROCESSING (F) GEMOLOGY AND LAPIDARY

(a) Surface mining methods: (i) open pit as an example of surface mines, features of an open pit mine, minerals mined by open pit method (ii) Open cast mine as an example of surface mine, features of an open cast mine (iii) Quarrying and Dimension Stones production: Meaning, products of quarrying, uses of products, unit operations of a quarry, flow sheet of the operations of a quarry (iv) Dimension stone production (vi) Minerals that are mined by open cast method (b)Underground mining methods: (i) Features of an underground mine (ii) Basic concepts of underground mining methods e.g. square setting, cut-and-fill, shrinkage, sub-level, long-hole, open long-hole, block-caving, open- cut(c) Sea-floor mining (d) Moon and asteroid mining (e) Materials handling equipment e.g. conveyor belt, trucks, pay-loader etc (a) Meaning of:Mineral processing, comminution terms, concentration terms, mill accounting terms (b) Properties of minerals employed in mineral processing e.g. specific gravity, magnetism etc (c) Main operations in mineral processing i.e. comminution and concentration (d) Products of mineral processing e.g. concentrate and tailings, middling (intermediate product), dewatering in mineral processing, auxiliary operations, tailings disposal (a) Meaning of gemology and lapidary (b) Machines and tools in gemstone processing e.g. faceting machine, grinding machine, polishing machine, etc (c) Meaning and properties of gemstones (d) Types of gemstones based on shape, colour, size, refractive index etc. (e) Characteristics and methods of identification of gemstones; quality of gemstones (f) Unit of measurement of gemstones, prices of gemstones (g) Marketing and prices of gemstones

CONTENTS

NOTES

(G) HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT

(a) Health hazards in mining (b) Safety requirements/measures in mining (c) Impacts of mining on the environment (d) Safety equipment and apparels used in mining – personal protective equipment (PPE) (e) Common diseases associated with mining industry (f) Administering simple first aid, drugs/ dressing material (g) Guidelines for accident reporting, steps for environmental control(h) Basic issues in National policy on mineral development (i) Mining laws and regulations (j) Environmental protection laws (k) National policy on the environment

Facilities and Equipment

LIST OF FACILITIES AND MAJOR EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS REQUIRED

S/N	DESCRIPTION	QUANTITY
1	Spring balance	2
2	Fire extinguishers	1
3	Sand and water bucket	1
4	Specific gravity test apparatus(pycnometer)	2
5	Model of open pit mine	1
6	Model of underground mine	1
7	Samples of common rocks and minerals e.g. limestone, cassiterite	5
8	Samples of gemstone	5
9	Globe	1
10	Petrological microscope	2
11	Binocular microscope	2
12	Magnifying glass	10
13	Topographical maps	5
14	Geological maps	5
15	Chart of periodic table of elements	1
16	Thermometers	5
17	Electronic balance	1
18	Beakers	5
19	Cylinders	5
20	Petri dishes	5

Recommended Textbooks

SUGGESTED READING LIST

• Damisa, E.O.A. (2010): Introduction to Mining, published by Spectrum Books Ltd.
• Gregory, C.E. (1983): Rudiments of Mining Practice, Trans Tech Publications, Zellerfled-Germany.
• Damisa, E.O.A. and Tsaro, G.D.A. (2011): Introduction to Mineral Processing, Published by Spectru Publishers.
• Davou, D.D. (2012): Introduction to Geology, Published by Spectrum Publishers.
• Mallo, S.J. and Nwude, B.O. (1998): Introduction to Shaft Sinking.
• Mallo,S.J. (1998): Minerals and mining  on the Jos Plateau. Published by ACON, Jos.
• Hartman, L.M.(2002):Introduction to Mining Engineering.
• Fred, B.G & Laurence J.D.(2006): Mining and its impact on the environment.
• Wills B.A. &Munn,T.N. (2006):Wills Mineral Processing Technology. Published by Elsevier.
• Fuestenau M.C. & Han, K.N. (2003): Principles of Mineral Processing, Published by Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.
• Hartman, L.M. (1992): SME Mining Engineering Handbook, Vol. 1 & 2, Second Edition.
• Littleton, Colorade: Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc(SME).
• Mukerjee, P. K. (2005): A Textbook of  Geology. Kolkuta. The World Press.
• Chermcoff, S. & Whitney, D. (2007): Geology: An Introduction to Physical Geology. Fourth Edition. Pearson International. New Jersey.