On March 27, 2023, 130 students from Laguna State Polytechnic University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology and BS Chemistry programs were given the opportunity to explore the Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s facilities. This is in response to their request to give their students a chance to immerse themselves with actual equipment found in our Bureau’s laboratories—allowing them to gain experience and knowledge outside the confines of online learning. This will be their first time to learn outside of their university due to the pandemic these past few years.
Geologist Raymond Thaddeus C. Ancog leads the students around the MGB Museum.
The students were grouped into four (4) for ease of doing the tours. Engr. Edgar C. Madera, Section Chief, Mineral Economics, Information, and Publication Division-IEC, Mr. Rommel Patingo, Chief, Chemistry Laboratory Service Section, and Engr. Hector S. Andres, Section Chief of Mineral Processing Service and Audit Section, Metallurgical Technology Division (MeTD), gave a brief background of MGB, explaining the functions and responsibilities of each division. Senior geologist Mr. Raymond Thaddeus C. Ancog from the Lands Geological Survey Division gave an energetic tour of the MGB museum that can be found in the lobby. Also taking the time to accommodate the students in the tour were Engr. Geleni Shalaine Bello, Engr. Marco Paolo Viloria, Mr. Arnold Delgado, Mr. Danny de Leon, and Mr. Emerito Ramos of MeTD.
Engr. Edgar C. Madera, Section Chief, MEIPD-IEC, explains the functions of each division in MGB.
The participants were given a briefing on the current Research and Development projects of the MeTD and shown around the Sample Preparation Area with a demonstration of basic comminution or sample size reduction using different crushing equipment such as the jaw crusher and roll crusher. Afterwards, they were guided to the Fire Assay Laboratory and students had close-up look at fire assaying furnace and smelting of samples to slag and lead button. Engr. Roberto D. Caseros explained how fire assaying is used to quantify or give the grade of gold and silver in a particular sample. The attendees were then given a tour to different facilities and equipment used by the MeTD Mineral Processing Research and Development Section. Another demonstration on how froth flotation is used to separate minerals from concentrates and gangue materials, as well as the use a shaking table to exhibit how it can be maneuvered to separate heavy minerals from light ones. The students were also taught the basics of magnetic separation demonstrating the use of Davis Tube Magnetic Tester.
LSPU students explore the MGB-MeTD’s research facilities.
By: Mineral Economics, Information, and Publication Division