End-to-End Mine Planning
O Mine Planning comprises all the studies involved in the search for the best use of mineral resources.
Proper planning is essential for the success of the enterprise, since it is a decisive process for its conduction and development. Good planning takes into account Geology and Engineering skills:
Geology
Early in mine planning, a geological understanding of the site is necessary. In this context, the Geological uncertainties are considered to be the main contributors to possible failures in processes over the life of the mine. In order to avoid them, it is extremely necessary to have a deep geological knowledge of the region of interest, through field and laboratory research, called Geological Survey or Geological Mapping. They constitute the first step in the sequence of steps in mineral exploration and their purpose is to establish characteristics such as nature, shape, spatial position, origin, age, evolution, and importance of rocky bodiess (PRICE, 1992). Due to its complexity, it is a step that involves the use of various geoscience disciplines such as geophysics, geochemistry and petrology, for example.
Once the geological survey has been carried out, the Creation and Interpolation of Geological Models for spatial characterization and quantification of the deposit. For this, it is necessary to careful survey of information for the knowledge of the mineral body, through the obtaining samples (drill cores/channels/chips), requiring that the drilling plan representatively cover the mineral deposit under study and obtain the maximum amount of information about lithologies and grade distribution, for example. With these data, we have the basis for the geological interpretation, and thus, sections are created that will define the different lithological contacts of the body under study.
From then on the lithological layers are transformed into blocks that characterize mineral resources, and the three-dimensional model is currently the most used. Each block contains all the information obtained from the studies, such as chemical, mineralogical and structural information. They have the same dimensions and shape, and represent the smallest portion of the domain to be studied. So, techniques are used Geostatistics to estimate properties at certain warehouse locations that were not sampled. The most used are the mathematical methods of kriging, inverse power of distance and polygons of influence, thus obtaining an accurate assessment of the entire project resource.
Engineering
After defining the block model, the Categorization of Ore Blocks, Where each block will receive a Economic value regarding what is expected to be obtained with the extraction and mineral treatment, considering revenue and associated costs. Waste blocks have a negative value, while blocks containing ore can have a value less than, equal to, or greater than zero depending on the quality and quantity of the ore that is contained.
In possession of the economic values of all the blocks, it is necessary to look for the set of blocks that provides the highest possible profit, taking into account the constraints related to the project. Considering the wealth of detail in a mine planning, the use of computational methods is essential, since grades and their distribution in the model, lithology properties, metallurgical recovery, associated costs and sales revenues will be evaluated. There are different algorithms that seek the optimal pit, that is, that seek to maximize profits, such as Lerchs-Grossmann and Pseudoflow, which, in addition to economic aspects, also consider geotechnical restrictions that must be respected.
Understanding the behavior of the pit by varying each of the planning parameters is very important to anticipate scenarios. This study is called Sensitivity Analysis, in which they are generated multiple pit designs, depending on changes in the variables such as mining cost and sale price, for example. From these analyses, the engineer ensures greater safety and confidence in your project, since a grouping of optimal pits is obtained, where economic feasibility studies that help identify mining limits and seek to maximize the Net Present Value (NPV).
These different mining limits are the initial guidance for the Generation of Extraction Phases or pushbacks. The phases will define how the pit will evolve as material is extracted over the years.
With the definition of the phases to be mined, the mine structuring Where are the construction of access, ramps and berms of the benches that will make the pit operational. It is important that the engineer has knowledge of the entire fleet needed to follow the mining plan schedule, so that the pit has its appropriate design for a safe and efficient operation.
Finally, with this whole set of variables, the programming the phase extraction sequence. The strategic sequencing is extremely important, as it is from there that the maximum value of your project will be obtained, considering the established goals and restrictions, such as tonnage, grade, waste/ore ratio and other factors.
Like this overview From main challenges encountered in the elaboration of a planning, we have a summary of this activity that aims at the best use of the mineral resources of an enterprise. O HxGN MinePlan is the most modern and complete software on the market when it comes to dealing with exploration, modeling, geostatistics, tactical, strategic and optimized planning, since you can work quickly and efficiently in all these steps. If you want to know how to optimize your processes, contact contact with the prominas Mining.
