Mine Planning and the Crucial Role of Geology

SEG Discovery ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 16-27
Author(s):  
Ed Holloway ◽  
Scott Cowie
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Mining Operation ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Mine Planning ◽  
Driver Model ◽  
Mine Closure ◽  
Mining Operations

Editor’s note: The Geology and Mining series, edited by Dan Wood and Jeffrey Hedenquist, is designed to introduce early-career professionals and students to a variety of topics in mineral exploration, development, and mining, in order to provide insight into the many ways in which geoscientists contribute to the mineral industry. Abstract Mine planning is the process that determines the way in which an ore deposit will be mined over the life of a mining operation. It necessarily draws on everything that planning engineers believe will determine the ultimate success of the proposed mine and uses as its foundation all of the geology-related data on the deposit. It is both a strategic and a tactical process that first considers a longer-term horizon based on strategic considerations, followed by more detailed shorter-term planning processes, in this order; the latter are the result of tactical considerations. This structured process may also be referred to as integrated mine planning, and it is driven by a broader corporate strategy or set of objectives. As such, it is much more than the mining engineering section of the mine development process. It has to include inputs from all related disciplines, by combining all of the measured properties of the deposit with mining-associated parameters. This results in the planning process incorporating a significant number of interrelated parameters. If these parameters are not used diligently and accurately or are not well aligned, or if the underlying data are deficient in either quantity or quality, the project or operation is unlikely to achieve its potential, by virtue of failures in the planning process. Best-practice integrated planning incorporates relevant inputs from all mining-related fields: geology, geotechnical, geochemical, hydrogeological, hydrology, mining operations, minerals processing, marketing of product, waste management, tailings, environmental, social science, mine closure, etc. It includes all interfaces in the business-value driver model, from exploration drill holes to the mine closure plan. The planning process cannot be completed successfully by mining engineers working in isolation from professionals in other key disciplines. Because geology provides the foundation on which the mine plan is built, the quality and accuracy of the geologic data provided to planning teams by exploration geoscientists is crucial.

scholarly journals An expert system for underground coal mine planning

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-127
Author(s):  
Edyta Brzychczy ◽  
Marek Kęsek ◽  
Aneta Napieraj ◽  
Roman Magda
Keyword(s):  
Expert System ◽  
Knowledge Base ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Coal Mines ◽  
Mine Planning ◽  
Hard Coal ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Mining Works ◽  
Main Components

Abstract In the current market situation, mining companies are faced with the necessity to take actions to improve the efficiency of the mining process. Some of these actions enforce a centralization of activities in the field of deposit economy and planning of mining operations in these companies. In the planning process with such scope the large knowledge of designers is required, which could be additionally supported by a knowledge base, supplied by information and data obtained during the completion of mining works, which also allows for use of the expert knowledge of other organizational units of the mine or the company. The paper presents an original expert system for mining works planning in the underground hard coal mines (MinePlanEx). The aim of the developed system is to support the designers of production planning in hard coal mines within the scope of: equipment selection, mining machinery combining into equipment sets and determining characteristic curves regarding the production results in the planned excavations. Knowledge of the system is represented by the rules selected with the chosen data mining techniques (association rules and classification trees) and obtained from experts. The first part of the paper presents a knowledge base, knowledge acquisition module and inference module which are the main components of the system. The second part contains an example of system operation.

scholarly journals Geotechnical Risk Classification for Underground Mines / Klasyfikacja Poziomu Zagrożenia Geotechnicznego W Kopalniach Podziemnych

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-61
Author(s):  
Ritesh Kumar Mishra ◽  
Mikael Rinne
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Rock Mass ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Mining Operation ◽  
Mining Activity ◽  
Mine Planning ◽  
Underground Mines ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Prediction And Prevention ◽  
Geotechnical Risk

Abstract Underground mining activities are prone to major hazards largely owing to geotechnical reasons. Mining combined with the confined working space and uncertain geotechnical data leads to hazards having the potential of catastrophic consequences. These incidents have the potential of causing multiple fatalities and large financial damages. Use of formal risk assessment in the past has demonstrated an important role in the prediction and prevention of accidents in risk prone industries such as petroleum, nuclear and aviation. This paper proposes a classification system for underground mining operations based on their geotechnical risk levels. The classification is done based on the type of mining method employed and the rock mass in which it is carried out. Mining methods have been classified in groups which offer similar geotechnical risk. The rock mass classification has been proposed based on bulk rock mass properties which are collected as part of the routine mine planning. This classification has been subdivided for various stages of mine planning to suit the extent of available data. Alpha-numeric coding has been proposed to identify a mining operation based on the competency of rock and risk of geotechnical failures. This alpha numeric coding has been further extended to identify mining activity under ‘Geotechnical Hazard Potential (GHP)’. GHP has been proposed to be used as a preliminary tool of risk assessment and risk ranking for a mining activity. The aim of such classification is to be used as a guideline for the justification of a formal geotechnical risk assessment.

scholarly journals Integration of different-quality data in short-term mining planning

2015 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Paixão Araújo ◽  
João Felipe Coimbra Leite Costa
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Imprecise Data ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Block Models ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Block Distribution ◽  
Ordinary Cokriging

AbstractDecisions, from mineral exploration to mining operations, are based on grade block models obtained from samples. This study evaluates the impact of using imprecise data in short-term planning. The exhaustive Walker Lake dataset is used and is considered as the source for obtaining the true grades. Initially, samples are obtained from the exhaustive dataset at regularly spaced grids of 20 × 20 m and 5 × 5 m. A relative error (imprecision) of ±25% and a 10% bias are added to the data spaced at 5 × 5 m (short-term geological data) in different scenarios. To combine these different types of data, two methodologies are investigated: cokriging and ordinary kriging. Both types of data are used to estimate blocks with the two methodologies. The grade tonnage curves and swath plots are used to compare the results against the true block grade distribution. In addition, the block misclassification is evaluated. The results show that standardized ordinary cokriging is a better methodology for imprecise and biased data and produces estimates closer to the true grade block distribution, reducing block misclassification.

A Systematic Planning Tool for Environmental Characterisation

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Wilcox ◽  
Richard Wilkins ◽  
Martin Lyons
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Final Decision ◽  
Cost Effective Approach ◽  
Systematic Planning ◽  
Sample Plan

Many organisations are currently dealing with long standing legacy issues in clean up, decommissioning and demolition projects. Industry is required to ensure that all bulk articles, substances and waste arisings are adequately characterised and assigned to the correct disposal routes in compliance with UK legislation and best practice. It is essential that data used to support waste sentencing is of the correct type, quality and quantity, and that it is appropriately assessed in order to support defensible, confident decisions that account for inherent uncertainties. AMEC has adopted the Data Quality Objectives (DQO) based methodology and the software package Visual Sample Plan (VSP) to provide a better, faster, and more cost effective approach to meeting regulatory and client requirements, whilst minimising the time spent gathering data and assessing the information. The DQO methodology is based on a scientific approach that requires clear objectives to be established from the outset of a project and that there is a demonstration of acceptability of the results. Through systematic planning, the team develops acceptance or performance criteria for the quality of the data collected and for the confidence in the final decision. The systematic planning process promotes communication between all departments and individuals involved in the decision-making process thus the planning phase gives an open and unambiguous method to support the decisions and enables the decision-makers (technical authorities on the materials of concern) to document all assumptions. The DQO process allows better planning, control and understanding of all the issues. All types of waste can be sentenced under one controllable system providing a more defensible position. This paper will explain that the DQO process consists of seven main steps that lead to a detailed Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP). The process gives transparency to any assumptions made about the site or material being characterised and identifies individuals involved. The associated calculation effort is reduced using the statistically based sampling models produced with VSP. The first part of this paper explains the DQO based methodology and Visual Sample Plan and the second part shows how the DQO process has been applied in practice.

Epithermal Precious Metal Deposits in South Korea—History and Pursuit

SEG Discovery ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
Paul D. Wittwer
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Precious Metal ◽  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Mining Operation ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Historical Mining ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
Gold Silver

Abstract The gold and silver endowment of Korea has historically been well known, with records alluding to production as far back as 1122 BC. The main gold production period was from 1925 to 1943 during the Japanese occupation of Korea, with more than 1 Moz recorded in 1939. Muguk was the most productive gold mining operation, located within the central region of South Korea, with a recorded 590 koz of gold produced from 1934 to 1998 (first mined in AD 912). The majority of the historical mining operations were closed by government order in 1943 during the Second World War and never reopened. A number of small mines operated between 1971 and 1998, with limited production during a period of gold prices generally lower than at present (~25–50% of current inflation adjusted prices, apart from a four-year period 1979–83). It is likely that significant resources remain within these historical mining areas. Gold-silver deposit types historically recognized and exploited in Korea include placers and orogenic and intrusion-related vein systems. Only more recently have epithermal vein and breccia systems been recognized. This is not surprising, given that the geologic and tectonic setting of the Southern Korean peninsula is prospective for epithermal precious metal deposits, spatially associated with basin-scale brittle fault systems in Cretaceous volcanic terranes. South Korea is an underexplored jurisdiction, with limited modern exploration and drilling until the mid-1990s, when Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. discovered the Gasado, Eunsan, and Moisan epithermal gold-silver deposits, all of which became mines. Exploration was limited for another 20 years until Southern Gold Ltd., an Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed company, commenced regional-scale exploration for epithermal deposits, using a strategy similar to that successfully employed by Ivanhoe.

EUFAR: the European Facility for Airborne Research

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Brown ◽  
Elisabeth Gerard
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Environmental Research ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Airborne Measurements ◽  
Legal Structure ◽  
Data Processing Software ◽  
Expert Working Group ◽  
Research Aircraft ◽  
Training Courses

<p>Since its creation in 2000, the European Facility for Airborne Research, EUFAR, evolved into the central network for the airborne research community in Europe. From the beginning until 2018, EUFAR has received funding within the different Framework Programmes of the European Commission. In January 2018, EUFAR became an AISBL (international non-profit association under Belgian law) establishing EUFAR as an independent legal structure and ensuring EUFAR’s future.</p><p>Via EUFAR Transnational Access, a range of aircraft and instrumentation has been made available to European researchers who do not have access to a suitable research infrastructure in their home country. This has provided both a comprehensive range of atmospheric in-situ measurements together with a variety of remote-sensing instruments and hyperspectral imagers for studies of land or water surfaces, vegetation etc. Examples of successful TA activities will be shown. In order that researchers should continue in future to have access to the most appropriate research aircraft and instrumentation to meet their science objectives independently of EC funding, EUFAR is now working to develop principles of Open Access (OA).</p><p>EUFAR supports Expert Working Group meetings to exchange knowledge and promote best practice across the range of activities involved in airborne research. These cover, for example, instrument developments, data processing software and the scientific uses of airborne data. Via its previous EC funding, EUFAR has been able to support training courses for early-career researchers to introduce them to the use of airborne measurements for environmental research. Where possible, new software tools resulting from these activities are provided openly via the EUFAR website. EUFAR also promotes access to its members' data from airborne platforms and instruments and will be working with the AERIS data centre in France to provide a data portal to assist with this. </p><p>This presentation will give an overview of EUFAR, its recent achievements and future plans.</p>

Corporate Strategy from the Bottom

2014 ◽  
pp. 200-217
Author(s):  
Luca Romano
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Portfolio Management ◽  
Management System ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Strategic Thinking ◽  
Project Portfolio ◽  
Project Portfolio Management ◽  
Strategic Direction ◽  
A Company

This chapter demonstrates that the connection between strategy and actions is key for a company to gain a conscious strategic advantage from what done in day-to-day activities. This connection is not always clear and often the officially stated strategy is far from the strategic direction showed from an analysis of the portfolio of initiatives undertaken by a company. Project Portfolio Management (PPM) methodology can help in assessing and improve this connection, as to start a PPM this connection must be clarified. This chapter aims to verify 2 hypotheses. The first is that it is possible to implement a Project Portfolio Management system in a company without a strategic planning process in place. The second is that the implementation of a Project Portfolio Management system helps companies to grow their strategic thinking and can be a first step in strategic planning.

Impacts of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining on Water Quality in Mozambique and Zimbabwe

2015 ◽  
pp. 101-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Never Mujere ◽  
Manuel Isidro
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Aquatic Life ◽  
Land Disturbance ◽  
Research Findings

Artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) is an informal economic activity. ASGM is the process of extracting gold ore from the ground in the absence of land rights, mining license, exploration or mining mineral exploration permit or any legitimate document that allows the operation. Its haphazard nature, location close to and dependence on water have negative effects on the physical, chemical and biological composition of water. The socio-economic benefits of small scale mining, which include employment and income generation, are seriously outweighed by devastating environmental costs and impacts. The objective of this chapter is to examine effects of ASGM on water quality in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Findings show that ASGM causes land disturbance, loss of biodiversity, deforestation and depletion of water resources, increased levels of siltation, turbidity and heavy metal content and the disturbance of aquatic life and its habitats. ASGM also negatively effects the health of people and animals. Based on the research findings, it is important to support and formalize, as much as possible, the mining operations so that it becomes environmentally friendly and sustainable.

scholarly journals The interrelationship between human resource management and corporate strategy

1983 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-59
Author(s):  
R. Abratt
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
South African ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Manpower Planning ◽  
Total System ◽  
Corporate Planning ◽  
Staff Function

The involvement of personnel executives in the strategic planning of the enterprise is a controversial issue. Personnel has been considered a staff function which deals with day-to-day administration issues and as such has often been regarded with some contempt by the top management team. Concomitantly many firms are viewing the personnel function in an entirely different light; it now participates in the decision making of the company. The objectives of this paper are two fold: firstly to find a link between corporate strategy and human resource management and secondly, to find out whether personnel managers of quoted South African companies participate in corporate strategy formation. The company comprises of a number of varying dimensions and systems. Every organizational dimension and system must be consistent, not only with the strategy, but also with every other organizational dimension and system. The personnel department is often excluded from the corporate planning process. This exclusion represents a high cost to the total system due to less than optimum usage of an organization's human resources. This paper discusses the need for planning by management with particular reference to manpower planning in relation to corporate planning.

The development of cross hole seismic techniques and case studies

1989 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Duncan ◽  
M. Downey ◽  
L. Leung ◽  
P. Harman
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Tomography ◽  
Iron Ore ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Coal Mines ◽  
Seismic Energy ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Mine Planning ◽  
Broken Hill ◽  
Underground Coal Mines ◽  
Lead Zinc

This paper outlines the development of a cross hole seismic tomography package by The Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd. (BHP), as a tool for mineral exploration and mine planning. The methodology of cross hole seismic tomography, field procedures, instrumentation, processing software, and field trials are described.Explosives are principally used as the source of seismic energy. A repetitive source, based on rapid hydrogen-oxygen combustion, has also been developed. Signals are detected by geophone-based detector strings, and recorded by a data acquisition system developed by BHP. Tomographic imaging is conducted by the Algebraic Reconstruction, Back Projection and Simultaneous Iterative Reconstruction techniques.Surveys have been conducted in a number of different geological environments, and include: lead-zinc, iron ore and manganese exploration leases and mines to locate mineralisation and overburden interfaces; underground coal mines to locate regions of mining induced stress; and open cut and underground coal mines to locate coal and overburden contacts. The results of these surveys are discussed.

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