MCDM Applied to the Evaluation of Transitional and Post-Mining Conditions—An Innovative Perspective Developed through the EIT ReviRIS Project

In mine design and planning, the identification of an appropriate Post-Mining Land Use (PMLU) is necessary and crucial to achieve environmental quality, socio-economic renewal, and social acceptance of mining projects. In this context, Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods support decision-makers and stakeholders, identifying the relevant factors and criteria, so that, different available alternatives can be evaluated, compared, and contrasted with each other. With the vision to enable its wide application, 15 mine profiles are identified which, combined with selected MCDM methods and relevant factors, results in a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework for PMLU. In this preliminary framework, the MCDM methods selected are SIMUS, TOPSIS, and SMARTER. They serve different problems and, therefore, are used in different profiles: SIMUS is applied to complex profiles, TOPSIS to the lesser ones, and SMARTER is used due to its capacity of assigning weights to criteria based on Ranking Order Centroid calculations. This preliminary MCDA structure gives the possibility to include the complexity (technical and decisional) and a participatory process, for all stakeholders involved concerning PMLU.

Evaluating Mine Design Alternatives for Social Risks Using Discrete Choice Analysis

As with other engineering design tasks, mine design involves setting design objectives and constraints (the feasible solution space) and finding the optimal design alternative. Mine engineers often struggle to incorporate the preferences of local community members into their evaluation of mine design alternatives because the mining literature lacks tools to quantify such risks during mine planning. This paper presents an approach to evaluate community acceptance (i.e., community preferences for the alternatives) using discrete choice models and decision-based design during mine planning. Using discrete choice models and a rigorous framework, engineers can estimate the cost of social risks as a function of the probability that individuals in the host community will prefer a particular design alternative. They can then estimate the overall utility of a particular design alternative to the project proponents. This paper illustrates the proposed approach with a strategic mine planning exercise for a gold mine. The framework can be a useful tool for designing mines for sustainability, if combined with effective community engagement and management’s commitment to creating shared value.

Support System Design for Deep Coal Mining by Numerical Modeling and a Case Study

Importance of numerical modeling in mine design gained pace after modern way of approach took birth through many variants. Methods such as Continuum and Discontinuum emerge as most effective in resolving certain issues. Cases such as heterogeneity, prevailing boundary conditions in continuum case and presence of discontinuities in other have provided solutions for many causes. A suitable support system is designed for deep virgin coal mining blocks of Godavari Valley Coalfield in India. This analysis is carried out using numerical modeling technique. The results show that the stresses at an angle to the level galleries are adverse. The level gallery/dip-raise may be oriented at 200 to 400 to reduce roof problems.

Multi-Criteria Analysis for the Selection of the Optimal Mining Design Solution—A Case Study on Quarry “Tambura”

Mining design is usually evaluated with different multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods when it comes to large open pit or underground ore mines, but it is not used on quarry sites. Since Croatia is mostly mining stone, the implementation of such methods in decision making of the quarry mine design is imperative but left out. In this paper, the PROMETHEE II and AHP decision-making methods are implemented on the quarry site to find out the best final quarry design contour. By implementing the MCDM methods, the best quarry model was chosen based on 22 different criteria parameters out of three final quarry designs. The chosen model is not only financially sound but also has the least environmental impact.

Designing A New Suitable Support System for Deep Virgin Coal Mining Blocks of Godavari Valley Coalfield

Importance of support system in mine design gained pace after modern way of approach took birth through many variants. A suitable support system is designed for deep virgin coal mining blocks of Godavari valley coalfield in India. This is achieved by measuring stress state by sophisticated method followed by geotechnical hazard mapping for identifying potential roof instability, predict hazards in advance and integrating the above parameters for analyze effects on stress due to different mining geometries by using numerical modelling technique. The three-dimensional numerical analysis study pours much light on effects causing instability than the 2D program. The results show that the stresses at an angle to the Level galleries are adverse. The level gallery/dip-raise may be oriented at 200 to 400 to reduce roof problems.

Applied structural geology for stability assessment and geotechnical risk management in mines

The adequate geological support and engineering of production processes requires mining companies to have structural geologists to be in charge for the acquisition, processing, analysis and preparation of geological and related data during development of a mineral deposit, starting from prospecting and exploration and up to reclaiming. In the prevailing practice, geologists of mining and servicing companies are mostly aimed at the appraisal and control of mineral resources while the study of geological structure of a deposit is assumed finished at the stage of prospecting and valuation as arule. At the later stages, geologists focus mainly on the quality and quantity of minerals, and geological bodies are often interpreted without regard to the actual geological structure of a deposit. The structural geology as a branch within a mining company should have a specific development strategy. This strategy is to account for the necessity of the other services for the input geological data, while the applied geological models should be used in mine design and be integrated in the production process. The intending specialists in the allied services should be informed on the available models, their value and completeness, as well as should possess free and intelligible access for operation. Efficient production management and risk control requires close communication between structural geologists, geomechanics, resource geologists, mining engineers, mineral dressing engineers and surveyors.