MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Sample Questions & Worked Out Examples For Min 05046 MINE PLANNING AND DESIGN B.E. Mining Engineering

TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING B.E. (Mining) Min.05046 Mine Planning and Design (Part One) Questions CHAPTER 1 DEVELOPMENT DRILLING 1.* Give short notes on the followings: (5 marks each) (a) Development drilling aspects (b) Drilling patterns (c) Drill-Hole spacing (d) Geologic logging (e) Fracture characterization (f) Assaying of the samples (g) Data collection for non-coring drill methods 2.** Explain the importance of geologic interpretation and statistics in development drilling. (10 marks) 3. ** Explain the relative advantages and disadvantages associated with each of the three basic types of drilling patterns. (10 marks) 4. ** Explain the treatment of samples for rock testing from core in detail. (20 marks) 5. *** Data obtained from development drilling provide the basic input for open pit mine planning and design. Discuss in detail the aspects of data collection from drill core samples. (20 marks)

CHAPTER 2 ESTIMATING MINERAL INVENTORY 6.* Explain the term mineral inventory and its objectives. (10 marks) 7.* Explain the inverse distance square method for the development of mineral inventory. (10 marks) 8. ** Describe the geostatistical mineral reserve estimation method briefly. (10 marks) 9. *** Discuss in detail the conventional extension functions (principles of calculating mineral reserves) in calculating mineral inventories. (20 marks) CHAPTER 3 MINERALIZED INTERPOLATION TECHNIQUES 10.* Give short notes on the followings: (5 marks each) (a) Aspects of interpolation techniques as applied to a mineralized deposit. (b) Geometrical methods of interpolation (c) Distance weighting methods of interpolation (d) Geostatistical techniques of interpolation 11. ** Describe the mineralized interpolation techniques of polygon methods in brief. (10 marks) 12. ** Explain the computer applications of polygon methods briefly. (10 marks) 13. ** Explain the inverse distance interpolation method in detail. (20 marks)

14. ** What is variogram? Explain the function of ore grade variance in developing variograms. (20 marks) 15. *** Discuss briefly the geostatistical techniques of interpolation involving Variograms and Kriging to estimate the grade of a point or a block. (20 marks) CHAPTER 4 DETERMINATION OF THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE OPEN PIT MINE 16. * Give brief accounts on the followings: (5 marks each) (a) Basic techniques used in designing an ultimate pit and required data. (b) Location of vertical sections, and cross, longitudinal, and radial sections in hand method of ultimate pit design. (c) Break-even stripping ratio vs pit slope line. (d) Location of the median lines on the composite plan in ultimate pit design. (e) Level plan with ultimate pit limit. 17. ** Explain how to locate the pit limit on each vertical section in designing ultimate pit limit. (10 marks) 18. ** Describe the importance of radial sections in designing ultimate pit limit. (10 marks) 19. *** Explain the brief procedures in hand method of ultimate pit design for an open pit mine. Discuss also the critical aspects of this method. (20 marks) CHAPTER 5 PIT LIMIT DETERMINATION 20.* Give brief accounts on the followings: (5 marks each) (a) Basic concepts in developing computer aided pit design.

(b) General outline of a computerized mine design system. 21. ** Describe the prerequisites for the development pf computer-aided mine design system. (10 marks) 22. ** Explain briefly the generalized mine design system for the computer-aided design. (10 marks) 23. *** Explain the brief procedures in computer methods of ultimate pit design for an open pit mine. Discuss also the critical aspects of this method. (20 marks) CHAPTER 6 PRODUCTION PLANNING 24. * Describe brief outlines on the followings: (5 marks each) (a) Long-range vs short-range production planning in open pit mines. (b) Use of phase plans in open pit mines. (c) Preproduction stripping. (d) Dump planning. 25. ** Explain the graphic methods applied in open pit planning in detail. (20 marks) 26. ** Give brief accounts on important aspects of dewatering in an open pit mine. (10 marks) 27. ** Discuss the importance of the equipment selection related to the planning of an open pit mine. (20 marks) 28. *** You are assigned as a mine planning engineer in an open pit mine. Describe and discuss the use of phase plans for final production schedule as a balanced mining plan. (20 marks)

29. *** Discuss briefly the planning of roads which is one of the most important aspects of open pit planning. (20 marks) CHAPTER 7 PRODUCTION SCHEDULES 30. * Give brief account on the followings: (5 marks each) (a) Production scheduling (b) Production schedules (c) Production rate (d) Operating layout 31. ** Discuss the relationship of production scheduling to mine design in brief. (20 marks) 32. ** Explain the importance of production schedule as a mining plan. (10 marks) 33. *** Discuss briefly the concepts involved in the methods for production scheduling in open-pit mines. (20 marks)

CHAPTER 8 MAINTENANCE AND ANCILLARY FACILITIES 34. * Give short notes on the followings: (5 marks each) (a) Service facilities, support equipment, and primary structures (shops) heavy equipment maintenance and repair program. (b) Equipment cleaning facility (c) Lube shop (d) Field service station (e) Heating plant (f) Operating department buildings (g) Electrical installation for

(h) Maintenance of facilities (i) Long-range maintenance facility plans. 35. ** Describe the basic requirements and additional facilities for an efficient tire shop in an open pit mine. (10 marks) 36. ** Explain the operational requirements for utilities to be provided in an open pit mine. (10 marks) 37. *** Discuss in detail the basic requirements, general arrangement, and size of a long-term maintenance shop-warehouse structure in an open pit mine. (20 marks) ******************************

TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING B.E. (Mining) Min. 05046 Mine Planning and Design (Part One) Example Questions and Answers Question 1.* Give short notes on the followings: (5 marks each) (a) Assaying of the samples (Chapter 1) (b) Data collection for non-coring drill methods (Chapter 1) (c) Distance weighting methods of interpolation (Chapter 3) (d) Basic techniques used in designing an ultimate pit and required data (Chapter 4) Answer 1(a) Assaying of the Samples Except in case where small drill core (EX or smaller) is used, the core should be split in half for assay. It has shown that the variance between mean assays of split core vs. total core has little effect on composited results. Because of geologic structure, it is often difficult to split core evenly down its longitudinal axis. In these cases, it may be necessary to saw cut the core. The splitting process leaves core for relogging at some future time when new or additional geologic information is needed. The saved split core can also be used for additional assaying. One technique that has proved useful is to saw cut the core three-quarters through and split the remainder. This provides the geologist with both a smooth and rough surface for logging. The length of core to be assayed varies according to geologic breaks, high-grade zones, weights sample bags can carry, or drill-run intervals. Assay intervals usually run between 1.5 and 3 m. The key point to remember is that assay intervals can always be composited but cannot be broken down. The minerals assayed depend on the type of deposit. In preparing the split core for assays, it is usually crushed, then split into quarters, of which one is ground and used for assaying. The remaining crushed rock should be

saved for a metallurgist to perform Bond Work Index, flotation, and other metallurgical tests. This crushed material should be around 6.4 mm ( in.). With the crushed rejects, the metallurgist can run a flotation test for all known ore conditions that will define the variability of the metallurgical nature of the ore. Bulk samples may still be used for pilot plant testing. Only one or two ore types will usually be represented in the bulk samples. Therefore, the variability of metallurgical characteristics of the ore will not be determined. 1(b) Data Collection for Non-coring Drill Methods Non-coring drill methods generally have the advantage of lower costs than coring drill methods. Consequently, when core is not required, a non-coring drill method is preferable. Non-coring drill methods are commonly used for: (1) geophysical logging, (2) obtaining samples for assay and metallurgical testing, (3) defining ore contacts in extensive sedimentary deposits, (4) drilling through thick sections of overburden, and (5) hydrological testing. For holes used in geophysical logging or hydrological testing, there are minimum diameters and limitations on casing. Specific requirements should be supplied by the geophysicist or hydrologist who will conduct the testing. Chips from a non-coring drill hole can be used for identifying general rock types. One of the better methods is to collect samples every 1.5 to 3 m and to glue a portion of the chips onto a board. This will ease making differentiations between rock units. After about 50 to 60 m, the intermixing of chips may make logging more difficult. 1. (c) Distance Weighting Methods of Interpolation

Distance weighting methods become more popular when computer assistance became available because of the large number of repetitive calculations required. It normally is understood that the distribution of grades is some function of distance which is related to specific mineralization controls. If this function can be defined or approximated, accurate metal grades can be projected for non-sampled areas. All interpolation techniques assume that grade is related to distance, and it will be shown

later that polygon methods are actually a special case of an inverse distance weighting method. The objective of distance weighting methods is to assign a grade to a block or a point based on a linear combination of the grades of surrounding points. Since it generally can be assumed that the potential influence of grade at a point decreases as we move away from that point, grade change becomes a function of inverse distance. Many other phenomena in nature are also proportional to an inverse function of distance: change in the effect of gravity, magnetism, attenuation of light and sound, to mention a few. The questions are: What is this functional relationship for a particular deposit? and Does this function change deposit to deposit and between different geologic environments within a deposit? 1(d) Basic Techniques and Required Data When evaluating any ore body, one of the first questions concerns the ore reserves. In the case of an open pit mine, this is not possible to answer reliably until the ultimate (final) pit limits have been established. Techniques used in designing an ultimate pit are classed as (1) manual, (2) computer, and (3) combined manual-computer. This chapter will describe how manual techniques can be utilized in designing an ultimate pit. Certain economic and design criteria must be established before the actual design begins. In order to begin designing an ultimate pit, it will be assumed that the engineer already has the following data available: (1) vertical sections, (2) horizontal sections for each level, (3) stripping curve, (4) bench height, (5) bank slope angle between levels, (6) level berm width, (7) roadway width, (8) pit slope angles at ultimate pit limits (estimated average including roads and ramps and between roads and ramps), and (9) minimum width of pit bottom. ................................................................................

Question 2.* Give brief accounts on the followings: (5 marks each) (a) General outline of a computerized mine design system. (Chapter 5) (b) Dump planning (Chapter 6) (c) Production schedules (Chapter 7) (d) Maintenance of facilities (Chapter 8) Answer 2(a) General outline of a Computerized Mine Design System The investigation and analysis of pushbacks is most easily done by utilization of a computerized mine design system. While the details of a mine design system will vary a great deal, they will all follow the general outline shown in Fig. 1. Design Pit Bottom Pit Generation Program Computer Created Pit Matching Program Ore Reserve Listing Pushback OK Yes Financial Analysis Generalized mine design system No Ore Reserve Model

Restore Model

2(b) Dump Planning Dump planning can be a difficult part of the planners job because the volumes he is filling tend to be less definite than the volumes he is removing from the pit. The pit design is usually well worked out in order to provide a good sequence, and considerable time is spent on economic evaluations to position the pit walls at the right place and to develop roads. Then the dumps are often just indicated as over there. Many factors enter into dump planning and the planners have to balance a variety of factors such as the length of hauls, the required lifts, and the relationship of dumps to property constraints, other installations, drainage, and, in recent years, reclamation or environmental requirements. Pit planning should include an estimate of where the dumps are going to be at each stage in connection with a haulage study and the necessary haul and lift examination. The planner can look at the trade-off between an additional lift and longer haul. This is valuable knowledge, which most often requires an actual map layout of the dumps. 2(c) Production Schedules Production scheduling is important to the overall mine design because of he substantial costs associated with labor, supplies, and equipment which are affected by the production schedule. The generalization of production scheduling is difficult. Most mines vary in size, mining method, geometry, and management philosophy. Consequently, scheduling procedures used for optimum results at one mine may be completely different at another. Some of the more universally accepted concepts used in many mining operations are discussed in the following section. The production schedule is a plan relating to (1) production rate and (2) operating layout. These factors establish the main criteria for the development of a production schedule. The production rate determines the limits of production capacity for a production unit such as a shovel and a fleet of haulage trucks. A series of these production units establishes the overall production of the mine. The operating layout

establishes the physical constraints which will be encountered by the production units. Time, a finite constraint, establishes the duration or length of the schedules. 2(d) Maintenance of Facilities Routine planned maintenance of the facilities provided in the maintenance structures must be undertaken. These items are such major components as overhead cranes, air compressors, heating systems, welding machines, overhead doors, etc., and they must be serviced in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations. This program requires that the maintenance manuals, parts books, and lube charts for each unit be in the files for ready reference by maintenance personnel. Serious consideration must be given to the establishment of a supervisory position of facility engineer who would engineer and implement repair, modification, and expansion plans for the maintenance facilities after a certain size is reached. The maintenance facilities should be sturdy and durable in order to withstand the severe service to which they will be subjected. The facilities should require minimum maintenance so that the efforts of the maintenance crews working on mobile equipment will not be diluted by diversion to facility repairs. ................................................................................ Question 3.* Describe brief outlines on the followings: (5 marks each) (a) Long-range maintenance facility plans (Chapter 8) (b) Electrical installation (Chapter 8) (c) Production rate (Chapter 7) (d) Preproduction stripping (Chapter 6) Answer 3(a) Long-Range Maintenance Facility Plans All of the effort that goes into the layout and design of the original maintenance facilities at a mine is based on providing tailor-made facilities that are to be constructed at the lowest possible capital cost and are adequate to provide the maintenance function

for the equipment fleet assigned to the mine. As time passes, changes inevitably take place, and the facilities must be altered and expanded to keep pace with the numerous changes. Long-range master plans for maintenance facilities are required in the first step to assure that adequate facilities are on hand as equipment fleets change or expand in size or quantities. A master plan, which should be updated annually, covering the next five-year period, is an excellent approach. The plan should also specify action to be taken to correct all of the recognized deficiencies in and around the maintenance facilities. 3(b) Electrical Installation The electrical installation for the maintenance facility is critical and should be properly engineered by competent electrical engineers who are familiar with this type of facility. The electrical substation which is to serve the maintenance buildings and the nearby facilities obviously must have adequate capacity for the estimated electrical load and for limited future increases in power requirements. The exterior and interior lighting of the facilities in this day of energy awareness should utilize lamps of the metal arc or high pressure sodium type which provide maximum lumen output per watt. The automatic control of the exterior lights can be accomplished by the use of photoelectric cells so that the lights operate only when needed. One word of caution should be mentioned. Overhead power lines must not be installed in the vicinity of the shop inasmuch as mobile cranes generally make numerous heavy lifts in the shop area. The shop electrical system in northern areas should be sized to permit the use of electric heaters in the engine blocks of mobile equipment parked outside of the shop and at the ready/bad order lines during extended periods of scheduled downtime during freezing temperatures. In an area where power outages occur more frequently than can be tolerated, it may be feasible to design into the substation the capacity of temporarily hooking up an auxiliary diesel-powered generator set to provide sufficient power to operate lights, overhead doors, the heating plant, and perhaps the air compressor and a few welding machines. Should the buildings be electrically heated, the electrical installation will be much more extensive.

3(c) Production Rate The production rate is material per unit of time for an equipment unit or a series of equipment units. The material factor of he production rate can be described as follows: (1) metric tons (short tons) per hour, shift, day or year, and (2) cubic meters (cubic yards) per hour, shift, day or year. Care must be used when describing these rates because of the major confusion associated with the time element. This confusion usually occurs because of the difference between an operating hour and a scheduled hour. A scheduled hour relates usually to the time paid the operator or time scheduled for the operator on the equipment unit. An example of scheduled time would be 60 min to an hour or 8 hr per shift. An operating hour usually refers to the productive time of the production unit. An example of an operation hour would be 60 min (scheduled hour) minus normal operating delay time, such as fueling, lubrication, coffee break, etc. The time factor of the production rate can also be described as: (1) hours per shift, (2) shifts per day, and (3) days per year. These criteria are usually established by a management decision based on socio-economic conditions such as holiday or vacation schedules at other surrounding mines, labor contracts, and total plant utilization philosophies. 3(d) Preproduction Stripping One of the biggest challenges in any preliminary feasibility planning is determining the proper amount of preproduction stripping. By the time the feasibility mining schedule is being made, there is often a temptation to save a few million dollars by reducing the preproduction stripping. Some of the suggestions that are brought to the planner are difficult to cope with because they deal with uncertainties, such as slopes. Someone may suggest steepening the slopes to save stripping expense, assuming that it can be made up later when the operation starts to show a better cash flow. The planner may not have enough information to know how steep the walls will stand, and yet he is reluctant to take too big a risk. We sometimes see mines where decisions have been made to open the mine with an insufficient amount of preproduction stripping, causing severe problems later.

The important thing to remember in preproduction stripping (and this of course is true in any subsequent phase as well) is that enough work has to be done to expose a sustaining ore supply and to keep the mine in a condition that allows it to be operated efficiently at all times. Setting the amount of preproduction stripping involves determining the volume that must be moved to open up the ore and to provide enough developed ore to last until more is uncovered. It may be something of a juggling act to fit this in with production rates and the equipment buildup schedule and to determine the amount of time required. Scheduling the preproduction stripping is very important. Sometimes the preproduction work is contracted but in a large tonnage new mine, which will use shovels and trucks for both stripping and mining, it is probably better to use the preproduction phase to build an organization and to gain operating experience. These are all factors that the planner must evaluate. ................................................................................ Question 4. ** (a) Explain the importance of geologic interpretation and statistics in development drilling. (10 marks) (Chapter 1) (b) Explain the computer applications of polygon methods briefly. (10 marks) (Chapter 3) Answer 4(a) Geological Interpretation and Statistics The importance of geologic interpretation in development drilling cannot be overemphasized. With the widespread use of mathematical models for ore reserve calculation, it is often assumed that the computer center needs only the assays to come up with a statistical analysis of the data and an accurate estimate of the reserves. Although there are statistical methods for making inferences and for assessing methods for the estimates, use of these methods is often restricted to certain methods of sampling and types of data.

The target population consists of all items about which inferences are to be made or from which conclusions are to be drawn. In the case of development drilling, the target population would be all of the minable units, e.g, each truckload of material within the pit limits. The sampled population, on the other hand, is the population which is actually sampled. Because of access limitations and restrictions imposed by any realistic drilling pattern, not all of the target population is included in the sampled population. The difference between sampled and target populations is important because the step from sampled population to target population is based on subject matter knowledge and skill, general information, and intuition, but not on statistical methodology. Thus, the validity of an analytical model must ultimately be determined by geologic interpretation, not by statistical tests. Statistics can be used as a guide for evaluation but cannot be substituted for sound judgment based on geologic information and reasoning. A set of cross sections and a set of level maps are essential for geologic interpretation. Information such as surface geology and drill-hole intercepts should be plotted, without interpretation, on reproducible sheets. From these, copies can be made for use in interpretation. This process will maintain the distinction between observed fact and interpreted geology. In addition, as new holes are drilled and as interpretations need to be revised, a new print of the factual sheet can be made. This avoids the messy procedure of erasing and redrafting the well-worn original. Sections and level maps provide the best means to communicate information to mine planners on rock type and structure. Consequently, geologic sections and level maps should be drawn at the same scale as the mine planning maps. It should be1 in. = 100 ft (1 mm = 1.2 m) or 1 in = 200 ft (1 mm =2.4 m) and 1:1000, 1:1250, or 1:2000 in metric ratios. Detailed geologic mapping and interpretation may be necessary on a large scale such as 1:500; however, maps on this scale can be reduced to a standard scale for use in planning. To use sections and level maps in slope design, they must be extended beyond the edges of the ore body to include the rock in the pit wall. As a rule of thumb, one pit depth beyond the edge of the pit is sufficient.

4(b) Computer Applications of Polygon Methods Using a computer, lists like Table 1 can automatically be considered as well as rules concerning mineralization control for the specific deposit. In these procedures, we are always measuring or computing from the hole out to find polygon boundaries. However, it is very complicated to have a computer draw lines representing polygon boundaries in its memory and to assign area grades according to the procedures described previously. Very little accuracy is sacrificed by dividing the deposit into hypothetical blocks. The size of the block is dependent on sample density, objective of the project, and equipment to be used. Mineralization inventories composed of hypothetical blocks can then be developed either manually or with the assistance of the computer. A typical procedure for generating the model is described as follows: (1) Generate a grid system dividing the deposit into logical block units. The block size is based on operating practices, sample spacing, desired geologic resolution (dependent on sample spacing), and objective of the model. For example, it does not improve the accuracy of grade and tonnage projection to subdivide a model into 6 x 6 m (20 x 20 ft) by bench height blocks if sample spacing is 152 m (500 ft). (2) Geological characteristics are assigned to each block of interest. This is usually accomplished by overlaying vertical geologic sections with a grid and assigning these characteristics to blocks halfway to the next section. This simplified procedure of generating a geologic model can be modified by using vertical sections in both directions and a set of appropriate rules. (3) Assign metal values and other characteristics of interest to each block by the following general procedure: (1) Compute the distance from the block center to all sample locations. (2) If no samples (or composites) are within the area of influence considerations (as described in Table 1), no grade is assigned to the block. (3) The nearest sample value is assigned to the block, provided the rock and mineral types of the block in the geological model are compatible with the rock and mineral types of the sample. In some cases, geologic compatibility may be disregarded if the sample is located in the same block being considered. In this

situation, the value assigned to the block may be the average of the multiple samples, if there is more than one.

Computer-generated polygons from composited samples ............................................................................... Question 5. ** (a) Explain how to locate the pit limit on each vertical section in designing ultimate pit limit. (10 marks) (Chapter 4) (b) Describe the prerequisites for the development pf computer-aided mine design system. (10 marks) (Chapter 5) Answer 5(a) Pit Limit Hand methods of ultimate pit design usually begin with vertical sections. The pit limits are first located on the vertical sections, which consist of cross, longitudinal, and radial sections. These sections should include the mineral block inventory and surface topography as minimum requirements. If there are materials of significantly different

specific gravity, these areas should also be identified. This is especially important when the stripping ratio is on a tonnage basis, metric tons waste: metric tons ore (short tons waste: short tons ore). The pit slope angles to be used when working with the vertical sections are the average angles, which include allowances for haul roads and ramps. These angles are approximated, based on preliminary estimates of anticipated pit dimensions, road and ramp requirements, and pit slope stability studies. The pit limits are located on each section so the ore grade along the pit limit line supports a stripping ratio corresponding to the break-even or allowable stripping ratio. The stripping curve is used to evaluate the typical sections. Break-even stripping ratio signifies that the costs used include all direct costs. Depreciation is usually also included. Allowable stripping ratio usually signifies use of a profit factor in addition to direct costs and depreciation. The design methods described apply to any of the cost assumptions. If the stripping curve includes depreciation and profit, it may be prudent to at least locate the surface intercept for the direct cost pit to ensure that permanent plant facilities and waste dumps are not planned within these limits. Locating the pit limit on each vertical section is a trial and error process usually requiring a number of approximations. Considerable judgment is required on the part of the engineer during each phase of the design process. By visually observing the ore grade distribution on the sections relating these to the break-even stripping ratios, a first pit limit approximation is arbitrarily made. The grade of the ore along the pit limit intercept selected is calculated, and the break-even stripping ratio is determined from the stripping curve. The lengths of ore and waste along the pit limits are measured, and the stripping ratio (W:O) is calculated on the basis of these measurements (adjusting, when necessary, for changes in specific gravity). The calculated stripping ratio is compared to the breakeven stripping ratio for the grade calculated and if the calculated ratio is less than breakeven, the pit limits are expanded; but, if the calculated ratio is greater, the pit limits are reduced in size. These approximations continue until pit limit is found that conforms to the stripping curve.

Surface

Strip Ratio 3.2:1 Pit Limit Waste Y

Waste

0.6 % cu
Z

0.8 % cu

Pit limits, bottom in waste

Surface Waste

Strip Ratio 2:1 Pit Limit Waste Y Z Z Z

Strip Ratio 2:1 Pit Limit

ORE Y

Waste 0.52 % Cu

Pit limits, bottom in ore

Surface
Waste

Strip Ratio 2.4:1 Pit Limit

ORE

Pit
Y Z 0.55% cu

Pit limits, bottom and slope in ore

5(b) Prerequisites for the Development of Computer-aided Mine Design System Before any design work can be undertaken, a great deal of preparation must be completed. This preparatory work must include: (1) Ore-Body Model An accurate, fully corrected block model must be available. Each block must be identified by an X, Y, Z coordinate of some type. The grade or percentage of the minerals must be known. Other items which could be of importance in pit limit determination are often coded into the model. These factors might include rock types, mineralogy, metallurgical characteristics, trace element analysis, and potential byproduct items. The ore-body model must reflect the true topographic surface. Provision should be made for any surface constraints such as property lines, inhabited areas, streams, etc. This is normally done by a coding system within the block of the ore-body model. (2) Pit Slopes The practical pit slop angle () must be determined. This is done via rock mechanics studies, previous experience, safety requirements, and contemplated equipment size. It is common for pit slopes to change from one area of the pit to another. These changes, due primarily to changing geological conditions, must be known. (3) Bench Height the bench height must be previously determined. Bench height is normally a function of acceptable dilution constraints, equipment restrictions, and slop stability. The selection of bench height is a decision that will be reflected in the sizing of the truck and shovel fleet, drilling requirements, road widths, and a variety of other items. Once committed to a given bench height, it is difficult to change. The bench height is often reflected in the block size represented by the computerized ore-body model. If the bench height is 10m, the ore-body model would most likely be represented by a series 10-m height blocks. (4) Maps A series of usable level and cross section maps must exist. These can either be the conventional geological ore reserve maps or a single digit map

printed by a computer. These maps will be utilized in planning pit bottoms, laying out roads and ramps, and determining the direction of pit advance. (5) Computer and Programming A medium size computer with either tape or disk storage must be available. Most mine design systems will require a machine with a central memory of at least 64,000 bits, and a FORTRAN compiler. Most major mining companies possess an in-house computer of sufficient size and capability to do pit design work. .............................................................................

Question 6. ** (a) Give brief accounts on important aspects of dewatering in an open pit mine. (10 marks) (Chapter 6) (b) Explain the importance of production schedule as a mining plan. (10 marks) (Chapter 7) Answer 6(a) Dewatering in an Open Pit Mine There are two reasons for dewatering in an open pit mine. First, it is very difficult to operate with much water in the pit. Second, the presence of water in the pit walls usually reduces slope stability. Consequently, the planner is faced with the problem of considering water at nearly every step of his work. Water affects blasting, equipment operation and maintenance, road construction, and even ore quality. Here, it will not cover the effects of water on slope stability and pit design to any great extent except to acknowledge the importance of both water and structure in pit design. In new pit designs, it is important to estimate the amount of expected water. This means looking at rain-fall records, drill logs, and hydrologic reports, if they exist, as well as talking to geologists on the job. It is often tempting to ignore the geology but since we are working in a geologic medium, attention should be paid to faults, aquifers, or underground workings which could indicate potential water problems. Even arid areas may require considerable water management planning. In wet climates, a constant coping with water becomes part of normal operating methods. However in dry areas, a lot of

water may fall in two or three storms and though the total precipitation may be low, the effect of precipitation is concentrated into a short period and causes much trouble. In many places, feasibility studies must be related to environmental planning, and the planner may have to consider what happens to water that is removed from the pit. Can it be discharged into natural drainage or must it be impounded, treated, or recycled? Of course, recycling may have economic benefits to offset the cost consequences. In planning a pit, if it appears that a significant amount of ground water or surface water will be encountered, plans must be made to remove it, this may mean peripheral ditches at the pit bottom, as in the case of some of the uranium operations that collect drainage from the pit walls, and then channel it to a sump from which it is pumped out of the pit. Horizontal drain boles may be needed, or in some mines, it may be necessary to drill and blast a collecting sump and install a well-type pump that will draw the water down enough to allow drilling and mining in bottom. Sometimes underground workings can be used, or they may even be driven in order to drain part of the pit walls. Most mines at some time use one or more pumps to move water out of a sump to the mill or to a drainage channel for discharge. Perched water bodies can exist in the walls of the pit. These may have an effect on blasting, or they may create ground-water problems even in an area without slides. Equipment delayed on wet or spongy roads can create problems and add to operating costs. Sometimes these perched water bodies may be carried down the side of the pit and encountered repeatedly. In long-range planning, if it is known that there are wet areas; cost projections may be influenced by indicating different explosives in certain areas or by dictating extra room for sumps, ditches, or pipelines. In a preliminary study, it is not usually necessary to design in detail the drainage features in the pit, but some allowance should be made for their handling, and some money should be budgeted to cope with water. Streams or even dry arroyos coming into the pit area may have to be diverted to avoid bringing surface water into the pit. Another aspect of drainage to consider is the drainage of dumps in order to prevent erosion or dump instability. In many cases, this involves diversion of natural drainage or runoff from collecting areas created by the mine itself. The dumps may have to be sloped upward toward the crest to prevent rapid gullying and crest erosion of inactive dumps.

Most of this can be handled adequately in the planning stage by the mine planners. In cases where major stability questions, hydrology studies, or water quality questions are involved, the services of specialists may be required. 6(b) Production Schedules Production scheduling is important to the overall mine design because of he substantial costs associated with labor, supplies, and equipment which are affected by the production schedule. The generalization of production scheduling is difficult. Most mines vary in size, mining method, geometry, and management philosophy. Consequently, scheduling procedures used for optimum results at one mine may be completely different at another. Some of the more universally accepted concepts used in many mining operations are discussed in the following section. The production schedule is a plan relating to (1) production rate and (2) operating layout. These factors establish the main criteria for the development of a production schedule. The production rate determines the limits of production capacity for a production unit such as a shovel and a fleet of haulage trucks. A series of these production units establishes the overall production of the mine. The operating layout establishes the physical constraints which will be encountered by the production units. Time, a finite constraint, establishes the duration or length of the schedules. Production Rate: The production rate is material per unit of time for an equipment unit or a series of equipment units. The material factor of he production rate can be described as follows: (1) metric tons (short tons) per hour, shift, day or year, and (2) cubic meters (cubic yards) per hour, shift, day or year. Care must be used when describing these rates because of the major confusion associated with the time element. This confusion usually occurs because of the difference between an operating hour and a scheduled hour. A scheduled hour relates usually to the time paid the operator or time scheduled for the operator on the equipment unit. An example of scheduled time would be 60 min to an hour or 8 hr per shift.

An operating hour usually refers to the productive time of the production unit. An example of an operation hour would be 60 min (scheduled hour) minus normal operating delay time, such as fueling, lubrication, coffee break, etc. The time factor of the production rate can also be described as: (1) hours per shift, (2) shifts per day, and (3) days per year. These criteria are usually established by a management decision based on socio-economic conditions such as holiday or vacation schedules at other surrounding mines, labor contracts, and total plant utilization philosophies. Operating Layout: The operating layout element of production scheduling is the establishment of the physical or operating constraints of the mine design. Some of the key factors that must be taken into account when developing an operating layout are: (1) established pit operating procedures, (2) expected ore grades, (3) planned operating slopes, (4) designed haul roads, (5) planned dump development, (6) planned backfilling and reclamation sequences, (7) designed surface and ground-water controls, (8) required equipment size and maneuverability, and (9) planned bench development. The main objective of operating layout in production scheduling is to determine how far in advance a certain resource must be stripped to maintain the required production rate and resource grade or quality. ..................................................................... Question 7. ** Discuss the relationship of production scheduling to mine design in brief. (20 marks) (Chapter 7) Answer 7. Relationship of Production Scheduling to Mine Design Mine Design The development of a mine design for an open pit mining operation occurs in three stages. The first stage is the development of a long-range mine plan based on a mineralization inventory of the resource. This mineralization model is built from borehole data collected during exploration and development drilling programs and the geological interpretation of data. The major goal of this stage is to examine and evaluate

the mineral deposit in sufficient detail to define economic tonnages and grades/ quality of the resource, quantities of waste, and the geometry of the mine. These parameters are used to establish ore reserves, economic pit limits, stripping ratios, and initial investment planning. The second stage in the design of mine is intermediate-range planning. The intermediate-range plan establishes the five to ten-year resource and waste production requirements for obtaining optimum or near-optimum cash flows within the total reserves as outlined in the long-range plan. This planning technique allows the removal of material in large increments while maintaining the required pit slopes and providing for operational and legal constraints. Mine management is also provided with sufficient time for analyzing capital requirements, specifically equipment units with long delivery times. The third stage in mine design is short-range mine planning. This phase of the mine design is concerned with daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly mine schedules and plans. These short-range mining activities are dependent on three basic activities: (1) production schedules, (2) operating equipment, and (3) material handling procedures. This chapter discusses the first activity, production schedules, and presents some of the methods and procedures used in production scheduling for various production rates. Production Schedules Production scheduling is important to the overall mine design because of he substantial costs associated with labor, supplies, and equipment which are affected by the production schedule. The generalization of production scheduling is difficult. Most mines vary in size, mining method, geometry, and management philosophy. Consequently, scheduling procedures used for optimum results at one mine may be completely different at another. Some of the more universally accepted concepts used in many mining operations are discussed in the following section. The production schedule is a plan relating to (1) production rate and (2) operating layout. These factors establish the main criteria for the development of a production schedule. The production rate determines the limits of production capacity for a production unit such as a shovel and a fleet of haulage trucks. A series of these

production units establishes the overall production of the mine. The operating layout establishes the physical constraints which will be encountered by the production units. Time, a finite constraint, establishes the duration or length of the schedules. Production Rate: The production rate is material per unit of time for an equipment unit or a series of equipment units. The material factor of he production rate can be described as follows: (1) metric tons (short tons) per hour, shift, day or year, and (2) cubic meters (cubic yards) per hour, shift, day or year. Care must be used when describing these rates because of the major confusion associated with the time element. This confusion usually occurs because of the difference between an operating hour and a scheduled hour. A scheduled hour relates usually to the time paid the operator or time scheduled for the operator on the equipment unit. An example of scheduled time would be 60 min to an hour or 8 hr per shift. An operating hour usually refers to the productive time of the production unit. An example of an operation hour would be 60 min (scheduled hour) minus normal operating delay time, such as fueling, lubrication, coffee break, etc. The time factor of the production rate can also be described as: (1) hours per shift, (2) shifts per day, and (3) days per year. These criteria are usually established by a management decision based on socio-economic conditions such as holiday or vacation schedules at other surrounding mines, labor contracts, and total plant utilization philosophies. Operating Layout: The operating layout element of production scheduling is the establishment of the physical or operating constraints of the mine design. Some of the key factors that must be taken into account when developing an operating layout are: (1) established pit operating procedures, (2) expected ore grades, (3) planned operating slopes, (4) designed haul roads, (5) planned dump development, (6) planned backfilling and reclamation sequences, (7) designed surface and ground-water controls, (8) required equipment size and maneuverability, and (9) planned bench development.

The main objective of operating layout in production scheduling is to determine how far in advance a certain resource must be stripped to maintain the required production rate and resource grade or quality. Varying Production Rates An economic analysis reflecting typical corporate philosophies of most open pit mines requires a high present value which favors mining of the best grade first and the general desire to recover capital expenditures by mining the lower stripping ratio areas. The analysis of different mine production schedules and rates requires the simultaneous examination of the existing physical constraints (operating layout) and the present mine equipment capabilities (production rates). A major task in production scheduling associated with the operating layout is to avoid high stripping requirements for short periods of time. High stripping requirements for short time durations result in high equipment investment and excess equipment to meet the demand. However, as soon as the high stripping requirement has passed, the excess equipment is no longer needed and results in lower equipment utilization. Production scheduling allows the scheduling of waste stripping and ore production to keep equipment requirements constant using a metric ton-kilometer (short ton-mile or billion cubic yard-mile) basis. Another task in production scheduling is to provide sufficient operating room and mining faces to permit economical mining practices. Limited cut widths and mining faces decrease production stripping requirements but result in a more costly mining operation through decreased equipment efficiency and utilization. Production scheduling also analyzes the production capacity of the existing equipment. This evaluation usually includes an examination of previous equipment performance levels and a projection of expected equipment performance. The major items reviewed by the engineer are: (1) expected equipment fleet sizes; (2) project equipment availability; (3) projected equipment utilization; (4) planned haulage profiles and conditions; and (5) anticipated mining conditions, digging, development work, weather, water, and labor constraints. These items allow the engineer to schedule or adjust a short-range mine plan and to develop a production plan which the mine operator can use in meeting operating goals and objectives. .....................................................................

Question 8. *** Discuss in detail the basic requirements, general arrangement, and size of a longterm maintenance shop-warehouse structure in an open pit mine. (20 marks) (Chapter 8) Answer 8. Maintenance in Surface Mines A major segment in a successful heavy equipment maintenance and repair program is the provision of well-laid out and well-equipped shop and service facilities. The facilities described here will be those required for a large, high tonnage hard rock open pit mine utilizing rotary drills, shovels, haulage trucks, support equipment, and service trucks. The term support equipment covers the equipment required to support the drill, shovel, and truck operations: these are crawler tractors, road graders, front-end loaders, water trucks, rollers, rubber-tired tractors, etc. Service trucks are the automotive type consisting of rubber-tired over-the-road equipment. The primary structures generally involved in the total maintenance effort are as follows: (1) the main shop with an attached warehouse (the structure could also house the tire and lube shops plus the equipment cleaning stalls), (2) a service station with bulk petroleum product storage tanks, (3) a heating plant, (4) a security station (if this is a corporate requirement), (5) operating department and employee assembly buildings, and (6) an electrical substation. Under certain conditions, many of these facilities with the exception of the substation could be combined in one or several structures. This arrangement could have a great advantage especially in areas where the heating of the structures is extremely critical. The Main ShopWarehouse Structure The general arrangement and size of a long-term maintenance shop-warehouse structure must reflect basically the size and quantity of the mobile equipment required to safely move the target quantities of material and the scope of maintenance activity. The shop is usually divided along equipment lines, each with its own features. The primary areas are: haulage truck, support equipment, and service truck, along with the tire, lube and welding shops, the cleaning area, tool room, and possibly a component rebuild room.

The number of stalls in each area depends largely on the number of units in each of the three fleets and the maintenance and repair demands of the fleets. The ratios of the repair stalls to units of equipment currently being strived for at a large open pit copper mine based on a 21 shift per week work schedule are as follows: (1) 136-t (150-st) haulage trucks: one repair stall for four units, (2) support equipment: one repair stall for 12 units, (3) service truck: one repair stall for 20 units, (4) tire shop: one stall for 30 haulage trucks, and (5) lube shop: one stall for haulage trucks, one for support equipment. The ratios differ between mines and they undergo continual change as various conditions improve or deteriorate. The size of the repair stall and therefore the structural skeleton of the building is determined by the length, width, and height of the largest unit of equipment. A 136-t (150-st) haulage truck of the rear-end dump type, for example , requires a stall 13.7 m (45 ft) wide, 19.8 m (65 ft) long. The elevation of the crane rail of the overhead crane must be such that the overhead crane can pass over the elevated bed of a rear dump type haulage truck. The primary factors for the determination of the location of the shop-warehouse structure are that it be located beyond the ultimate stripping limits of the open pit mine and adjacent to a major haul road. The location of the main structure is extremely critical because so many designated areas are required in its immediate vicinity. There should be much available space on all four sides of the structure. For each of the equipment fleets, haulage trucks, support equipment, and service trucks, there should be an equipment ready line and equipment bad order line for units scheduled to be shopped. An area for the exterior storage of certain warehouse stock items would be beneficial. The space requirements for the orderly handling of tires are extensive. Equipment traffic patterns around the shop require considerable space as do the roads to the warehouse receiving dock. Elevated storage docks also require substantial space. An area for the parking of idle or surplus equipment is also needed. The storage of road salt may be required at some northern mines. The employees parking lot will be discussed later. An equipment tie area is needed nearby for temporary parking of operational equipment during shift change. And one must always keep in mind the provision for the orderly expansion of the facilities should future business conditions warrant such action.

The design of the structures is also affected by many factors such as the range of ambient temperatures, rain and snow conditions, and prevailing winds. Solar orientation of the main shop structure should be mentioned. It could be of significant importance in northern areas, primarily in the prevention of ice buildup near the overhead and man doors. If the large overhead doors are located on one side of the building, that side should face south so that advantage can be taken of solar radiant heat. Should the large overhead doors be located on both sides of the building, the long axis of the structure then should lie on the north and south line. Overhead cranes of adequate capacity should be provided over all shop repair areas. The capacity of each crane is determined by the weight of the heaviest component which is frequently lifted. Radio control of cranes is fairly new and should be seriously considered for new overhead crane installations. A high percentage of the buildings constructed in recent years has been of the steel prefab insulated type. This type of construction generally offers the lowest possible unit cost because of the standardized modular concept, and it lends itself to easy future expansion. The selection of the type of overhead door is important more so in areas where high winds are encountered. Insulated, vertical lift, exterior mounted overhead doors equipped with windows perform well. In order to prevent damage to the frames by equipment moving through the door openings, substantial concrete or pipe barricades should be provided outside of each opening. One extremely important point to remember in the layout of the facilities is that water flows downhill and that drainage should be away form the buildings and not into them. It seems as if this basic physical law is frequently overlooked. In fact, good positive drainage of surface water from the entire maintenance and warehouse area is required. It is recommended that exterior concrete aprons be installed along the perimeter of the shop in order to improve surface conditions. The aprons improve housekeeping near the shop and facilitate the completion of running repairs which can be undertaken out of doors. If the mine and maintenance shops are located at great distances from vendor facilities, serious consideration should be given to the provision of certain machine tools

in the shop building in order to have limited manufacturing capabilities and certain welding repairs and fabrication. An electrical equipment repair shop which includes power cable repairs may be worthy of investigation. The establishment of a rebuild room for equipment components may be required under these circumstances. This approach would increase the size of the shop, warehouse, and the maintenance crew. The provision of a dynamometer for the rum in of overhauled diesel engines should be investigated. In the day-to-day operation of a mobile equipment maintenance shop, many auxiliary items are required, some of which are: portable hydraulic jacks, welding machines, mobile sweepers, fork lift trucks, hydraulic press, welding rod ovens, hose making machines, coolant tanks, waste oil tanks, scrap and trash containers, glass bead cleaning machines, oxygen-acetylene cutting outfits, containers for oil absorbent, painting equipment, parts washing sinks, bearing heaters, and many special lifting slings and devices. Convenient areas for the proper storage for these units, when not in use, must be provided to prevent undue congestion in the working and passage areas. Employees tool boxes require suitable storage space when not in use. The total area required for the storage of tool boxes can be sizable. The shop-warehouse structure should also include the following facilities: supervisory offices, clerical offices, conference room, training room, copier room, telephone equipment room, computer room, first aid room, and separate lunchrooms, locker rooms, and toilets for the supervisory and hourly groups. ..................................................................... Question 9. *** Discuss briefly the planning of roads which is one of the most important aspects of open pit planning. (20 marks) (Chapter 6) Answer 9. Planning of Roads The planning of roads is one of the most important aspects of open pit planning. Because of their effect on everything to do with the pit, road considerations need to be worked into the planning at as early a stage as possible. Roads are difficult to include in some of the computer pit generations. For this reason, they are sometimes left out of the

early economic evaluations. Pits can be designed without consideration of roads but it has been noted that even after an economically optimum pit is designed, if roads are absent, the changes required to bring the pit into a realistic mining configuration are often drastic in terms of tonnage as well as in the shape of the pit. In rail pits, which were common in the previous generation, a great deal of attention was given to the layout of rail haulage. The fact that railroad operations are not as flexible as truck operations forced this kind of planning to be dominant. Now, with the advent of truck haulage, some things can be done more easily in less room with more force fitting of haulage than was possible with railroads. As a result, road design is sometimes neglected in long-range planning. Someone has to come to grips with roads at some point, and the long-range planner is really letting down on the job if he leaves it to the mine superintendent and his staff. He is reducing his own credibility and is forcing the decision-making process into the short-range phase where the decisions sometimes do not adequately reflect the long-range needs. If haulage and access are provided for in the long-range planning, a lot of the other problems take care of themselves; otherwise, haulage and access changes may force operations to depart from the long-range plans to the point where nobody considers such planning worthwhile. The ultimate pit design may change several times as new knowledge, additional drilling, and changes in economics force constant redesign. Nevertheless, the final road should be shown because it does give an estimate of the tonnage necessary and prevents an uncomfortable awakening to the fact that the actual mining is going to be more than initial forecasts called for. The first thing in the layout of a new pit is to decide where the road exit or exits from the pit will be. This is dependent on the location of crusher or dump points and is greatly influenced by topography. Considerable thought should be given to selecting

YANGON TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING B.E. (Mining) Min. 05046 Mine Planning and Design (Part II) Questions
CHAPTER 1 GUIDELINES FOR SELECTION A MINING METHOD 1* Give Short notes of the following with table. (a) Dip (b) Rock Strength 2* Write short notes on the following: (a) Machine Considerations (b) Mine Considerations (c) Efficiency Considerations 3** 4** Explain the geological conditions for underground mining. Explain briefly the ore reserves, grades, ore evaluations, mining costs and ore values that can be exploited commercially to yield the mining enterprise. 5** Discuss critically the factors affecting underground mining equipment and production. Your discussion should include drilling equipment, loading and transport equipment. 6** Draw the table that includes relationship between characteristics of basic factors and naturally supports stoping.

7**

Draw the table that includes relationship between characteristics of basic factors and artificially supports stoping.

8**

Draw the table that includes relationship between characteristics of basic factors and naturally caved stopes.

9**

Give an account of the characteristics of 15 basic factors for underground mining methods.

10*** Discuss how the physical and mineralogical characteristics of an ore body and the surround country rock can influence the selection of a stoping method. 11*** The choice of the most effective underground mining methods that would meet the basic requirements, safety, low cost of operations and efficiency are important issues. Discuss an account of the choice of all underground mining method include the all basic factors in accordance with mining, geological and technical factors.

CHAPTER 2 GENERAL MINE PLANNING 12* Write the followings briefly. (a) Geological and Mineralogical information (b) Structural information (physical and chemical) (c) Economic information 13* Write the short notes in the following: (a) Sizing the production of a mine (b) Market condition and price

14**

Give comments the following general mine planning: (a) Timing affecting mine production (b) Government attitudes, policies, and taxes affecting mine size (c) Grade and reserve tonnage affecting mine size

15** Outline the influence of grade of ore in comparison and selection of underground mining methods. 16*** Discuss technical information need for preliminary mine planning, assuming that the reserve to be mined has been delineated with diamond drill sample-list respect to geological, mineralogical, structural, grade and sizing (reserve tonnage).

CHAPTER 3 UNDERGROUND MINING METHODS AND DESIGN 17* Give short notes on the following: (a) Angle of repose (b) Gophering (c) Glory hole 18* Some minerals can be exploited by solution mining and in-situ leach mining methods. Explain the concepts and general process of these methods.

19**

An inclined ore body is to be mined using shrinkage system of stoping. Describe the following with reference to the method: (a) Access to stope and (b) Preparatory development.

20**

What conditions are considered necessary for the successful implementation of room and pillar mining of flat and inclined ore bodies.

21**

A vein type ore body is to be mined using square set underground timber stoping method. Discuss the method and draw with sketches as follows: (a) Characteristics of basic factors (b) Excavation sequence (c) Advantages and disadvantages

22*** An inclined (dip angle over 45 ~ 50 degree) vein types ore body is to be mined, to assuming a suitable underground mining method. Discuss briefly with the aid of sketches the above suitable method: (a) Description (b) Application (c) Preparation (d) Drilling and blasting (e) Loading and transportation and (f) Comments 23*** Sublevel long hole stoping and sublevel caving are often found confusing. Make a clear comparison to distinguish these two methods.

CHAPTER 4 ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS 24* Write the short notes in the following: (a) Type of Losses (b) Type of Dilution 25* 26** Comment upon the estimation of the total cost of mined ore recording of losses. Estimate the economic efficiency of a mining system with the following conditions:Mean content of useful component in solid ore in place = 2% Recovery of useful component in mining = 75% Recovery of useful component in processing = 95%

Content of useful component in finished product = 75% Inventory reserves of solid ore in place = 25 million tons Cost per ton of finished product at world market price = 2000 kyats Expenses on mining and processing charged against inventory reserves of solid ore in place with allowance for losses and dilution = 350 million kyats 27** Estimate and compare the economic efficiency of shrinkage stoping and cut and fill stoping methods with the following conditions: Mean content of useful component in solid ore in place = 2% Content of useful component in concentrate = 75% Inventory reserves of solid ore in place = 25 million tons. Cost per ton of concentrate at world market price = 2000 kyats Shrinkage Recovery of useful component in mining Recovery of useful component in concentration All operation expresses charged against reserves of solid ore in situ 28** 75% 95% 350 million kyats Cut and Fill 90% 95% 490 million kyats

Determine the economic efficiency of a given mining system with following conditions: Mean content of useful component in solid ore in place = 1.5% Recovery of useful component in mining = 90 % Recovery of useful component in (concentration) processing = 95 % Content of useful component in finished product = 98% Inventory reserves of solid ore in place = 5 million ton Cost per unit (ton) of finished product at selling (World Market Price) price = 1200 kyats Cost of mining 1 ton of ore free in surface bin = 20 kyats Cost of concentration of 1 ton of ore = 25 kyats Cost of transportation of 1 ton of ore from mine to concentration plant = 10 kyats Coefficient of ore recovery in mining = 0.90 Ore dilution factor in mining = 0.15 Recovery of useful component during concentration (of ore) at plant = 93%

Content of useful component in concentrate (concentration) = 75% Net cost of smelting charge against 1 ton of concentrate = 50 kyats Net cost of transportation of 1 ton of concentrate from the concentration plant to smelters = 15 kyats 29** Estimate and compare the economic damage in term of commercial ore, caused by dilution of ore between Shrinkage Stoping and Cut and Fill Stoping Methods with the following conditions: Mean content in commercial ore (P) = 30% Shrinkage Mean content in mined commercial ore (free in surface bin) Production cost of 1 ton of commercial ore (free in ore 30 kyats/ton chute on haulage way) Cost of transportation 1 ton of commercial ore from mine 10 kyats/ton to concentration plant Cost of processing 1 ton of commercial ore into end 35 kyats/ton product (concentrate) 25 kyats/ton 10 kyats/ton 45 kyats/ton 20% Total cost of mining 1 ton of commercial ore at mine 60 kyats/ton Cut and Fill 25% 80 kyats/ton

30**

Estimate the economic damage resulting from excessive dilution of a mining system, it terms of 1 ton of commercial ore, with the following data: Metal content in commercial (non diluted) ore = 6% Metal content in mined commercial (diluted) ore extracted by the one method = 4% Metal content in mined commercial (diluted) ore extracted by the other method = 5% Total cost of mining 1 ton of commercial ore at mine (free in surface bin) = 50 kyats/ton Production cost of 1 ton of commercial ore within the frame work of a given system (free in ore chute on haulage way) = 30 kyats/ton Cost of transportation 1 ton of commercial ore from mine to concentration plant = 10 kyats/ton

Cost of processing 1 ton of commercial ore into end product (concentrate) = 20 kyats/ton 31** Estimate the annual mine output according to mining potentialities of a deposit with following data: Mean annual downward advance of stoping over the entire area of the ore body = 22 m/year Average area of orebody being mined = 8000 m2. Volume weight of the ore = 2 ton/m3. Coefficient of ore recovery = 0.95 Ore dilution factor = 0.10 32** Estimate the annual mine output based upon the condition of development of stoping operations with following data: Number of blocks with due allowance for stand by ones subject to simultaneous stoping = 12 Number of simultaneously active stopes in block = 2 Average yield of stope = 1500 tons/year Stoping recovery factor = 0.85 Percentage of stand by blocks with respect to total number of active ones = 20% 33** Estimate the yearly mine tonnage of a deposit based upon the conditions of development of stoping operations with following data: Number of production blocks = 12 Yield per block = 3000 tons/year Stoping recovery factor = 0.85 Percentage of stand by blocks with respect to total number of active ones = 20% 34*** A mining joint venture is required to conduct full scale field trials for mining a wolfram and tin mixed ore vein type deposit by square set stoping. The employment of geo-mechanics analysis with a maximum level interval of 100 feet and a maximum winze and raise interval of 220 feet has been chosen; and it is anticipated that the maximum unsupported spans of country rock and vein are 12 feet and 7 feet

respectively when excavated. The underground main haulage distance is 200 feet. Design a preliminary extraction development layout, given: (i) that vertical drilling from surface drill holes DH1, DH2, DH3 & DH4 indicated a 90 feet high minerable ore zone located between 480 feet level and 570 feet level. (ii) that mine drainage and ventilation problems are neglected. (iii) the following important data Required target production per year = 228 tons 0f 70% mixed ore content Number of working days per year = 228 days Number of working shift per day = ONE 8 hour shift Average grade = 1.2% wolfram and 1.2% tin Volumetric weight = 3 tons per cu. Yd Swell factor = 1.5 Dip = vertical Width of vein = 10 ft Cost per unit finished product at selling price = 240000 kyats per ton for 100% mixed ore concentrate Recovery of useful component in mining = 94% Recovery of useful component in primary concentration at mining site = 95% Content of useful component in primary concentrate = 66.5% Recovery of useful component in secondary concentration at government factory = 93% Average cost of mining 1 ton of ore free in surface bin =2800 kyats per ton Cost of primary concentration at mining site = 600 kyats per ton Cost of transportation of 1 ton of ore from primary concentration plant to government factory = 5000 kyats per ton Cost of secondary concentration of 1 ton of ore = 1500 kyats per ton Excavation rate without support = 200 cu. feet per shift Excavation rate with square set support = 120 cu. Feet per shift Fillability = 83.3% Cycles per hour for 180 degree swing = 60 Propel time factor = 0.85 Mechanical availability = 85% Job operational factor = 0.83 Mine car (hand tramming) spotting time = 20 minutes

Hand tramming speed of mine car with load = 50 feet per minute Hand tramming speed of mine car without load = 80 feet per minute Unloading time = 2 minutes Calculate: (a) Production reserves of solid ore (loose volume, cu. Feet per day) (b) Bucket capacity of shovel (c) Capacity of mine car and required number of mine cars (d) Ore pass size (e) Economic efficiency

YANGON TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MINING ENGINEERING B.E. (Mining) Min. 05046 Mine Planning and Design (Part II) Example Questions and Answers
Problem No. 1 Give Short notes of the following with table. (a) Dip (b) Rock Strength Solution No. 1 (a) The dip of the ore body is a factor influencing the mining method, normally the dip is classified as either steep or flat, with a rather undefined medium range between the two extremes. Steep dips range from the angle controlling gravity flow, about 50 degree to vertical. Flat dips are more difficult to define, since they are connected with equipment capabilities; they normally range between horizontal and inclination of 20 degree. The medium dips are difficult to fit into the description of mining methods but range from 20 to 50 degree. Table 1 defines the relationship between the dip of the ore body and the minig methods that may be applicable. Table. Relationship between ore body dips and mining methods Dip Flat Flat Mining method Room and pillar Longwall mining Comment Competent horizontal ore body Thin seam type ore body Competent ore body Slope precludes mechanization Steeping allows mechanization

Medium Room and pillar Medium Inclined room and pillar Medium Step room and pillar

Medium Longwall mining Medium Cut and fill mining Medium Square set mining Steep Steep Steep Steep Steep Steep Sublevel stoping Shrinkage stoping Cut and fill mining Sublevel caving Block caving Square set mining

Thin seam type ore body Firm ore body; selectivity; mechanization High grade ore; laborious Competent ore with regular boundaries Competent ore, regular boundaries, delayed ore recovery Firm ore body, selectivity, mechanization Large ore body, extensive development effort Massive ore body, extensive development effort High grade ore, labor intensive

Solution No. 1 (b) The characterization of rock as weak or strong is a very subjective matter; what might be considered strong rock in a coal mine could be viewed quite difficultly in a hard rock mining environment. It is difficult to formulate a quantitative measure of rock strength that can be applied to a mining system. However, in the preliminary stages of a mine investigation, some conclusions can be reached from core sample, particularly if supportive data are available from nearby mining operations. Core samples do give a general geological picture of the type of rock that can be expected in the hanging wall, the footwall, and the ore itself. A hanging wall consisting of solid Precambrian rock probably will allow mining with open stopes. Another approach is to measure the uniaxial compressive strength of the rock. Different types of rock having varying compressive strengths are listed in Table 2. Another observation that can be made from the core samples is the percentage of the core length that is recovered. For a strong rock, the recovery should be approximately 90% of the core length. In another system, recording the lengths of individual pieces of core may prove meaningful. Regardless of the system used, it is extremely difficult to determine the actual mining conditions from observations of the core samples unless there is a clear reference from a nearby mining operation.

Table. Rock Classifications Compressive Strength kPa Quartzite, basalt, and diabase over 220000 Bars over 2200 psi over 32000 Very high strength

Most igneous rock, stronger metamorphic rock, hard limestone and dolomite

140000 to 220000

1400 to 2200

20000 to 32000

High strength

Shales, limestone, sandstone schistose rock

100000 to 140000

1000 to 1400

14500 to 20000

Medium strength

Friable sandstone, mudstone, and coal measures

40000 to 100000

400 to 1000

6000 to 14500

Low strength

Problem No.2 Write the short notes in the following: (a) Sizing the production of a mine (b) Market condition and price

Solution No. 2 (a) Basic to all modern mine evaluations and design concepts is the desire to optimize the net present values or to operate the property in such a way that the maximum internal rate of return is generated from the discounted cash flows. Anyone involved in the planning of a new operation must be thoroughly familiar with these concepts. Equally important is that any entrepreneur planning a mining operation solely from the financial aspects of optimization and not familiar with todays problems of maintaining high levels of concentrated production at a low operating cost per ton over a prolonged period is likely to experience unexpected disappointments in some years with low (or no) returns. Other aspects of the problem of optimizing mine production relate to the potential effect of net present value. Viewed from the purely financial side, producing the product from the mineral deposit at the maximum rate yields the greatest return. This is due to the fixed cost involved in mining, as well as the present value concepts of any investment. There can be many factors limiting mine size, a few of which are: 1. Market conditions and the price of the product. 2. The grade of the material and the corresponding reserve tonnage. 3. The effect of the time required before the property can start producing. 4. The altitude and policies of the local and national government and the degree of stability of existing policies, taxes, and laws that affect mining. 5. The availability of a source of energy and its cost. 6. The availability of usable water and a method of bringing in supplies and taking out production. 7. The physical properties of the rock and minerals to be developed and mined. 8. The amount of development required to achieve the desired production related to the shape of the mineral reserve. 9. The size and availability of the work force that must be obtained, trained, and maintained. Solution No. 2 (b) Normally, the individual working in mine design is not the person doing the market analysis. To digress very far from the subject of mine planning to the subject of market effects on the size of mine production is not justified in this section the problems do not relate to any particular type of mining but rather to the product produced. However, there are a couple of points concerning the elastic nature of markets that do relate to mine design. One

of the advantages of the room and pillar mining method is that it is extremely flexible in operation, and the mine can react to market needs faster than with other mining systems. Most room and pillar mines have multiple faces for each unit or section to work. Where there is considerable irregular lateral extent to the ore body, this could involve as many as 15 to 20 faces, or as few as one or two for very large faces in each section. For short periods of time in each stope unit, it usually is possible to work only the best (or poorer) faces, depending upon what the market is causing management calling This usually has a drastic effect on the grade within a few days. Similarly, spare equipment can be put into reserve stopes to increase production if the remaining materials flow can take the added capacity. However, if these practices are carried on too long or too often, mine development also has to be accelerated. If maintained, old stopes can be reactivated quickly to mine lower grade minerals that become minable because of economic cycles. Even in room and pillar mining, changes in the rate of mining (momentum) cannot be assumed to be free. It often takes several months with an increased easy to maintain before a production level that seemed easy to maintain before a cutback. If spare equipment is used, maintenance probably will convert to a breakdown overtime schedule compared to the previous preventive maintenance schedule on shift, at least until permanent additional equipment can be obtained. Nevertheless, the necessary changes can be made. Another item often overlooked by individuals not accustomed to planning non coal room and pillar mining is the situation where mineral values are gradational. There is the option of mining through the better areas of the mineral reserve and maintaining a grade of ore that satisfies the economic objectives at that time. At a later time, when the mining economics may have changed, the lower grade areas left as remnant ore reaserves can be mined while slabbing or removing high grade pillars. Thus, even in the latter years of the mining operation, some of the sweetener is left to blend with the lower grade. Although not unique to room and pillar mining, this technique certainly is easier to accomplish in a room and pillar operation than in other more complex mining systems.

Problem No. 3 Estimate the economic efficiency (E) of a mining system with the following conditions:Mean content of useful component in solid ore in place = 2% Recovery of useful component in mining = 75% Recovery of useful component in processing = 95%

Content of useful component in finished product = 75% Inventory reserves of solid ore in place = 25 million tons Cost per ton of finished product at world market price = 2000 kyats Expenses on mining and processing charged against inventory reserves of solid ore in place with allowance for losses and dilution = 350 million kyats Solution No. 3 To find V, V =

as R m R p Q P a p (100 )
2

2 x 75 x 95 x 25 x 2000 million kyats 75 x 100 x 100

= 950 million kyats U = 350 million kyats E=VU E = 550 350 = 600 million kyats Estimated economic efficiency of a mining system = 600 million kyats Problem No. 4 Estimate and compare the economic efficiency of shrinkage stoping and cut and fill stoping methods with the following conditions: Mean content of useful component in solid ore in place = 2% Content of useful component in concentrate (aconc = ap) = 75% Inventory reserves of solid ore in place (Q) = 25 million tons. Cost per ton of concentrate at world market price = 2000 kyats Shrinkage Recovery of useful component in mining Recovery of useful component in concentration All operation expresses charged against reserves of solid ore in situ Solution No. 4 For Shrinkage Stoping
V = as R m R p Q P a p (100 )2 = (2 x 75 x 95 x 25 x 2000)/(75 x 100 x 100) million kyats

Cut and Fill 90% 95% 490 million kyats

75% 95% 350 million kyats

V = 950 million kyats Economic efficiency, E = V U = 950 350 = 600 million kyats For Cut and Fill Stoping V = (2 x 90 x 95 x 25 x 2000)/(75 x 100 x 100) = 1140 million kyats Economic efficiency, E = V U = 1140 490 = 650 million kyats Comparasion of economic efficiencies of these stoping methods are Edifferent = 50 million kyats For a given condition, Cut and Fill Stopind is economically more efficient than shrinkage stoping. Problem No. 5 Determine the economic efficiency of a given mining system with following conditions: Mean content of useful component in solid ore in place = 1.5% Recovery of useful component in mining = 90 % Recovery of useful component in (concentration) processing = 95 % Content of useful component in finished product = 98% Inventory reserves of solid ore in place = 5 million ton Cost per unit (ton) of finished product at selling (World Market Price) price = 1200 kyats Cost of mining 1 ton of ore free in surface bin = 20 kyats Cost of concentration of 1 ton of ore = 25 kyats Cost of transportation of 1 ton of ore from mine to concentration plant = 10 kyats Coefficient of ore recovery in mining = 0.90 Ore dilution factor in mining = 0.15 Recovery of useful component during concentration (of ore) at plant = 93% Content of useful component in concentrate (concentration) = 75% Net cost of smelting charge against 1 ton of concentrate = 50 kyats Net cost of transportation of 1 ton of concentrate from the concentration plant to smelters = 15 kyats Solution No. 5 V = as R m R p Q P a p (100 )2

V = 78.60 million kyats

U1 =

(U m

+ Uc + U t ) Q Cr (1 Fd )

U1 = 291 million kyats U2 = a s R m R c Q (U s + U tc ) a conc (100) 2

U2 = 5.44 million kyats U = U1 + U2 = 296.44 million kyats Economic efficiency, E = V U = 217.84 million kyat The economic efficiency give negative value, so that the given mining method and mineral dressing method should not be used. Problem No. 6 Estimate and compare the economic damage in term of commercial ore, caused by dilution of ore between Shrinkage Stoping and Cut and Fill Stoping Methods with the following conditions: Mean content in commercial ore (P) = 30% Shrinkage Mean content in mined commercial ore, (q2) and (q1) 20% Cut and Fill 25% 80 kyats/ton

Total cost of mining 1 ton of commercial ore at mine 60 kyats/ton (free in surface bin) (Cm) Production cost of 1 ton of commercial ore (free in ore 30 kyats/ton chute on haulage way) (Csys) Cost of transportation 1 ton of commercial ore from mine 10 kyats/ton to concentration plant (Ct) Cost of processing 1 ton of commercial ore into end 35 kyats/ton product (concentrate) (CP) Solution No. 6 X ex = P P q2 q1

45 kyats/ton

10 kyats/ton

25 kyats/ton

= (30/20) (30/25) = 3/10

For Shrinkage Stoping Method, Dex = Xex (Cm Ccys + Ct + CP) = 22.50 kyats/ton For Cut and Fill Stoping Method Dex = Xex (Cm Ccys + Ct + CP) = 21.00 kyats/ton The difference between these two methods on the economic damage in term of commercial ore is Dex (difference) = 1.50 kyats/ton For a given conditions Shrinkage Stoping has more economic damage than Cut and Fill Stoping. Problem No. 7 Estimate the economic damage resulting from excessive dilution of a mining system, it terms of 1 ton of commercial ore, with the following data: Metal content in commercial (non diluted) ore (P) = 6% Metal content in mined commercial (diluted) ore extracted by the one method (q2) = 4% Metal content in mined commercial (diluted) ore extracted by the other method (q1) = 5% Total cost of mining 1 ton of commercial ore at mine (free in surface bin) (Cm) = 50 kyats/ton Production cost of 1 ton of commercial ore within the frame work of a given system (free in ore chute on haulage way) (Csys) = 30 kyats/ton Cost of transportation 1 ton of commercial ore from mine to concentration plant (Ct) = 10 kyats/ton Cost of processing 1 ton of commercial ore into end product (concentrate) (CP) = 20 kyats/ton Solution No. 7
X ex = P P = (6/4) (6/5) = 3/10 q2 q1

Dex = Xex (Cm Ccys + Ct + CP) = 15 kyats/ton Estimated economic damage resulting from excessive dilution of a given mining system (Dex) = 15 kyats/ton.

Problem No. 8 Estimate the annual mine output according to mining potentialities of a deposit with following data: Mean annual downward advance of stoping over the entire area of the ore body (V) = 22 m/year Average area of orebody being mined (S) = 8000 m2. Volume weight of the ore () = 2 ton/m3. Coefficient of ore recovery (Kr) = 0.95 Ore dilution factor (Kd) = 0.10 Soiution No.8 The formula which is more accurate to estimate the annual mine output is Annual output of the mine = A = V S Kr 1 Kd

A = 22 x 8000 x 2 x (0.95 (1-0.10)) = 372000 tons Estimated annual mine output according to mining potentialities of a deposit = 372000 tons. Problem No.9 Estimate the annual mine output based upon the condition of development of stoping operations with following data: Number of blocks with due allowance for stand by ones subject to simultaneous stoping (N) = 12 Number of simultaneously active stopes in block (n) = 2 Average yield of stope (P) = 1500 tons/year Stoping recovery factor () = 0.85 Percentage of stand by blocks with respect to total number of active ones () = 20% Solution No.9 Annual mine output, A =
N n P 1+ 100

= (12 x 2 x 1500)/[0.85 (1 + 20/100)]

= 35300 tons

Estimated annual mine output = 35300 tons Problem No. 10 Estimate the yearly mine tonnage of a deposit based upon the conditions of development of stoping operations with following data: Number of production blocks (N) = 12 Yield per block (P) = 3000 tons/year Stoping recovery factor () = 0.85 Percentage of stand by blocks with respect to total number of active ones () = 20% Solution No.10 Yearly mine output, A =
N n P 1+ 100

= (12 x 1 x 3000)/[0.85 (1 + 20/100)]

= 35294 tons Estimated Yearly mine output = 35294 tons