A fundamental problem in open pit mine planning is that of determining the optimum ultimate pit limits of the mine. These limits are that pit contour which is the result of extracting a volume of material which maximizes the difference between the value of extracted ore and the total extraction cost of ore and waste whilst satisfying certain practical operational requirements, such as. safe wall slopes. The determination of the optimum pit contour provides information which is essential in the evaluation of the economic potential of the mineral deposit.A number of optimization techniques have been proposed for determining the optimum pit contour. Of these techniques, those based on graph theory, linear programming and dynamic programming are mathematically rigorous, but only those based on graph theory are more suited to solving the three-dimensional problem. Unfortunately, direct application of these techniques to large ore- bodies may cause considerable difficulties because of the exceptionally high demand on computer storage and time requirements. Indeed, 25 years of research effort has not satisfactorily resolved these computational problems.A major contribution of the work presented in this thesis is the successful implementation of a system of techniques to solve the graph theoretic model, particularly when applied to large ore- bodies. A measure of this success is the fact that pits, as much as seven times larger may be designed with a given amount of computer storage, at a fraction of the time required by current software packages. The solution strategy presented involves the application of a modified Dinics Maximum Flow algorithm, together with an efficient data reducing technique. Computational results of these techniques applied on data from gold producing mines in Western Australia are used to demonstrate the success of this strategy.The relationships ++ / between the rigorous pit optimization techniques are also considered in this work. In particular, the Lerchs-Grossman graph-theoret ic method is shown to be stepwise equivalent to a modified version of the Dual-Simplex Linear Programming technique and not as efficient as the Network Flow method.

Commodity markets are fundamentally cyclical, exposing mining companies to large swings in profitability during periods of economic boom and bust. Although this is well documented, companies continue to produce mine plans based on present market conditions that fail to acknowledge long-term metal price variability. The purpose of this thesis is to adapt McIsaac’s (2008) mathematical model for determining the most robust underground mining plan under conditions of metal price uncertainty for application in an open pit environment. An overview of conventional open pit algorithms is given to demonstrate that a circular analysis precludes the determination of an optimal solution when metal prices are uncertain. Under the proposed methodology, the optimal solution is achieved by selecting the cutoff grade and production rate under stochastic metal prices such that the net present value and probability of a positive net present value are maximized. The mathematical model was formulated with costs represented as a function of the level of production, rate of production or both. Revenues are achieved from either a mill, heap leach or stockpile process dependent on the level of production and metal price in the year of consideration. Metal prices are generated annually according to a stochastic model that balances short-term volatility with long-term trends. The compiled cash flow model determines the optimal net present value for a given production profile under input metal prices. The feasible area of production is established based on mine life, resource and financing constraints. Net present values are generated for a broad search grid, which converges towards a unimodal solution according to a golden search algorithm. The process is then repeated many times in order to identify the production profile at which the optimal solution is repeatedly reached. As a visual representation, the solutions are plotted on a bubble graph where the size of the bubble corresponds to the frequency of the solution; the largest bubble is associated with the optimal solution. The methodology is tested on two massive copper porphyry deposits, contained within a single claim, for which a Preliminary Economic Assessment has been completed. / Thesis (Master, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-02-08 22:07:52.331

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / Currently, in open-pit mining operations, the highest cost among all processes is that of transporting trucks, whether in fuel, roads, tires, or spare parts, among other factors. Therefore, this article proposes the use of the Six Sigma methodology of continuous improvement as a quality management tool to reduce the downtime of the truck fleet to obtain better productivity in operations. The results of the investigation in the case study allowed to visualize that with the election of an optimal fleet appropriate for the conditions given in a mining project, the values of productivity and efficiency improve considerably. This is reflected in a better use of the machinery and in the reduction of unproductive times.

Simulations assuming open-pit mines and different cessation landscapes of open-pit mines with urbanization were performed with a non-hydrostatic meteorological model. The possible enhancement or counteracting of the atmospheric responses to these simultaneously occurring (= accumulated) land-use changes are examined applying a formula drived from the principle of superposition. Although accumulated land-use changes substantially affect the local water and energy fluxes and significantly influence cloud and precipitation microphysics, they do not necessarily provide more significant changes in these quantities than the change of different land-use types to only one land-use type (=single land-use changes). Where the atmospheric responses to accumulated land-use changes are enhanced or inhibited, depends on the thermal, dynamical and hydrologic characteristics of the undergoing accumulated land-use changes as well as on the land-use adjacent to the land-use conversion. In regions dominated by drier surfaces (e.g., agriculture), no enhancement or counteraction according to the principle of superposition could be detected in this study. / Simulationen mit einer Tagebaulandschaft sowie verschiedenen Tagebaufolgelandschaften inklusive Urbanisierung wurden mit einem nicht-hydrostatischen meteorologischen Modell durchgeführt. Eine mögliche Verstärkung oder Abschwächung der atmosphärischen Reaktion auf gleichzeitig auftretende (akkumulierte) Landnutzungsänderungen wird mittels einer auf dem Prinzip der Superposition erstellten Formel untersucht. Obgleich die akkumulierten Landnutzungsänderungen die lokalen Energie- und Wasserflüsse merklich sowie die Wolken und Niederschlagsmikrophysik signifikant beeinflussen, führen sie nicht notwendigerweise zu stärkeren Änderungen dieser Größen als einfache Landnutzungsänderungen. Wo sich akkumulierte Landnutzungsänderungen in ihrer Wirkung auf die Atmosphäre verstärken oder abschwächen, hängt davon ab, wie stark sich die dynamischen, hydrologischen und energetischen Eigenschaften der veränderten Landnutzung von der vorherigen und denen der Umgebung unterscheiden. In Regionen, die durch trockene Flächen charakterisiert sind (z.B. Ackerland), konnte in dieser Studie kein Verstärken oder Abschwächen im Sinne einer Abweichung vom Prinzip der Superposition festgestellt werden.

Métodos de estudo de estabilidade de taludes são diversificados e estão bastante desenvolvidos e consolidados na Geologia de Engenharia. Paralelamente, a aplicação de ferramentas de geoprocessamento tem se intensificado bastante em todos os campos de conhecimento técnico científico, demonstrando ser uma ferramenta de grande importância e auxiliando a tomada de decisão, sendo inclusive utilizado no estudo de escorregamentos e processos correlatos a instabilização de taludes. Dentro deste contexto, este trabalho objetivou desenvolver uma abordagem de estudo para caracterizar a estabilidade de taludes de mineração combinando técnicas e métodos usuais de investigação e análise geológico-geotécnica. A pesquisa foi aplicada nas minas de ferro do complexo Fazendão, localizadas no município de Catas Altas (MG) e são de propriedade da companhia VALE S/A. O trabalho está dividido essencialmente em duas etapas de estudo: primeiramente um foco semi-regional, seguido de um estudo de detalhe em uma mina em particular. Para a análise semi-regional foi utilizando Sistema de Informação Geográfica - SIG para geração de mapas temáticos, abrangendo todas as minas do complexo. Já no estudo de detalhe, foram realizados levantamentos sistemáticos em campo na mina de São Luís, sendo posteriormente realizado um levantamento específico de seções dentro da mina. A partir dos mapas temáticos foram identificadas as principais drenagens e bacias hidrográficas da área de estudo. Estes mapas juntamente com os mapas de declividade, curvatura, direção de vertente e mapa geológico, forneceram informações importantes sobre a região onde as minas estão inseridas, o que possibilita um melhor planejamento das intervenções que vierem a serem feitas. As análises por estereogramas indicaram várias situações de instabilidade frente às direções de fraturas e bandamento, com relação à direção e ângulo de mergulho de alguns taludes, sendo várias destas feições identificadas em campo. Por outro lado, a análise por equilíbrio limite apontam fatores de segurança muito altos, desde que não ocorra a influência do nível de água. Por fim, a abordagem utilizada foi bastante útil na caracterização da região. O estudo semi-regional em conjunto com uma análise de detalhe permitiu identificar feições que comprometem a segurança dentro da mina. A partir do resultado deste estudo, espera-se auxiliar a programação do avanço da mina de forma otimizar sua exploração, sem comprometer a segurança. / Methods of study of slope stability are diverse and are well developed and consolidated in Engineering Geology. In addition, the application of GIS tools has intensified greatly in all fields of scientific expertise, proven to be an important tool aiding in the decision making, including being used in the study of landslides and processes related to slope instability. Within this context, this study aimed to develop a approach to characterize the stability of slopes mining combining geoprocessing techniques and the usual methods of investigation and analysis of geological-geotechnical. The research was applied to the iron mines of Fazendão complex, located in the municipality of Catas Altas (MG) and are the property of the company VALE S/A. The research is divided into two main stages of the study: first a semi-regional focus followed by a study in detail of a particular mine. For the semi-regional analysis has been using GIS for thematic maps, covering all the mines the complex. In the study of detail, systematic surveys were conducted in the field for geological and geotechnical parameters in the mine of São Luís, and later conducted a survey within specific sections of the mine. From the thematic maps were identified the major drainage and hydrographic basins of the study area. Those maps, analyzed together with the slope map, curvature, direction of slope and geologic map provided important information about the area which the mines are located, allowing better planning of interventions that were to be made. The stereograms analyzes indicated various situations of instability depending of the fractures and banding directions, according to direction and dip angle of some slopes, some of it identified in the field. Moreover, the limit equilibrium analysis safety factors showed very high, since there was no influence of the water levels. Finally, the used approach was useful in characterizing the region. The semi-regional study combined with a detail analysis allowed to identify features that compromise the safety inside the mine. From the results of this study is expected to help advance the schedule of the mine in order to optimize their operations, without compromising security.

Métodos de estudo de estabilidade de taludes são diversificados e estão bastante desenvolvidos e consolidados na Geologia de Engenharia. Paralelamente, a aplicação de ferramentas de geoprocessamento tem se intensificado bastante em todos os campos de conhecimento técnico científico, demonstrando ser uma ferramenta de grande importância e auxiliando a tomada de decisão, sendo inclusive utilizado no estudo de escorregamentos e processos correlatos a instabilização de taludes. Dentro deste contexto, este trabalho objetivou desenvolver uma abordagem de estudo para caracterizar a estabilidade de taludes de mineração combinando técnicas e métodos usuais de investigação e análise geológico-geotécnica. A pesquisa foi aplicada nas minas de ferro do complexo Fazendão, localizadas no município de Catas Altas (MG) e são de propriedade da companhia VALE S/A. O trabalho está dividido essencialmente em duas etapas de estudo: primeiramente um foco semi-regional, seguido de um estudo de detalhe em uma mina em particular. Para a análise semi-regional foi utilizando Sistema de Informação Geográfica - SIG para geração de mapas temáticos, abrangendo todas as minas do complexo. Já no estudo de detalhe, foram realizados levantamentos sistemáticos em campo na mina de São Luís, sendo posteriormente realizado um levantamento específico de seções dentro da mina. A partir dos mapas temáticos foram identificadas as principais drenagens e bacias hidrográficas da área de estudo. Estes mapas juntamente com os mapas de declividade, curvatura, direção de vertente e mapa geológico, forneceram informações importantes sobre a região onde as minas estão inseridas, o que possibilita um melhor planejamento das intervenções que vierem a serem feitas. As análises por estereogramas indicaram várias situações de instabilidade frente às direções de fraturas e bandamento, com relação à direção e ângulo de mergulho de alguns taludes, sendo várias destas feições identificadas em campo. Por outro lado, a análise por equilíbrio limite apontam fatores de segurança muito altos, desde que não ocorra a influência do nível de água. Por fim, a abordagem utilizada foi bastante útil na caracterização da região. O estudo semi-regional em conjunto com uma análise de detalhe permitiu identificar feições que comprometem a segurança dentro da mina. A partir do resultado deste estudo, espera-se auxiliar a programação do avanço da mina de forma otimizar sua exploração, sem comprometer a segurança. / Methods of study of slope stability are diverse and are well developed and consolidated in Engineering Geology. In addition, the application of GIS tools has intensified greatly in all fields of scientific expertise, proven to be an important tool aiding in the decision making, including being used in the study of landslides and processes related to slope instability. Within this context, this study aimed to develop a approach to characterize the stability of slopes mining combining geoprocessing techniques and the usual methods of investigation and analysis of geological-geotechnical. The research was applied to the iron mines of Fazendão complex, located in the municipality of Catas Altas (MG) and are the property of the company VALE S/A. The research is divided into two main stages of the study: first a semi-regional focus followed by a study in detail of a particular mine. For the semi-regional analysis has been using GIS for thematic maps, covering all the mines the complex. In the study of detail, systematic surveys were conducted in the field for geological and geotechnical parameters in the mine of São Luís, and later conducted a survey within specific sections of the mine. From the thematic maps were identified the major drainage and hydrographic basins of the study area. Those maps, analyzed together with the slope map, curvature, direction of slope and geologic map provided important information about the area which the mines are located, allowing better planning of interventions that were to be made. The stereograms analyzes indicated various situations of instability depending of the fractures and banding directions, according to direction and dip angle of some slopes, some of it identified in the field. Moreover, the limit equilibrium analysis safety factors showed very high, since there was no influence of the water levels. Finally, the used approach was useful in characterizing the region. The semi-regional study combined with a detail analysis allowed to identify features that compromise the safety inside the mine. From the results of this study is expected to help advance the schedule of the mine in order to optimize their operations, without compromising security.

Pour contribuer à la compréhension des processus d'arrachement et de fragmentation de la roche par l'explosif en ciel ouvert, le travail de recherche présenté dans ce mémoire vise à affiner les techniques empiriques de prédiction de fragmentation existantes. Un programme expérimental conséquent réalisé en échelle réelle sur site minier apporte des données ainsi que de nouveaux éléments par rapport à l'existant dans la littérature. En particulier, une comparaison entre résultats de tirs de charge unique et résultats de tirs à plusieurs charges est faite. Dans le contexte roche/explosif du site test, les résultats démontrent que le bénéfice industriel d'une prédiction charge par charge est limité. Une approche numérique a été mise en œuvre en parallèle du travail expérimental ; elle met à contribution un modèle rhéologique d'endommagement développé spécifiquement pour l'étude de laf ragmentation par l'explosif (Rouabhi, 2004). Des calculs 2D avec réduction d'échelle ont été réalisés ; l'utilisation d'un tel modèle d'endommagement s'avère indispensable, et la nécessité de coupler dans le futur les effets des ondes de choc et des gaz d'explosion dans la modélisation est soulignée. On explique par ailleurs de manière originale les résultats d'une étude expérimentale en laboratoire (Miklautsch et al., 2002). En fin de mémoire, plusieurs méthodologies de prédiction charge par charge aisément reproductibles sont testées et ajustées aux résultats du programme expérimental. On finit par montrer que la meilleure méthode offre même davantage de précision lorsqu'elle est appliquée avec les paramètres moyens des tirs et non charge par charge. / To contribute in the understanding of rock breakage and fragmentation processes in open pit blasting, the herein presented research aims at refining existing empirical fragmentation prediction techniques. A comprehensive full-scale experimental program has been conducted in an open pit mine and analyzed. The experiments yield data as well as enlightenments with respect to existing literature on blasting experiments. In particular, single-hole and multiple-hole blasting results are compared. In the test site's rock/explosives context, results demonstrate that industrial benefits from a hole-by-hole prediction are limited. A numerical approach has been developed in parallel to experimental work; it takes advantage of adamage behaviour law specifically designed for fragmentation by explosives (Rouabhi, 2004). 2D calculations with scale reduction are made; the use of such a behaviour law is shown to be essential, and it is outlined that coupling shock wave & explosive gases effects should be sought in future modelling work. Moreover, results observed in a laboratory scale experimental study (Miklautsch, 2002) are explained in an original way. At the end of the thesis, several hole-by-hole prediction methods – which can easily be reproduced –are tested and fitted with results from the full-scale blasting experiments. In the end, it is shown that the most accurate method obtained, when used with mean blast pattern parameters instead of hole-by-hole information, actually provides an even more accurate prediction.

Traditional slope stability analysis and design methods, such as limit equilibrium method and continuum numerical methods have limitations in investigating three dimensional large scale rock slope stability problems in open pit mines associated with stress concentrations and deformations arising due to intersection of many complex major discontinuity structures and irregular topographies. Analytical methods are limited to investigating kinematics and limit equilibrium conditions based on rigid body analyses. Continuum numerical methods fail to simulate the detachment of rock blocks and large displacements and rotations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to try some new methods to have a deeper understanding of the open pit mine rock slope stability problems. The intact rock properties and discontinuity properties for both DRC and DP rock formations that exist in the selected open pit mine were determined from tests conducted on rock samples collected from the mine site. Special survey equipment (Professor Kulatilake owns) which has a total station, laser scanner and a camera was used to perform remote fracture mapping in the research area selected at the mine site. From remote fracture mapping data, the fracture orientation, spacing and density were calculated in a much refined way in this dissertation compared to what exist in the literature. Discontinuity orientation distributions obtained through remote fracture mapping agreed very well with the results of manual fracture mapping conducted by the mining company. This is an important achievement in this dissertation compared to what exist in the literature. GSI rock quality system and Hoek-Brown failure criteria were used to estimate the rock mass properties combining the fracture mapping results with laboratory test results of intact rock samples. Fault properties and the DRC-DP contact properties were estimated based on the laboratory discontinuity test results. A geological model was built in a 3DEC model including all the major faults, DRC-DP contact, and two stages of rock excavation. The built major discontinuity system of 44 faults in 3DEC with their real orientations, locations and three dimensional extensions were validated successfully using the fault geometry data provided by the mining company using seven cross sections. This was a major accomplishment in this dissertation because it was done for the first time in the world. Numerical modeling was conducted to study the effect of boundary conditions, fault system and lateral stress ratio on the stability of the considered rock slope. For the considered section of the rock slope, the displacements obtained through stress boundary conditions were seemed more realistic than that obtained through zero velocity boundary conditions (on all four lateral faces). The fault system was found to play an important role with respect to rock slope stability. Stable deformation distributions were obtained for k₀ in the range of 0.4 to 0.7. Because the studied rock mass is quite stable, it seems that an appropriate range for k₀ for this rock mass is between 0.4 and 0.7. Seven monitoring points were selected from the deformation monitoring conducted at the open pit mine site by the mining company using a robotic total station to compare with numerical predictions. The displacements occurred between July 2011 and July 2012 due to the nearby rock mass excavation that took place during the same period were compared between the field monitoring results and the predicted numerical modeling results; a good agreement was obtained. This is a huge success in this dissertation because such a comparison was done for the first time in the world. In overall, the successful simulation of the rock excavation during a certain time period indicated the possibility of using the procedure developed in this dissertation to investigate rock slope stability with respect to expected future rock excavations in mine planning.

Simulations assuming open-pit mines and different cessation landscapes of open-pit mines with urbanization were performed with a non-hydrostatic meteorological model. The possible enhancement or counteracting of the atmospheric responses to these simultaneously occurring (= accumulated) land-use changes are examined applying a formula drived from the principle of superposition. Although accumulated land-use changes substantially affect the local water and energy fluxes and significantly influence cloud and precipitation microphysics, they do not necessarily provide more significant changes in these quantities than the change of different land-use types to only one land-use type (=single land-use changes). Where the atmospheric responses to accumulated land-use changes are enhanced or inhibited, depends on the thermal, dynamical and hydrologic characteristics of the undergoing accumulated land-use changes as well as on the land-use adjacent to the land-use conversion. In regions dominated by drier surfaces (e.g., agriculture), no enhancement or counteraction according to the principle of superposition could be detected in this study. / Simulationen mit einer Tagebaulandschaft sowie verschiedenen Tagebaufolgelandschaften inklusive Urbanisierung wurden mit einem nicht-hydrostatischen meteorologischen Modell durchgeführt. Eine mögliche Verstärkung oder Abschwächung der atmosphärischen Reaktion auf gleichzeitig auftretende (akkumulierte) Landnutzungsänderungen wird mittels einer auf dem Prinzip der Superposition erstellten Formel untersucht. Obgleich die akkumulierten Landnutzungsänderungen die lokalen Energie- und Wasserflüsse merklich sowie die Wolken und Niederschlagsmikrophysik signifikant beeinflussen, führen sie nicht notwendigerweise zu stärkeren Änderungen dieser Größen als einfache Landnutzungsänderungen. Wo sich akkumulierte Landnutzungsänderungen in ihrer Wirkung auf die Atmosphäre verstärken oder abschwächen, hängt davon ab, wie stark sich die dynamischen, hydrologischen und energetischen Eigenschaften der veränderten Landnutzung von der vorherigen und denen der Umgebung unterscheiden. In Regionen, die durch trockene Flächen charakterisiert sind (z.B. Ackerland), konnte in dieser Studie kein Verstärken oder Abschwächen im Sinne einer Abweichung vom Prinzip der Superposition festgestellt werden.

La nécessité de maximiser la récupération d'une ou plusieurs espèces utiles d'un gisement du cuivre, l´optimisation des consommations d'additifs dans le processus de traitement métallurgique, savoir où laisser les matériaux qui dans le futur pourraient être valorisés par une série de nouvelles opérations etc., conduit à adapter la planification minière aux caractéristiques géologiques et métallurgiques du gisement.Les unités géo-métallurgiques sont déterminées par une combinaison des principaux paramètres géologiques, type de roche, altération, minéralisation, etc. Chaque unité présente un comportement différent au processus de traitement métallurgiques avec des caractéristiques de récupération et de consommation d'acide bien spécifiques.D´une façon générale, on peut définir la planification de la mine comme un outil permettant de faire la liaison entre la géologie et la métallurgie, non seulement selon des paramètres économiques et de teneurs, mais aussi selon des paramètres géologiques et métallurgiques.Pour pouvoir construire le modèle géo-métallurgique ou géo-minier métallurgique (G.M.M) ainsi que mettre en oeuvre la catégorisation des ressources, nous avons utilisé des outils géostatistiquesLe fait de disposer d´un modèle G.M.M est d'une grande aide pour la définition de la fosse finale et la planification à long terme, soit simplement comme une première approche de la réponse du gisement au processus de traitement métallurgique, mais surtout pour optimiser les coûts et définir différentes alternatives pour maximiser la récupération du métal.Cette étude a été appliquée au cas du gisement stratiforme de Cu et Ag de Mantos de la Luna situé dans le Nord du Chili. Il comporte en particulier une comparaison entre l'approche traditionnelle et l'approche qui intègre le concept du modèle G.M.M. qui porte principalement sur les teneurs de coupure. Le concept G.M.M. peut donc influencer les décisions stratégiques comme les décisions opérationnelles. / The present research work concerns the general field of mining project set-up and is aimed at developing a new approach in long term mine planning. The main objective of this work is to incorporate the geo-metallurgical concept to mine planning which is traditionally based only on economic criteria.The need to maximize the recovery of one or more useful elements of a copper deposit, the optimization of reagents consumption in the metallurgical process, to know where to leave the materials which may be valorise in the future by a series of new operations, etc.. lead to fit mine planning and metallurgical geological features of the deposit. The geo-metallurgical units are determined by a combination of the main geological parameters, rock type, weathering, mineralization, etc... Each unit has a different behaviour in metallurgical process with specific values of recovery and acid consumption.The set-up of the geo-metallurgical mining model (GMM) and the resources categorization were made using geostatistical tools.Having a GMM model is a great help for the definition of the ultimate pit and long-term planning, as well as in a first approach of the response of the deposit to metallurgical process, but also to optimize costs and establish alternatives to maximize metal recovery.This work is based on the practical case of the Mantos de la Luna stratabound Cu and Ag deposit located in northern Chile. It proposes a methodology for resources classification of this type of deposit and includes a comparison between the traditional approach and the approach that integrates the concept of the GMM model.