Surface Mining: Introduction

EM10 Prof. NBEncinas University of the Philippines 2012

Factors and Conditions

Topography Remoteness of operations Support infrastructure Availability and cost of skilled labor Climate and altitude Environmental restrictions Groundwater quantities Slope stability and ground conditions Investment risk Blasting restrictions Life of operation Waste rock disposal

Criteria in Selecting Method

1. Type of deposit: seam (tabular) or disseminated 2. Geometry of deposit and its surrounding terrain 3. Total material movement per time period 4. Projected project/mine life 5. Geographic location

Types of Surface Mining

Mechanical Methods Solution/Aqueous Methods

Mechanical Extraction
Characteristic Ore Strength Rock Strength Deposit Shape Deposit Dip Deposit Size Ore Grade Ore Uniformity Depth Open Pit Any Any Any/tabular Any/low dip Large, thick Low Uniform Shallow to moderate Quarrying Any Any Thick-bedded, Massive Any, if thick Large, thick High Uniform Shallow to moderate Strip Mining Any Any Tabular, bedded Any/low dip Large, moderate thick Low Fairly uniform Shallow Augering Any Any Tabular, bedded Low dip Limited extent, thin Low Uniform Shallow

Aqueous Extraction
Characteristic Ore Strength Rock Strength Deposit Shape Hydraulic Dredging In situ Leaching Cavable, permeable Competent, impervious Massive or thick tabular Unconsolidated Unconsolidated Consolidated few boulders Some boulders Unconsolidated Unconsolidated Competent, impervious Tabular Tabular Any

Deposit Dip
Deposit Size

Low Dip
Limited extent, thin Very low Fairly uniform Very shallow

Low dip
Moderate extent and thickness Very low Fairly uniform Very shallow

Any/low dip
Moderate to large Intermediate Variable Moderate to deep

Steep
Any (preferably large) Very low Variable Shallow to moderate

Ore Grade Ore Uniformity Depth

Advantages/Disadvantages
Characteristic Mining Cost Prod Rate Productivity Capital Invest Develop Rate Depth Capacity Selectivity Recovery Open Pit 10% Large-scale High Large Rapid Limited Low High Quarrying 100% Small-scale Very low Small Moderate Limited High High Strip Mining 10% Large-scale High Large Rapid Limited Low High 5% Moderate Very high Small Rapid Limited Low Moderate Augering

Dilution Flexibility
Opening Stability Envi Risk Waste Disposal

Moderate Moderate
High High Extensive

Low Low
Highest Moderate Moderate

Low Moderate
High Very High Minor

Low Very low

High Low None

Advantages/Disadvantages
Characteristic Mining Cost Prod Rate Productivity Capital Invest Develop Rate Depth Capacity Selectivity Recovery Hydraulic 5% Moderate High Small Rapid Limited Moderate Moderate Dredging <5% Large-scale Highest Large Moderate Limited Low High In situ Mining 5% Moderate Very high Large Moderate Unlimited Low Low 5% Moderate Very high Moderate Moderate Unlimited Low Very Low Leaching

Dilution Flexibility
Opening Stability Envi Risk Waste Disposal

High Moderate
Moderate Severe Moderate

High Low
Moderate Severe Extensive

High Low
High Moderate Minor

Very high Low

Moderate Moderate Minor

Types of Surface Mining

Open Pit Strip Mining Dredging and Placer Mining Auger Mining Solution/Aqueous Mining Methods
Leaching Methods In Situ

Open Pit
Mining Cycle
Exploration Development Exploitation

Development means
Planning Design

Exploration results will yield...

Type Size Geometry Grade
Of the deposit which are critical factors for planning and design

Ore deposits amenable for open pit mining...

Large deposits, massive, or tabular Low grade Shallow to moderate depth Examples are
Copper-porphyry deposits Iron ore deposits

Critical parameters in the planning and design of the open pit...

Cut-off Grade Technical Parameters
Stripping ratio Material competence and break-up factors

Financial Parameters
Stripping program Cost inputs Capital investments Revenue streams

Open pit terminology

Bench Bench height Bench slope Pit limits Haul road Berm Berm interval Berm slope angle Berm width Overall pit slope Angle of repose

Stripping Program
Declining Increasing Constant

Equipment Selection
Stripping ratio
Declining Increasing Constant

Output volume
Ore Waste

Operating cycle times

Shovel cycle Truck cycle Drill-Blast cycle

Investment Concepts
Revenues Cost and expenses Capital costs Depreciation costs Depletion costs Cash flow and discounted cash flow concepts

Strip Mining
Applicable to flat, tabular deposits Large deposits Normally low grade also except for coal Usual minerals
Nickel Coal

Others

Dredging and Placer Mining

Unconsolidated deposits Types of placer deposits
Residual Hillside slopes Stream or fluvial Dry or bajada Wind-formed or eolian Glacial Beach Offshore marine placer

Auger Mining
Coal mining system Continuous method using auger drills

Leaching Methods
For low grade ores Using chemical solutions

God Slide
Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.