Mine planning and optimisation techniques applied in an iron ore mine

Abstract

The surface mine planning and optimisation techniques such as block modelling, pit optimisation, scheduling, stockpiling and reconciliation that are and have been applied at an existing iron ore open pit operation are discussed in this report. The material of economic interest is separated as ON grade, OFF grade and Waste. There is a Mineral Resource Management (MRM) department that includes geology, rock engineering and planning; however, survey is excluded from the MRM structure, which is outside the traditional MRM hierarchy. Mine planning begins with a block model which is created through the Datamine software using information from exploration drilling. The block model is used in the whittle software to obtain an ultimate pit outline. The outline is used to create an ultimate pit design with the recommended geotechnical parameters. The mining block model is further used in the mine planning process. Life of mine plans, 12-month rolling plans and six-week plans are done. Stockpiling is included in the plans and there is a strategy in place to reduce the stockpiles. The material movement is done through load and haul using trucks and shovels. Reconciliation was considered and it was found that there was not a proper reconciliation process for the iron ore mine.