Heuristic stope layout optimisation accounting for variable stope dimensions and dilution management
by Martha E. Villalba Matamoros; Mustafa Kumral
International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering (IJMME), Vol. 8, No. 1, 2017

Abstract: Underground mining operations are managed in an environment that is surrounded by a series of complex geotechnical, operational and economic restrictions; and operation costs increase mainly because underground mining goes deeper. As a response to this increase, mine planning has potential to improve operation performance, profitability and productivity. Stope layout is a decision-making problem based on determining stopes to be produced under economic, geotechnical and operational constraints. In this paper, a further step is taken and optimisation approach considers minimisation of inherent internal dilution in addition to conventional profit maximisation. This proposed approach can also deal with multiple sectors and variable stope dimensions. The application in gold deposit showed that a profitable stope layout with minimum internal dilution could be generated while respecting geotechnical and operational requirements. In addition, the formulation presented herein can be extended to evaluate multi-metal cases, the mine production scheduling and incorporate ore body uncertainty into optimisation.

Online publication date: Mon, 06-Mar-2017

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