Diggability assessment in open pit mines: a review
by Mohammad Babaei Khorzoughi; Robert Hall
International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering (IJMME), Vol. 7, No. 3, 2016

Abstract: Loading efficiency has a critical role in increasing production and reducing cost of mining operations. Inefficient loading can significantly increase operational costs. The term diggability index is used to indicate ease of excavation. It also can be related to loading equipment performance and subsequently quality of blast. Several indicators have been defined in the past to assess diggability. This paper mainly focuses on the review of loading equipment based diggability assessment methods. The review highlights that although several indicators for different purposes were proposed in the literature, no universally accepted approach for diggability assessment has been defined which could produce reliable and repeatable results for assessing the muck-pile digging conditions. In addition to muck-pile characteristics and blast quality, operator practice and machine type and conditions have been found to have a significant effect on diggability. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate their effect in any diggability assessment study.

Online publication date: Mon, 15-Aug-2016

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