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By A. Frederick Banfield

Various modeling techniques are available for describing ore deposits on the computer. Multiple seam coal deposits can be quite successfully modeled by using the variable block modeling method. In essence, this type of model provides an efficient method for storing the relevant data required for calculating ore reserves and for performing the mine planning. The main advantages of the variable block model over other methods for modeling irregular block or tabular deposits are: 1) The amount of data that has to be stored is minimal, i.e., the most efficient use of computer space is made since only the pertinent seam and topographic geometries need to be stored. 2) The computer logic necessary for calculating ore reserves and performing mine sequencing is relatively simple as compared to the logic that would be required for the three-dimensional block model. 3) A variable block model can be created either by starting from raw drill-hole data or by digitizing cross sections that contain the geologic interpretations. 4) Updating individual or multiple blocks can be performed with relative ease. 5) Display of the model is relatively inexpensive and easy to perform. The objective of this chapter is to describe a developed procedure as used in applying the variable block model to a specific multiple seam coal deposit. The general sequence of operations includes: (1) develop the computer model, (2) design the open-pit limits, (3) compute reserves, and (4) develop a long-range mining plan. The programs developed for this application are an expansion of MINTEC's MEDSYSTEM software. It should be noted that this is just one of many possible applications of the developed variable block model.

Jan 1, 1979

During the past decade, since the appearance of Popoff's (1966) review of grade tonnage calculations, it has become evident that defining a new method which could be followed step by step by a technician and which would improve reserve estimation was not a simple thing to do. Some concepts have emerged though, and most definitions of ore reserve now require a statement of reliability (USGS, 1975; and Zwarten-dyke, 1976). Exactly how the reliability should be computed is not a straightforward process. It also became apparent that not only was reliability a requirement but that additional questions such as how to predict mining re- serves from geological reserves were to be asked. In fact what became obvious is that specific models have to be designed for each type of mine and for each type of question which is asked. Most methods can be encased within a unique general geostatistical, model, but it takes considerable custom tailoring, and there are still questions that are left unanswered. In this chapter, before giving techniques, we intend to first review what should be required from a grade tonnage calculation done at the exploration stage. If the final objective is still to specify a tonnage and grade, with eventually a reliability, many qualifications have to be made before quoting, and of course, calculating these two numbers. Then the currently avail- able methods will be reviewed and future trends will be shown; finally a few case studies will be given and recommendations about the choice of a model will be made.

Jan 1, 1979

By Christopher Haycocks

Successful ground control is an essential part of all viable underground mining operations. To a large extent ground conditions influence the choice of mining methods, percentage and cost of extraction, and often the degree of safety that can be achieved. Utilizing the computer for ground-control planning offers great potential under many diverse conditions as not only are computations facilitated, but also details of the often complex geologic and structural framework of the mine can be readily stored and retrieved. Two basic approaches have been developed for applying the computer in solving ground-control problems. The first uses an analytical method, such as the finite element technique, for solving a specific problem. The second is more general and involves storage of geologic data and application of general design equations. The latter has found wide application in stratified deposits. It is the purpose of this chapter to describe both approaches as they are used for improving the ground-control aspects of mine planning.

Jan 1, 1979

By Robert Glass Cleland

[NEW YORK OFFICE James Douglas President Chairman of Board Walter Douglas Vice-president President Louis S. Cates President Cleveland H. Dodge Vice-President Chairman of Board]

Jan 1, 1952

By C. Douglas Lee

This case study describes the work done at the University of Arizona on the development of a computer mine model for an irregularly shaped and spotty ore deposit. The purpose of the work was to develop techniques for modeling any highly irregular deposit, for which the regular 3D fixed block model is not well suited. The deposit contained complex geology consisting of sedimentary beds that had been faulted, thrusted, and intruded by igneous rocks (see Fig. 1). The physical dimensions of the modeled ore body were 1067 m (3500 ft) along the N-S direction and 914 m (3000 ft) along the E-W direction. Topographic relief in the modeled area was approximately 274 m (900 ft). The highest grade of ore was found near the surface with mineralization extending down to approximately 152 m (500 ft) below. Using a fixed bench height of 12 m (40 ft), the model required 25 levels with the highest elevation being at 1286 m (4220 ft). Fig. 2 shows a cross section of the developed computer model of the ore deposit. The particular modeling approach selected for this deposit was the 3D irregular block model.* This meant that only the dimension of bench height was fixed at 12 m (40 ft). Irregular size blocks in the form of polygons were adopted in the model to describe the ore zones and geologic contacts. The following sections of this chapter describe some of the techniques used in modeling.

Jan 1, 1979

Careful financial analysis of capital investments has always been a vital task in mining which is one of the most capital intensive sectors of the economy. Furthermore, mining costs have leapt ahead at an astonishing rate in recent years not just due to accelerated inflation, which affects everyone, but also due to the imposition of enormous costs of enviromental regulation and the continuing decline in ore tenor. Not only have unit costs risen, but the amount of effort expended to recover a pound of metal has increased due to the inexorable decrease in ore grades. New low-margin, high-volume mining investments place increasing importance on sound financial planning. Owing to the enormous investments involved, a greater share of individual corporate resources is committed to these projects than is normally the case in other industries. Thus, the consequences of failure are extremely grave, and a close examination of all inputs to the evaluation equation is clearly indicated.

Jan 1, 1979

By Ken J. Richards

Industries dependent on pyrometallurgical processing generally find themselves facing a common set of problems, namely, serious environmental restrictions, heavy capital requirements for new facilities and for plant modernization, the certainty of rapidly escalating fuel costs, and the uncertainty of fuel availability. To remain competitive, it has become clear to industry that a new dimension of attention must be given to assuring the maximum performance from plant facilities already in place and from those that are built in the future. In the last decade or so, in response to these needs, there has been an acceleration in the development of new pyrometallurgical process concepts. Their application, though spotty, is increasing. A common factor in this developing base of technology is the need for effective process control. Digital control is an indispensable element of meeting the challenge. We cannot make the point, however, by looking to a general survey of instrumental control of pyrometallurgical processes. Computer control is in its awkward adolescence. Its application is so new that only isolated applications can highlight the trends. For this reason, the authors have chosen to focus on the nonferrous smelting industry to illustrate the status of pyrometallurgical processing and control. We believe this approach will best meet the interests of most readers of this edition and the background of the authors.

Jan 1, 1979

By James C. Puckett

The mining industry finds itself in the middle, between the need to increase production of our energy resources and the necessity of minimizing the environmental impact. Using the recent past as a guide, the mine planning engineer's function will continue to increase as further coal quality constraints are made upon the production staff. The engineer will need to make use of all available tools in order to provide timely answers to the complex "what if" questions that arise. This need to consider many alternatives is bringing about a rapidly increasing acceptance and utilization of the computer. In the areas of data handling, mineralization modeling, and production simulation, the computer is an effective tool for the mine planning engineer. Described herein is a coal data storage and analysis system developed to provide timely answers to the "what if" questions for an operating strip coal mine in Montana. The characteristics of a computerized coal data base and coal quality planning system are outlined in this chapter. The system has been developed for use at a particular coal mine; however, it has applicability to coal mines in general. Fig. 1 is a flow chart showing the functional relationships of the system. There are three main file types: the drill-hole data base, the boundary file, and the zone file. The purposes for which each file is organized are illustrated on the flow chart.

Jan 1, 1979

By Frits Agterberg

Statistical exploration uses statistical methods to identify targets for more detailed investigation by estimating the odds of occurrence of mineral deposits. The study area which contains the possible targets may be as large as 1 000 000 km2 or as small as 100 km2. Results are presented in terms of a probability index for the existence of a deposit or, more precisely, in terms of expected dollar value for a unit area, or even in terms of number, size, and grade of deposits remaining to be discovered. Typically, selected geological, geophysical, or geochemical information is systematically quantified and statistically analyzed by using the computer in order to distinguish between geological environments on the basis of the probability that they contain undiscovered deposits of a specific type. All possible targets are compared with one another by using information on areas known to contain deposits. The information on the known areas is either a set of control data consisting of values for the same parameters as are quantified for the entire study area, or it embodies a specific model for the occurrence of a given deposit type. Examples of both procedures will be discussed in this chapter.

Jan 1, 1979

By Davis M. Lapham

Ore bodies at Cornwall, Pennsylvania, have been mined since 1742 principally for iron from magnetite, but also for copper (in chalcopyrite), silver (in chalcopyrite), gold (in chalcopyrite), cobalt (in pyrite), sulfur, and crushed limestone aggregate. Metallization occurs as a limestone replacement above the essentially conformable, south dipping portion of a discordant saucershaped diabase sheet. Pre-Triassic and Triassic faulting have emplaced host Cambrian limestone and two Ordovician(?) hornfels units, now for the most part resting above diabase. Thermal metamorphism of carbonate-bearing country rocks largely to calc-silicates, is ubiquitous. Metasomatism, particularly of potassium, is unique to ore zones. Associated magnetite- actinolite mineralization replaces, in a preferential sequence, all earlier metamorphic and metasomatic minerals and rarely diabase chilled margin. Mineralogical (diopside, actinolite, mica, sulfides, oxides) and chemical (Fe, Cu, S, Co) zoning of the eastern ore body is focused down dip, near its western edge, along a major vertical fault through diabase. This zoning is spatially related to magnetite veins in diabase, to an ore body within diabase, and to a shear zone that probably extends through the sheet.

Jan 1, 1968

By H. I. Meyer

The mine is a large open-pit copper mine located near Tucson, AZ. Mining operations involve shovels digging at relatively fixed locations and haul trucks moving the muck to a primary ore crusher, a primary waste crusher, and directly to waste dumps. The total investment in shovels and trucks is some $100 million. Fig. l is a schematic drawing of the operation. A static method of truck assignment is used; i.e., each driver is given one particular shovel to serve until reassigned by the dispatcher. A dynamic system is one where trucks are reassigned after each trip. The problem is to compute a near optimum assignment of trucks for efficient operation.

Jan 1, 1979

Computer applications in mine 'production' planning and control are concerned with the here and now. In production planning and control we are dealing with tactics as opposed to strategy. Our objective is to make the best of the situation in the short term, i.e., in a relatively fixed environment with relatively fixed plant, equipment, and labor. Environmental factors include not only the geology of the deposit but also market factors (such as price) and governmental constraints and regulations. Mine production planning systems are applied at the interface between concept and execution. Mine production control systems are applied at the interface between execution and revised operating practices or a revised concept. Fig. 1 shows the information flow that takes place regardless of whether the planning and control systems are manual or automatic. The feedback that results depends on the feedback mechanism that has been established, and this feedback can be enhanced by careful systems analysis and design. Chronologically, production planning and control activities support the last in the series of line functions that are ordinarily performed by mining companies. The first of these is exploration, the second is evaluation and development, and the third and final function is production.

Jan 1, 1979

By J H. Sullivan

Contents Background information Locality of Kumba?s Iron Ore Mines Sishen?s Product Specifications Geological Description of boreholes Sample Preperation Block delineations Production Geology Process Laboratory information Turnover times reached Inter Laboratory Comparisons Quality control activities in lab Purpose of laboratory Results attained Standard samples Monitoring of processes with QA/QC standards Mean paired difference of duplicates Duplicate samples Conclusion

Jan 1, 2005

By Alvin Kaufrnan

This chapter will deal with the policy issues relating to mineral land disposal. The first portion of the chapter will discuss in general terms the legal systems utilized in disposing of mineral rights and the major problems encountered; the second section will comprise an analysis of the policy alternatives with emphasis on the pricing aspects. In this section, we are not attempting to provide a legal text, but simply to outline very briefly and sketchily the details of the systems. More detailed information can be obtained by contacting the appropriate governmental agency for specific information. Mining laws throughout the world are based on two major legal groupings: English Common Law and the Civil Law. These basic systems are often modified by Islamic Law and by negotiated -mixtures of these. Under English Common Law, which is embraced by the United States, Canada, and many of the members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, individuals can hold property and can extract minerals from it. The owner can dispose of minerals as he sees fit, either through contract, deed, or whatever other system is appropriate. CIVIL LAW Under Civil Law (also known as Regalian Law), mineral ownership is normally placed in the state, regardless of who owns the surface. This legal system applies in most European countries and their former colonies. It is derived from Roman law. The mineral deposits, thus, are worked under concessions. Most countries use a negotiated concession system and sometimes a combination of negotiation and competitive leasing. The negotiated system has advantages as well as disadvantages for both government and industry. In a system where the government administratively determines who is to get what, the concessions are normally large. Frequently they range up to several millions of acres and involve a considerable investment on the part of the concessionaire. There is no duplication of effort on the part of producers to obtain information, since a single concessionaire controls a given area. Consequently, less money is spent in toto because several prospective operators are not required to seek the same information. The system also has the advantage to the industry of permitting the concessionaire to select and retain the best producting area. Thus, major developmental expenditures are made on the production unit only, with a resulting reduction in the risk factor. The large initial size of the concession also minimizes the possibility of expending a large bonus payment for a barren property. The major governmental advantage of a concession is its flexibility in accomplishing other national objectives. For example, a lease could be negotiated at less than fair market value, but requiring substantial de-

Jan 1, 1976

By Wallace F. Lovejoy

The conservation of mineral resources as a public policy question has received a great deal of attention in the area of petroleum and practically no attention in other mineral areas, except, of course, soil and water. Some insights into mineral conservation problems and how these problems can be approached in the social decision-making process are significant. THE MEANINGS OF CONSERVATION Conservation means many things to many people .2, 11 Too often it is a label attached to a proposed program or policy to add respectability and to gain public acceptance. It is a term applied to specific resources in some contexts and to resources generally in other contexts. The oft-quoted comment of President William Howard Taft that conservation is something everybody is for, no matter what it means, succinctly illustrates the confusion over both the meaning of the concept and the policies required to implement a conservation program. This confusion goes quite deep and is more than a matter of semantics or emphasis. For example, the efficient exploitation of a mineral deposit which might be applauded as good conservation in terms of that mineral, might well result in destruction of or harm to the environment which might be viewed as bad conservation. Economics provides some tools to help solve this sort of problem, but there may be fundamental differences in value systems among groups in this society, so that ultimately society must collectively make a subjective political choice as to what is good or bad conservation policy.a An Economic Definition of Conservation The economic concepts of conservation have more relevance and are more easily applied to minerals than to many other natural resources. This does not mean that economics goes all the way in understanding mineral conservation, but at least it provides a framework for analysis which later can be altered to include noneconomic variables. Perhaps the greatest confusion in discussing mineral conservation arises in attempting to relate purely physical concepts with economic concepts. An economist is interested in maximizing or conserving values; he is not interested in maximum physical recovery or utilization. He wants to know the costs and benefits of using, or not using, resources. The economic theory of mineral-resource conservation can be labeled variously as the theory of exhaustion, the theory of resource exploitation, the theory of resource utilization, or simply as a special case of the broad theory of capital.4,28 Consideration of these labels illuminates the concerns of the econo-

Jan 1, 1976

By L. R. Nelson

Cyprus Pima is a medium-sized open-pit copper mine located 35 km (22 miles) south of Tucson, AZ. The ore body was discovered using geophysical prospecting methods in 1953 and was originally worked as a small underground mine followed by small open-pit operations. As mining equipment grew larger and the economic ore grade dropped, the operation grew in size, through four expansions, to the present 50 500 tpd (56 500 stpd) milling rate. The remaining stripping ratio is about 2.5 to 1. Mining equipment includes 11 electric shovels ranging in size from 6 to 15 m3 (8 to 20 cu yd) and 42 diesel-electric haulage trucks ranging in size from 89 to 223 t (100 to 250 st). Mine planning is performed at Cyprus Pima to serve several functions. The most important is to plan ahead, one year at a time, to predict the ore grade and stripping requirements on a month-by-month schedule. This yearly plan is necessary for budget preparation and is revised once each quarter to incorporate variations in actual production experienced during the preceding quarter.

Jan 1, 1979

By Reginald N. Boryor, Steven D. Woods

1.0 Introduction ?Low grade, high tonnage, open pit gold mine. ?Gold bearing Tarkwaian conglomerates. ?Reverse Circulation percussion drilling (25m X 25m grid). ?Composite 1m intervals, logged and split in the field to provide±2Kg samples. ?Samples used to build grade control block models using SURPAC. ?Approximately 100,000-130,000 meters drilled per year. ?RC samples are assayed using Rapid Cyanide Leach (RCL). ?Check assays are done using Fire Assay

Jan 1, 2005

By Henry N. Doyle

Basic procedures in the mining industry have changed only slightly over the centuries since metals and fossil fuels became an essential part of man's economic and cultural life. Mining techniques of the 20th century bear a close resemblance to those of the ancients: exploration, ore breakage and removal, hoisting, and processing. The great advances, however, have been in equipment and machinery of greater size and speed which allow greater efficiency in each of these operations, with a corresponding reduction in manpower requirements. Yesteryear production was measured in pounds per man-day; today a giant and complex, but highly efficient, continuous mining machine can remove as much as eight tons of material a minute from the coal face. If our energy and metal demands of the future are to be met, and at this time it can be assumed that coal will continue to supply a significant part of the energy demand, other dramatic and spectacular technologic advances must be accomplished. Along with mechanization, however, public policy will require the industry to place greater emphasis on health and safety protection, as has been well demonstrated by recent actions of Congress. Together, fossil fuels and metals formed the basis for the industrial revolution-coal to develop power and metals to transform power into useful energy. Strangely enough, however, the mining industry the world over has lagged behind the continuous social changes brought on by the industrial revolution, such as preventive health and industrial hygiene services, and other programs directed to the well-being of the worker. In some countries this resistance, to change may have led in part to the nationalization of the coal industry. Whether this disinclination to social change in the industry of the United States reflects managerial attitudes, inept labor leadership, government neglect, or economic relationship would be the subject of an interesting study. Doubtless the mores of miners and their resistance to change, as well as their geographic isolation from other industrial groups, may have had a strong influence on these factors. In every major coal mining country the accident rate in the coal industry is substantially higher than other industrial groups, and the cost of pneumoconiosis compensation in some countries is greater than the combined costs for all other occupational diseases from all other industries. The high social cost of occupational accidents and diseases may have been a factor in the closing of the industry in at least two countries. Despite diminishing manpower needs, the industry is faced with critical manpower shortages. Miners once reared their sons to be miners; now it appears that the opposite is true. This factor alone, however, does not explain an acute labor shortage in the industry. Traditionally, the industry drew much of

Jan 1, 1976

In the hierarchy of performing mine planning tasks, production scheduling is naturally at the bottom. Yet good production scheduling is probably the most demanding and difficult task to achieve for various reasons. Being the last task in the mine planning hierarchy, a proper production schedule must not only conform to both the long-range and the short- range mine plans but also satisfy many practical details that are unique to day-to-day operations. For example, the averages which were good enough for both long-range and short- range mine planning are no longer good enough for production scheduling. Instead, the variations become the overriding concern. The answer must also be obtained quickly and on time, thus adding another dimension to the overall problem. Because of these considerations, many production scheduling problems have been begging for solution during the past decade. Many attempts were made to solve the production scheduling problems in the past using computers and the available operations research (OR) techniques, particularly among academic groups. However, it is probably true that, compared with the current full-time computer usage in long-range and short-range mine planning, very little computer usage is being made in production scheduling to date.

Jan 1, 1979

Production reporting is a natural computer application and is often one of the first applications implemented by new computer users. Automation of a manual reporting system is a good place for new computer users to gain computing experience because generation of basic reports - is fairly straightforward, and automation can often be justified easily on the basis of clerical cost savings. Computers are particularly well-suited for reporting applications which generally satisfy the criteria for effective computerization. Three characteristics must be present to effectively utilize a computerized system: 1) The potential application must be precisely definable. If an algorithm for data processing cannot be developed, data cannot be processed. 2) The operation to be performed must be repetitive. If a particular function is only going to be performed once, computerized systems development is probably not justified. 3) The volume of the data to be processed must be relatively large. If only a few items of data must be manipulated, manual methods are probably adequate. Although a computer can perform only a few functions (it can compute; it can make comparisons; it can rearrange data), it can perform these functions much faster and more accurately than a human being can. The ability to classify and reclassify data in a variety of ways and the ability to summarize data make the computer an ideal tool for production reporting. Production reports can be classified into three major categories, depending on their purpose. Reports can be used for (1) informative, (2) analytical, and (3) control purposes.

Jan 1, 1979