Abstract
One of the most challenging aspects in semi-mobile in-pit crushing and conveying (SMIPCC) system design is determining the optimum depth at which to change from a purely truck-based haulage system to a conveyor-based haulage system. We used scenario analysis to determine the optimum transition depth between a truck and shovel (TS) system and a SMIPCC system. Traditional pit-limit algorithms were used to generate the final pit limit on a copper deposit, which was then divided into four pushbacks. The final operating pushbacks (phases) were designed for both TS and SMIPCC. The end depths for each phase are viewed as candidate transition points to switch from the TS to SMIPCC haulage system. Economic calculations were applied for five different scenarios, including adopting SMIPCC from the outset (pure SMIPCC), after the first, second, and third phases, and finally not using the SMIPCC system (pure TS) at all. The analysis indicates that the second scenario, at a depth of 335 m, results in the lowest cumulative discounted cost (CDC). In this case, the CDC is 17.6% lower than that for the pure TS scenario and 10.7% lower than for the pure SMIPCC system scenario.
Highlights
Mining is considered a cost-intensive industry that will yield a profit when the revenue from selling the valuable product exceeds the cost of producing it across the mine life
The analysis indicates that the second scenario, at a depth of 335 m, results in the lowest cumulative discounted cost (CDC)
A greater capital investment is required in comparison to conventional truck and shovel systems
Summary
Mining is considered a cost-intensive industry that will yield a profit when the revenue from selling the valuable product exceeds the cost of producing it across the mine life. Transportation costs have always been a significant part of operating costs in large open-pit mines. The concept of using a conveyor belt to transport material from the pit was first mooted at an open pit mine in Germany in 1956, due to the wet and soft ground conditions which made it difficult to use trucks (Koehler, 2003; Utley, 2011). The in-pit crushing and conveying (IPCC) system is a combination of these two types of equipment (conveyor and crusher). This system was first used because of poor road conditions, today, advances in the design and construction of conveyors receive more attention.
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