Development of Muruntau–Myutenbai joint open pit mine

Abstract

Muruntau open pit mine has been in operation since 1967 and is one of the largest open pit mines in the world. As per the project of mining phase V effective since 2020, it is among the world’s three largest open pit mines. The distribution of ore reserves per horizons is analyzed with regard to nature-and-process zones delineated in Muruntau–Myutenbai joint open pit mine. The project parameters of the pit and the scope of mining operations were determined from the geological and mathematical modeling including the detailed survey data and borehole assay results. The open pit mining scenarios within the project limits of mining phase V up to 2030 are considered. The open pit mining scheduling is performed with regard to operational specifics of the deposit, number of nature-and-process zones and duration of the scheduling period. It is concluded that maintenance of the required gold content of ore to be processed needs stimulation of the annual mining output up to 50–60 Mm3 in the easterly direction of the pit at the preserved production output in all nature-and-process zones. To this effect, it is required to formulate a sustainable action plan, with the assigned performance indicators, with regard to the Extra Activity Progr am to Improve Production of Precious Metals at Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combinat over the period to 2026 and further on to 2040. The authors appreciate participation of Head of a Department at VNIPIpromtekhnologii, Candidate of Engineering Sciences A. V. Seleznev in this study.