Optimum Open Pit Design for Kenticha Tantalite Mine, Southern Ethiopia

Weldegebrial Haile,Bheemalingeswara Konka

doi:10.4314/mejs.v13i1.8

Abstract

The mining sector’s share in Ethiopia’s economy is gradually increasing. Among metallic mines, Legadembi for gold and Kenticha for tantalum are the main contributors. At Kenticha, the Ethiopian Mineral Development Share Company is producing tantalite concentrate of 40-60% grade by open pit mining. The mine area is comprised of the rocks of Neoproterozoic age, pegmatite, granite, serpentinite, and talc-chlorite schist. The ore-bearing pegmatite intruding the basement serpentinite, and talc schist rocks, is asymmetric, N-S trending, and locally affected by fractures and local faults. Mining, at present, is being done using conventional methods not by developing benches. An optimum open pit design is developed and its impact on the run of mine is evaluated based on the field data, technical mine report data, borehole data, tonnage data, grade data, and mine survey. The suggested design has taken into account the mine drainage, bench design, haul road design, and mine waste dump design. Also keeping in view the future mining and production requirements. The suggested open pit mine design can minimize the dilution and improve the ore recovery.

Highlights

Mining activities in Ethiopia have been increasing gradually over the past two decades due to the liberalization policies of the government
Some of the local companies engaged in these activities are Ethiopian Mineral Development Share Company (EMDSC), National Mining Company, and Midrock, Ezana Mining Development Plc
© CNCS, Mekelle University cross-section map (Fig 3b) was selected along a cross-sectional line A-B as it cuts through the maximum number of lithologies of the area in the geological map. This was developed by using recorded coordinate readings of each contact that touches the cross-section line; taking the readings and digitizing them by inserting the points into the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of Ethiopia opened in Global mapper-12 and by selecting the 3D path profile tool and connecting the digitized points

Summary

Introduction

Mining activities in Ethiopia have been increasing gradually over the past two decades due to the liberalization policies of the government. This trend has attracted both national and international mining companies to explore for both metallic and industrial minerals in different parts of the country. Some of the local companies engaged in these activities are Ethiopian Mineral Development Share Company (EMDSC), National Mining Company, and Midrock, Ezana Mining Development Plc. EMDSC is carrying out both mining and processing of tantalite ore at Kenticha and exporting the tantalite concentrate. According to USGS (2014) report the tantalite mine production at Kenticha has declined with time from above 40 to 10 million tons per year.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion