Selection of the optimal contour of the open pit in mining the lead and zinc ore deposit with the increased mercury content

Abstract

Mining processes are complex and complicated, with many different economic, technical, environmental and other parameters that must be planned before the project gets its practical value. Many of these parameters are evaluated independently of others, due to the expediency and difficulties in predictting values for variables under consideration. Costs, prices, reserves, mining and processing of ore, as well as many social aspects, such as issuing permits for works, are absolutely crucial for the project evaluation. Each ore body is different, but the main steps in the open pit planning, when the main goal is to maximize NPV, follow the same principle. These steps are presented as the linear for simplicity. The actual planning process is an iterative process, in which some steps or a combination of steps are repeated many times with the sensitivity analysis.