Strategies for Mine Planning and Design

Abstract

This paper provides an assessment of the current challenges in strategic mine planning and design and suggested approaches for addressing them. The specific challenges covered are: (1) Realistic quantification of downstream processes applied to orebody models to provide an integrated approach to mine design and optimisation. (2) Modelling, estimation and simulation of geometallurgical variables and their integration into resource and reserve estimation and mine planning. (3) Modelling, estimation and simulation of new variables for new forms of mining—deep mining, particularly block caving, and solution mining. (4) Flexibility in planning and design to manage risk and minimise its impact. (5) IT infrastructure and platforms for rapid on-line data collection, storage, access and processing. Most of these challenges require new types of data, variables, modelling and estimation methods. Foremost among the new types of variables and data are geometallurgical and dynamic rock mass characterisation variables. New types of data and data collection include rapid generation of very large amounts of on-line sensor data and the consequent need for rapid processing and modelling of these data. This paper outlines the challenges and strategies in each of these areas and uses examples of models and outputs to illustrate approaches and potential solutions.