Three-dimensional orebody modelling and intellectualized longwall mining for stratiform bauxite deposits

Abstract

A coupled biharmonic spline and linear interpolation algorithm was proposed to create a three-dimensional smooth deposit model with minimal curvature containing grade and position data. To obtain the optimal technical parameters, such as cutting height and drum diameter, a virtual longwall mining procedure was modelled by simulating the actual fully mechanized longwall mining process. Based on the above work, a bauxite deposit in a longwall mining panel was modelled by scattered grade data from ores sampled on the entry wall. The deposit was then demarcated by industrial indexes and sliced according to the virtual longwall mining procedure. The results show that the proposed interpolation algorithm can depict the stratiform structure of bauxite deposits and that the uncovered bauxite deposit has high proportions of high-grade and rich ore. The ranges of optimal cutting height and drum diameters are 1.72–2.84 m and 1.42–1.72 m, respectively. Finally, an intellectualized longwall mining procedure was designed to guide the mining process with the lowest dilution and loss rates.