The Stages Of Mine Design.docx

The stages of mine design The stages of mine design is outlined in a variety of ways throughout the literature. The table below has been created to encompass the primary and necessary aspects of mine design as it relates to the project and mine life as a while. Summary Outline of Stages of Mine Design

PROJECT PROGRESS

IMPLEMENTATI PRODUCTIO CLOSURE ON PHASE N PHASE

PLANNING PHASE

TASK Scoping/Conceptua PreIDENTIFICATION l Study Feasibility

Feasibility

Design and Construction

Operation and Ongoing Maintenance

Mine Site Reclamatio n

Administrative

Project Justification

Based on regional information check for any major geotechnical flaws

Draft mine design package including realistic design parameters

Meetings and Site Visits

Regular and as-needed visits to Initial site visit by collect mining company to additional assess site and relevant receive existing information information (geological, geotechnica l, etc)

Documents and Documentation

Find and study mine documents from a similaroperating mine

Geotechnic al analysis conducted by mining company and/or outside

Mine design package approved

Mine design Mine design package package kept as made into reality and benchmark and revised as needed updated as needed

On-site assessments as needed Permanent on-site (may include presence geotechnical investigations, etc.)

Data collection and compilations by on-site geological team and external

Further data collections by mining company staff; Revisions and further detail added to documents

Permanent onsite presence

Databasing and ongoing data collection by mining staff; Ongoing revisions to

Specific steps for mine closure are country-, location, and policyspecifc and the main goal is to address environment al concerns

engineering firm; Analogues identified between similar mining operations

Property Ownership

company (geologic maps, sections, level plans, etc.)

pertinent documents

Review of property list; Claims Review of property list lease provided; Mineral rights known

Property lease and rights secured and controlled; Claims list and map provided; Mineral rights secured

Property lease, claims list, map and mineral rights kept on file and controlled

Property lease, claims list, map and mineral rights kept on file and controlled

Preliminary map modificatio n showing more site topographic features

Detailed map of site topographic features; Aerial surveys verified with ground controls/surve ys

Topographic map kept up-to-date with any constructioninduced changes

Topographic map kept on file for future reference

Topographic Map

Basic map of site topography

Site Map

Preliminary map Basic map of presenting property in question claims and boundaries

Maintain up-to-date Detailed map detailed map with all with all claims claims, boundaries and and site boundaries infrastructure

Maintain up-todate detailed map with all claims, boundaries and site infrastructure

Exploration and Geological Model Development

GEOLOGY

Review of Regional Data

Preliminary review of existing exploration mapping, geological maps and core logs

Review of existing Detailed siteexploration, specific geological analysis maps and core logs by on-site

Review of any regional changes or new exploration mapping, geological maps or core logs

Review of any regional changes or new exploration mapping, geological maps or core

geologists; Preliminary site-specific analysis

Data Collection

Geological Mapping & Model Development

Geologic Assessment

Mineralogical Sampling and Analyses

that may become available

logs that may become available

Major structures Library review, and defined; review of Geophysica geophysical data if l sampling available (surface conducted; or downhole) Develop database(s)

Ongoing geophysical sampling; Refine geological Enhancement database of geological database

Ongoing updates to geological database

Detailed geological Preliminary review mapping of existing maps and and preliminary associated geologic mapping; cross Initial country rock sections model produced; Initial 3D model

Geological teams (mining and external company) review and further enhance geological mapping and associated cross sections; Enhance 3D model and develop long sections and level plans

Review and revise geological maps, sections and level plans; Refine 3D model

Review and revise geological maps, sections and level plans as needed; Further and ongoing refinement of 3D model

Preliminary geological assessment, including arrangements made for collecting geotechnical data for analysis

Basic geological assessment and review conducted

Detailed geological assessment of structures/roc k contacts, alteration mineralization and deposit trends and review conducted

Geological assessment Geological kept up-to-date assessment revisions and made as needed (as modified/detail information changes) ed where needed

Limited sampling; Preliminary assessment

Preliminary mineralogic al sampling and analysis; Preliminary mineralogic al study

Detailed mineralogical sampling and mapping; Detailed mineralogical study

Location-specific mineralogical sampling and mapping; Revisions of mineralogical study as needed

Mineralogical sampling, mapping and revisions to study as needed

DRILLING, SAMPLING AND ASSAYING

Drill Hole Spacing

Initial infill drilling of widespaced drilling; Developme Wide spaced nt of drilling as preliminary estimated from grid patters; exploration/geologi Targeted cal maps oriented drilling for developmen t of structural model

Infill (closelyspaced) drilling on a detailed grid pattern as estimated by calculated reserve categories; Infill oriented drilling for refinement of structural model

Targeted drilling (as needed) to clarify any uncertainties; Isolated Infill drilling (as drilling as needed) for sampling needed and testing for intact rock strength

Underground Drilling

Review of existing data

Drilling if accessible

Detailed drilling if accessible

Detailed and/or Drilling as targeted underground needed drilling

Preliminary sampling; Obtain outcrop samples where available

All feasibility sampling programs Geotechnic complete; al sampling; Detailed Test pits sampling from targeted and/or infill drilling

Preliminary check of existing drill hole data

Check of drill holes (coordinates , elevations, angles, etc.); Check assays, angled hole vs. vertical hole comparison; Assay flow diagram and developmen t of database

Sampling

Drilling/Assay Data

Check of drill holes (coordinates, elevations, angles, etc.); Check assays, angled hole vs. vertical hole comparison; Twin hole drilling; Assay flow diagram and validation of database

Location-specific samples taken where needed for further refinement of design/construction parameters

Locationspecific samples taken where needed for refining mine design as sequencing progresses

Ongoing check of drill holes (coordinates, elevations, angles, etc.); Check assays, angled hole vs. vertical hole comparison; Twin hole drilling; Assay flow diagram and refinement of database

As-needed check of drill holes (coordinates, elevations, angles, etc.); Check assays, angled hole vs. vertical hole comparison; Twin hole drilling; Assay flow diagram and enhancement of database

Condemnation Drilling

N/A

N/A

Areas under proposed location of N/A waste dumps, tailings and plants drilled

If any additional stuctures planned, areas under the proposed locations drilled

Review analogical mine design parameters and regional geotechnical data to compare to updated design for any differences or similarities

Keep regional geotechnical data and analogical mine design cases on file for comparison to actual results

Geotechnical

CHARACTERIZATI ON

Pertinent Regional Information

Incorporate regional geotechnica Review of regional l parameters geotechnical data; in preAnalogical mine feasibility design cases plans & identified for designs; comparison and Identify any benchmarking differences between analogical cases

Geotechnical Assessment and assessment of Database Maintenance advanced exploration data

Intact Rock Strength Determination

Use literature values supplemented by index tests on core from geological drilling

Keep regional geotechnical data and analogical mine design cases on file for comparison and reference

Assessment and compilation of initial mine-scale geotechnica l data; Establish a preliminary geotechnica l database

Ongoing assessment and compilation of all new mineRefinement of scale geotechnical geotechnical database data; Enhancement to the geotechnical database

Index and laboratory testing on sample selected from targeted mine-scale drilling; Initial

Laboratory testing on detailed samples; Detailed assessment and establishment of parameters for 3D

Sampling on infill/targeted drilling and laboratory testing

Ongoing maintenance of geotechnical database

Sampling and laboratory testing completed as required

assessment geotechnical of model lithological domains

Take in-situ measurements if significant No additional data Supplement load-bearing collection; by research structures are No additional Sensitivity study data from present (pillars, data collection may be conducted if nearby etc), or if mine numerical modelling mines is deep and used stress related failure is important

Stress Measurement

Regional compilations; World Stress Map

3D Geotechnical Model

Consider validity of regional Prepare a geotechnical data as draft of the a source for 3D model parameters in model

Enhancement Refinement of 3D of the 3D model model

Mapping

Collect and review aerial photos from historical times to present; Regional outcrop mapping

Trench mapping (if applicable)

Structural Detailed mapping, if mapping on all needed, in specific pit benches or areas of uncertainty tunnels/adits

Stereographic and Structural Domains

Database established for structural information Initial stereographic ; Initial drafts from outcrop stereographi mapping c parameters assessment of data; Initial structural domains established

Enhancement of database; Advanced stereographic assessment of fabric data; Confirmation of structural domains

Refined interpretation of fabric data and structural domains

Ongoing maintenance and updates to 3D model

STRUCTURAL

Mine-scale outcrop mapping

Further refinement of fabric data and structural domains

3D Structrual Model

Initial ground proofing

Refinement of Refined 3D structural interpretation of 3D model structural model

Further refinement and ongoing maintenance to 3D model

Pit slopes defined by geotechnical data from structural mapping and oriented core holes; Detailed pit designs with phases and access for equipment operation

Pit slope and overall design altered/updated if significant construction problems arise

Pit slope and overall design altered/updated if significant construction problmes arise

Dump sites identified from Preliminary geotechnical design for data; Final total waste waste tonnage; tonnages Incremental determined and final with outline of incremental dumps phases; Yearly and final dump outlined

Dump sites established and/or relocated depending on results of condemnation drilling

Ensure that waste dumps stay within allotted monitoring boundaries and that safety measrues are met

Initial 3D structural model

MINE DESIGN Open Pit, Underground or Combination

Pit Design

Open Pit

Waste Dumps

Underground Mine Design

Preliminary update of pit slopes design based on rock type and basic geotechnica l data and Pit slopes assumed; index tests; Draft of final pit Revisions design made of draft of final pit design; Preliminary haul-road incorporate d into design

Simple outline of final dumps and location

Assumed mining system; General outline of mine plan and development

Preliminary mining system identified from geologic

Specific mining system identified from geologic and geotechnical

Mining system and detailed outline embodied in detailed design and construction

Ensure that detailed design and all aspects of the design optimize mine

and geotechnica l data; Preliminary outline of mine plan and developmen t including mine access

data; Detailed outline of mine plan and development including mine access

safety and production