Abstract:
Mining studies require a step-by-step process, progressing through various stage gates from exploration through to operation. As an industry, we are often tempted to expedite this process to generate quicker returns on investment. Nevertheless, the selection of an appropriate mining strategy is pivotal for the success of feasibility and pre-feasibility studies. Strategic mine planning requires more than generation of pit shells; it includes identification of a mining approach that optimizes blending for milling, optimizes phasing and dumping to minimize costs, and provides insights for detailed mine planning, permitting, and closure. The level of detail should be sufficient to validate the chosen strategy while allowing for the evaluation of many scenarios. This presentation aims to share insights gained from recent pre-feasibility and feasibility level studies where suboptimal mining strategies were pursued due to an oversight in earlier stages. We will also present our strategy for avoiding such situations in studies and discuss how strategic mine planning and tradeoff studies can be used to maximize an asset’s value while minimizing study costs and time.
Session: Mining and Exploration: Management: Studies to Startup: Excellence in Estimation through Execution
Location: North 222B
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