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Open Pit Mine Design, Planning, and Engineering

The bulk of the world’s minerals come from open pit mines where large volumes of rock must be moved while keeping costs low. Since profit margins depend on cyclical metal prices, optimal mine design and scheduling are vital. Drawing on our world-wide industry experience, we develop practical and workable solutions based on geological, geotechnical, hydrogeological, economic, and environmental considerations.

Our rigorous mine planning methodology focuses on pit optimization relative to grade cut-off strategy, economic mining depth, and size and scale of operation. The result is a life-of-mine plan and technical-economic model for your mineral resource. Our expertise ensures that appropriate project development decisions are made to advance projects quickly and efficiently. We cover all stages of mine life from initial scoping through to mine optimization and expansion projects. 

Services

  • Engineering studies at all stages
  • Strategic planning of economic cut-off grades and production rate analysis
  • Mine design, optimization, and scheduling using software packages such as Whittle, Gemcom, Vulcan, MineSight, Datamine, Surpac, Talpac, Xpac, and Minemax
  • Mining strategy development, implementation, and optimization
  • Operating cost, labour productivity, and manpower requirement estimation
  • Capital expenditure estimation
  • Open pit to underground transition analysis
  • Technical studies compliant with international standards, including scoping and feasibility studies, project reviews, and technical audits
  • Competent person, independent expert, and stock market listing reports
  • Due diligence reviews
Interview with Principal Mining Engineers Scott McEwing and Fraser McQueen

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Related Projects

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Mining Concept Study

Mining Concept Study

Mining Concept Study

Confidential
Queensland, Australia
SRK prepared a detailed mining model as part of a conceptual study for a large greenfield coal project in the Bowen Basin region of central Queensland.
Ventilation System Design

Ventilation System Design

Mine Ventilation System Design

Prestea Gold Mine
Western Region, Ghana
SRK was contracted to audit and troubleshoot the ventilation system at the Prestea Mine and provide a safer working environment at the West Reef.
Mineral Resource Estimate

Mineral Resource Estimate

Mineral Resource Estimate

Cukaru Peki
Serbia
Supported the project with multiple geology and resource assignments since the year of its discovery.

Consultants in Related Fields

Chris Britten

Chris Britten

Vancouver, Canada
Chris is a Senior Consultant with 7 years of combined operational and consulting experience in the mining industry.
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Jaco van Graan

Jaco van Graan

Johannesburg, South Africa
Jaco has over 20 years of experience in mining engineering.
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Sambathini Ravi Teja

Sambathini Ravi Teja

Kolkata, India
Ravi Teja joined SRK Consulting (India) in 2024.
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Justin Smith

Justin Smith

Reno, USA
Justin has 15 years of experience in mine engineering and resource estimation.
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Challenges Encountered in Pit Slope Designs in Anisotropic Bedded Rock Masses
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Open pit slope design in the bedded units encountered in the iron ore pits of Australia’s Pilbara region is challenging in many aspects.

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Implementation of Mine Strategy Driven by Slope Depressurisation
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Successful mine plan execution at operations with high rainfall and deep and irregular saprolite profiles requires strong geotechnical, hydrogeological and hydrology design integration.

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Modeling a Ground Control Problem – The Solution Was Not More Bolts!

The Goderich Salt Mine, located on the shoreline of Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada, has been in operation for more than 60 years.

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Planning for Uncertainty
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How technology is helping to optimize mine planning and add flexibility over the life of mine.

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New Life for an Old Mine – Carmen, Chile
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The Carmen iron mine is located in the northern Chilean Province of Chañaral and lies approximately 50km east of the coastal port city of Chañaral.

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