Sustainable Open Pit Mining and Technical Systems: Concept, Principles, and Indicators

Sustainability of the open pit mining and technical system (MTS) is one its key goals in changing conditions external internal environment. All MTS’s subsystems must function concert to achieve this goal. The structure MTS formed by many elements, which are evaluated a significant number indicators. A comprehensive assessment for all possible indicators complex time-consuming task. However, each subsystem element has different effect on sustainability system. parameters change significantly during transition periods, example, at new stage open-pit or when switching an open-underground method developing mineral deposits. declines periods. Changes technological processes these periods can have negative impact state economic social enterprises, as well Ensuring requires development approaches principles managing work based alignment goals, with field ecology development. study substantiates role subsystems—the opening-up opencast (OOS). It shown that decisive influence sustainable functioning systematization enterprises systems been carried out. Four groups distinguished: system-wide management, development, proposed idea sequential transformation stages design operation. feature proposal consideration economic, social, environmental aspects ensure specified enterprises. results analysis factors environment presented. assessing OOS MTSs were selected substantiated. justified ranked using fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). showed high convergence expert opinions group parameters, rather parameters. there divergence As result study, it was concluded current management decisions aimed ensuring functioning, while achieving not ensured. methodology developed presented be used assess MTSs.