We consider the problem of finding an optimal mining sequence for an open pit during a number of time periods subject to only spatial and temporal precedence constraints. This problem is of interest because such constraints are generic to any open-pit scheduling problem and, in particular, because it arises as a Lagrangean relaxation of an open-pit scheduling problem. We show that this multi-pe...

There are some large scale orebodies that extend from surface to the extreme depths of the ground. Such orebodies should be extracted by a combination of surface and underground mining methods. Economically, it is highly important to know the limit of upper and lower mining activities. This concern leads the mine designers to the transition problem, which is one of the most complicated problems...

One of the most important issues in all stages of mining study is capital cost estimation. Determination of capital expenditure is a challenging issue for mine designers. In recent decade, quite a few number of studies have focused on proposing estimation models to predict mining capital cost. However, these efforts have not achieved to a predictor model with reliable range of error. Both of ov...

INTRODUCTION There is still interest in a unified methodology to quantify the mass of particulate material emitted into the atmosphere by activities inherent to open-pit mining. For the case of total suspended particles (TSP), the current practice is to estimate such emissions by developing inventories based on the emission factors recommended by the USEPA for this purpose. However, there are d...

Planning and design procedure of an open pit mining project just can be started after ultimate pit determination. In the carried out study in this paper it was shown that the most important factor in ultimate pit determination and in consequence in the whole planning and design procedure of an open pit mine is the metal price. Metal price fluctuations in recent years were exaggerated and impose...

theoretical review of ‘mining pit lakes’ indicates that like natural lakes such lakes display a huge diversity. they are typically in a non-equilibrium state with respect to their surroundings. hence, at the decommissioning phase of mining operation a detailed technical study are required on different aspects of such created water bodies considering its morphometry, geology, hydrology, water qu...

A critical component in determining post-mining pit water quality is knowledge of groundwater fluxes, both as the pit fills and after steady state conditions have been reached. Simulations of the filling of an open pit in Crescent Valley, Nevada, were made to generate inputs for pit lake chemistry predictions. The simulations show that the water table recovery is most rapid immediately after pu...

Geology and the detailed understanding of its properties are fundamental to the optimal design and successful operation of any mine. To that end, extensive fieldwork was conducted at Sandsloot open pit (PPRust— Anglo Platinum) to collect geotechnical information both from exploration boreholes and in-pit mining faces. Over a fie-year period, geotechnical data were collected from 29, 213 m of ex...