PROBSET 3

A) A section of a copper porphyry ore body is as shown. Determine the most profitable final pit-outline
using Lerchs-Grossman 2D given that the cut-off grade of 0.45% Cu. 1 block has dimensions of 16m x
16m x 16m (HxLxW). The cost of mining a block waste is $50 and that a value of a block of ore is
approximated to be $100 x (grade expressed in %). Keep the pit angle at 45 degrees.

0.5 0.5

0.9 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.2

0.3 0.7 1.8 0.8 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.9

0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1

0.3 0.4 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.4 1.3 1.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 1.3 2.3 3.3 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1
0.6 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.7 1.8 1.3 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4 4.4 4.3 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1
0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3

3.5 0.9 0.3 0.2 3.4 4.2 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2

0.1 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.8 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 2.8
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.8

0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2

1.7 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2

0.3 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1
0.2 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1
0.6 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.5

0.1 0.1 0.1 1.8

0.6 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

B) Using hand-methods, determine the most profitable pit outline maintaining a pit angle of 45
degrees and pit bottom of 48 m. The pit outline on the right side is restricted to be in the marked
boundaries (dark blue line) only. Pit bottom must coincide with the boundary of blocks. Use the
same valuation used in letter A. Blocks are of 16m x 16m x 16m dimensions.
0.5

0.5

0.9

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.4

0.3

0.6

0.7

0.6

0.3

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.7

1.8

0.8

0.4

0.3

0.1

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.8

0.9

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.3

0.4

0.9

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.4

1.3

1.2

0.3

0.2

0.2

1.3

2.3

3.3

0.4

0.3

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.6

0.5

0.2

0.1

0.3

0.7

1.8

1.3

0.9

0.3

0.2

0.3

0.4

4.4

4.3

0.4

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.3

3.5

0.9

0.3

0.2

3.4

4.2

0.4

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.3

0.4

0.8

0.8

1.3

0.3

0.2

0.3

2.8

0.3

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.4

0.5

0.7

0.4

0.3

0.1

0.8

1.7

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.5

0.3

0.4

0.4

0.5

0.5

0.3

0.2

0.7

0.4

0.5

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.5

0.4

0.5

0.3

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.8

0.4

0.4

0.5

0.2

0.2

0.7

0.1

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.6

0.4

0.5

0.2

0.2

0.1

0.2

0.4

0.5

0.1

0.1

0.1

1.8

0.6

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.2

C) Production planning
1) The mineral inventory of the same ore body is given below. Determine the cumulative tonnage
and average grade cut-off grades of 0.2%-3.8% at 0.2% intervals.
Grade Class (% Cu)
From
To
<0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.5
0.5
0.6
0.6
0.7
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.9
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.4
1.5
1.5
1.6
1.6
1.7
1.7
1.8
1.8
1.9
1.9
2.0

1000
tonnes
22 000
3 570
1 710
1 400
1 450
1 120
1 230
1 170
740
670
590
550
430
380
160
270
230
210
80
90

Grade Class (% Cu)

From
To
2.0
2.1
2.1
2.2
2.2
2.3
2.3
2.4
2.4
2.5
2.5
2.6
2.6
2.7
2.7
2.8
2.8
2.9
2.9
3.0
3.0
3.1
3.1
3.2
3.2
3.3
3.3
3.4
3.4
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.6
3.7
3.7
3.8
3.8
3.9
> 3.9 (Ave=4.2)

1000
tonnes
60
35
35
35
20
50
45
13
9
9
20
10
7
7
5
3
4
3
2
20

2) Determine the annual and daily production and mine life at cut-off grades of 0.5%-3.5% at 0.5%
intervals. Assume 300 days of operation and that the mill has a throughput of 2.5 MTPA.

D)

Blasting Layout
1) Determine the dimensions of borehole (burden, spacing, stemming height, subdrill)
and the powder factor of the blasted area given the following asumptions.
rock = monzonite (SG = 2.65)
explosive = Explosive A ( = 0.7 g/cm3, SANFO = 0.92)
drill bit diameter = 110 mm
bench height = 10 m
square drilling pattern (use highest coverage), vertical holes
6 rows, 8 holes per row
Kb,ANFO = 25
2) Change the explosive used to:
i. Explosive B ( = 1.0 g/cm3, SANFO = 0.92)
ii. Explosive C ( = 0.7 g/cm3, SANFO = 1.10)
iii. Explosive D ( = 0.5 g/cm3, SANFO = 0.92)
iv. Explosive E ( = 0.7 g/cm3, SANFO = 0.85)
3) How does the type of explosive affect the powder factor?

E)

Chemistry of explosives
Determine the oxygen balance of the following compounds. Show derivation (4 steps) of
reaction of decomposition. Answers must not have fractional coefficients.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Nitroguanidine
Research Development Formula X
Tetrazene
Trinitrotoluene
Ammonium Permanganate