Final Exam Review

Thomas Bamford

Winter 2019

Lassonde Mineral Engineering Program

University of Toronto
Final Exam Review
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Date: April 17, 2019
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Duration: 2 and ½ hrs
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Topics: Modules 1-13
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Exam Type A, Calculator Type 3
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9 Questions (5 Short Answer, 4 Calculation)
– Short Answer focuses on Modules 5-13
– Calculations focus on Modules 6-9

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Final Exam Review
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The following slides provide summaries for modules 1-13
but they may not include all testable material.
●
Notes:
– The final exam will only test on a sample of all testable
material.
– Ensure that you are familiar with material presented in
tutorials and assignments.

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1. Introduction to Surface Mining
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Types of ores: Definitions and Terminology
– Metallic (4) Mining Mining Recovery
– Non-Metallic (3) Mine Dilution
– Mineral Fuels (3) Mineral Head Grade
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Stages of a mine, their procedures, Rock Mineral Processing
time, and cost: Waste Refining / Smelting
– Prospecting (5) Ore Surface Mining
– Exploration (2) In-Situ Grade Stripping Ratio
– Feasibility Assessment (2)
– Development (4) ●
Surface Mining
– Exploitation (2) – Open Pit vs. Quarry vs. Strip
– Closure (Reclamation) (3) Mining (8 factors)
●
Mining Methods – Ore Body Configuration (5)
– Classifications for Surface (8) ●
Examples of surface mining in Canada
– Factors in Selection (7 main categories (9 provided)
with 36 factors)
– Surface vs. Underground Mining (6
advantages, 4 disadvantages)
4
2. Ore Reserve Description
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Map scale Definitions and Terminology
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Map features Mineral Resource Probable Reserve
– Topographic (3) Mineral Reserve Proved Reserve
Inferred Resource Mineral Envelope
– General area (8)
Indicated Resource Cut-off grade
– Local geology (4)
Measured Resource Break-even grade
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Mine map grid system
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QA / QC methods (5)
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Exploration drilling methods (5)
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Grade compositing
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Objectives of drilling (3)
– Drill hole
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Drilling samples (4)
– Drill hole with Specific Gravity
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Advantages (2) and issues (4) with – Bench height
diamond drilling
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Analytical laboratory methods (10)
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Effects and purpose of grade
and their elements, applications compositing (3)
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Major categories of information
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Mineral envelope characteristics
stored in an exploration database (5) (5)

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2. Ore Reserve Description
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Area of influence estimation
– Vertical sections
– Polygonal method
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Block model estimation
– ID
– ID2
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Cut-off grade uses (3)
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Cut-off grade formulations
– Ore / Waste
– Process 1 / Process 2
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Tonnage, average grade vs cut-off
grade graph

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3. Mineral Project Evaluation
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Time value of money Definitions and Formula
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Net Present Value, Payback Period, Present Value Time Period
Internal Rate of Return Future Value Feasibility Study
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Cash Flow Interest Rate Debt
Uniform Series of Equity (shares)
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Cash Flow Timing Compound Amount
– Discrete End-of-Year
– Discrete Mid-Year ●
Results of a feasibility study (3)
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Components (17) and calculation of ●
Major factors considered in a
annual cash flow feasibility study (12) and examples
(41)
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Criteria incorporated in discount rate
(5) ●
Obtaining information (13)
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Roles of feasibility study (2) ●
Mine finance options (2)
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Objective of feasibility study ●
Typical questions by investors (4
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Levels of feasibility study (3) categories, 15 detailed)
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Comparison between feasibility study ●
Sensitivity analysis
levels based on parameters (13)
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4. Costs and Revenue Evaluation
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Mining equation Definitions and Formulation
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Unit conversions (5) Percentage Penalty element
deduction
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Calculating Net Smelter Return Unit deduction By-product
(NSR)
Payable metal O’Hara freight cost
– In-situ revenue Price participation Free on Board
– Head grade revenue (FOB)
– Net revenue Refining charge Cost, Insurance
and Freight (CIF)
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Components of realization cost (4) Treatment charge O’Hara cost
estimator
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Revenue uncertainty (8)
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Common units of mineral prices (4) ●
Operating costs (3 divisions, 6
major components, 2 types)
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Forecasting mineral prices (3)
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Operating cost reporting (2)
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Effect of price on pit size
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G&A operating costs (7)
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Major types of costs (2)
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Cost estimation methods (2)
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Capital costs (9 direct, 7 indirect)
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5. Geometrical Design of Open Pit Mines
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Parameters that influence Bench Face Definitions and Formulation
Angle (3)
Bench Overall Stripping
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Main components of working bench Ratio
design (2)
Bench Height Instantaneous
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Purpose of safety benches (2) Stripping Ratio
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Double benching Bench Face Spiral Ramp
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Influences on bench height design (2) Bench Face Angle Zig-Zag Ramp
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Features of high wide benches (4 Bench Width Road Width
advantages, 4 disadvantages) Bank Width Superelevation
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Factors that increase the final pit slope Working Bench Crowning Surface
angle (4)
Cut Wearing Surface
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Impacts of pit slope angle on open pit Safety/Catch Bench Base
mining (2)
Berms (2) Bed Rock
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Periods of time used for instantaneous
stripping ratio (4) Overall Pit Slope Drop Cut
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Main geometric sequencing strategies (4) Inter-Ramp Slope
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Declining stripping ratio sequencing (4
advantages, 2 disadvantages)

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5. Geometrical Design of Open Pit Mines
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Increasing stripping ratio sequencing (2 ●
Fixed (1) and mobile (5) support
advantages, 1 disadvantage) equipment
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Constant stripping ratio sequencing (2 ●
Impacts of poor road maintenance (4
advantages, 2 disadvantages) main problems, and 6 consequent
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Phased stripping ratio sequencing (3 results)
advantages)
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Major functions of haul roads (2)
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Haul road design factors to consider (4)
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Economic implications of appropriate
design and maintenance of haul roads
(5)
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Elements of haul road design (7) in
open pit mines
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Main factors deciding selection of ramp
layout (4)
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Disadvantages of switchbacks (4) and
considerations if they are to be used
(4)

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6. Pit Slope Stability
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Main components of pit slope design Definitions and Formulation
(3) Geotechnical Planar failure with
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Impacts of pit slope angle (2) domains ground water and
rock bolting
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Slope failure consequences
(economic 6, safety/social 4) Pit sectorisation Visual inspection
Kinematic analysis Cross-crack
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Factors that influence slope stability measurement
(4)
Limit equilibrium Survey monitoring
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Types of geotechnical data (4) analysis
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Geotechnical core logging Numerical analysis Radar
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Scan line mapping Planar failure Satellite imaging
(InSAR)
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Modes of slope failure (4)
Planar failure with
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Stabilization by rock reinforcement (3) ground water
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Stabilization by scaling
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Other stabilization methods (2)
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Slope monitoring objectives (3)
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Methods of slope monitoring (6)

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7. Design of Pit Limits
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Pit characteristics that are defined Formulation and Terminology
by pit limits design (3) Cross sections Economic block
model
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Infrastructure that is planned
considering pit limits (5) Longitudinal section Break-even
stripping ratio
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Ultimate pit limits design objectives Radial sections
(2)
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Manual method of pit limits design
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Floating cone algorithm (5 steps)
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Different goals that define the
optimal design of pit limits (4)
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Floating cone algorithm issues
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Lerchs-Grossmann algorithm (3
steps)
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Combining sections to create a 3D
pit shell (Manual method, floating
cone, Lerchs-Grossmann)
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8. Production Scheduling
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Types of production planning (2) Formulation and Terminology
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Market based approach to mine Mineral Inventory Best Case
Scheduling
life-plant sizing
Grade-Tonnage Value and Tonnage
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Quantities that could be maximized Distributions vs. Pit Number
to define optimum extraction rate Graph
(3) Taylor’s Mine Life Tonnage vs. Year
Rule Graph
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Low production rate (1) vs. High
production rate (3) Worst Case
Scheduling
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Steps for mine and mill plant sizing
(8) ●
Effect of increasing mining rate
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Mine sequencing by nested pits ●
NPV dependencies on production
scheduling (2)
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Small vs. large open pit mine
common scheduling opportunities
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Factors that will create a specific
scheduling case (3)
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Effect of reducing stripping lead
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9. Mine Haulage System and Equipment
Selection
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Evolution of hauling methods in Formulation and Terminology
mining (4) Swelling factor Utilization
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Open pit mine haulage systems (4) Fill factor Rimpull
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Advantages (2) and disadvantages (3) Availability Truck availability
of using in-pit crusher
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Advantages (2) and disadvantages (6)
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Loading geometries (3) of wheel loaders
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Advantages (2) of double back-up ●
Parameters (4) to consider when
loading and advancing direction determining loading equipment
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Limitations (3) of single back-up ●
Parameters (6) that influence loading
loading and advancing direction output
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Advantage and limitations (2) of drive- ●
Tasks in the choice of haulage trucks (4)
by loading and advancing direction ●
Truck types (3)
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Advantages (4) and disadvantages (5) ●
Disadvantages (5) of trolley-assist
of electric rope shovels trucks
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Advantages (3) and disadvantages (4) ●
Elements of truck cycle times (6)
of hydraulic front shovels or backhoes
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Loading equipment and haulage unit
requirement calculations 14
10. Mine Waste Management
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Main activities (3) that generate mine Definitions and Terminology
wastes Mine wastes Waste Rock Dump
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Factors (4) that vary physical and (WRD)
chemical characteristics of Processing wastes Tailings Storage
processing wastes Facility (TSF)
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Differences (7) between mining Metallurgical
wastes
waste and processing waste
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Major (4) factors considered in WRD ●
Main components (5) of TSF cross
site selection section design
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Waste characteristics for WRD ●
Common TSF configurations (3)
design (6)
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Methods of tailings dam construction
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Common WRD configurations (5) (3)
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Objectives (2) of WRD height and ●
Objectives (3) of tailings dam design
slope angle design
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Factors that influence stability of
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Chemical and physical tailings dams (5)
characteristics of tailings (8)

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11. Environmental Impact / Mine Reclamation
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Major impacts of mining on the land Definitions and Terminology
(8) Acid Mine Drainage Environmental
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Sulphide wastes and Acid Mine (AMD) Impact Assessment
Drainage (AMD) (or Acid Rock (EIA)
Drainage (ARD)) Dry Covers Reclamation
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Processes that can form AMD (5)
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Dry Cover design
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Major and minor environmental
concerns with tailings dams (6)
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Purposes of reclamation / closure
plan (3)
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Important elements (6) that should
be considered in mine reclamation /
closure

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12. Strip Mining
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Major differences between open pit Definitions and Terminology
mining and strip mining methods (3) Strip mining / Open Contour mining
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Unit operations in strip mining (3) cast mining
Area mining
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Equipment used in overburden
removal (5)

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13. Quarry Mining
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Properties that make a rock deposit Definitions and Terminology
commercially viable as dimension Quarry mining
stone (5)
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Major unit operations in quarrying (3)
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Cutting and splitting methods (6)
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Advantages (5) and disadvantages
(3) of diamond saw methods
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Advantages (5) and disadvantages
(2) of wire saw methods

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