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MNTC 413 Surface Mine Design Units: 4.00
This course presents a comprehensive overview of the principal components of surface mine design. Topics include pit limit analysis and economic optimization, haul road design, blast design, and basic stability calculations. Equipment selection and application and mine scheduling techniques will be introduced, including dragline applications. The focus will be on the practical application of design techniques to mine planning, and on the available equipment and methods for field monitoring to provide effective design feedback and support safe operations. Available Online.
K4 (Lec: Yes, Lab: No, Tut: No)
K4 (Lec: Yes, Lab: No, Tut: No)
Requirements: Prerequisites: MNTC 305, MNTC 307, and MNTC 314 or permission of the Department.
Corequisites:
Exclusions: MINE 341
Offering Term: FWS
CEAB Units:
Mathematics 12
Natural Sciences 0
Complementary Studies 0
Engineering Science 12
Engineering Design 24
Offering Faculty: Smith Engineering
Course Learning Outcomes:
- Describe surface mining techniques.
- Explain how the environment is impacted by surface mining.
- Describe the difference between estimating and simulating an orebody block model. Calculate ore cut off grades given various constraints. Calculate bulk density.
- Apply pit limit analysis algorithms in two dimensions.
- Sequence blocks using constraints such as various slope stability angles, mining capacity and milling capacity.
- Design production rates for a surface mining operation. Relate production rates to mining and milling capacities.
- Describe mine planning fundamentals and formulate short-term mine plans. Relate capacity selection to market structure and economic considerations. Calculate whether blocks are ore or waste using the minimum loss or maximum profit formulas. Delineate dig limits and describe the relationship between dig limits and equipment size. Design a bed-blending operation. Reconcile actual to planned grades. Develop a gap management strategy.
- Select equipment for excavation, loading, hauling using the time value of money and compatibility to a proposed mine design.
- Describe the current state of automation for each type of equipment in open pit mining. Be able to assess the future trends of automated equipment. Describe support services needed and the impact automation will have on the workforce.
- Describe bench geometry and design benches in open pit mines. Solve slope stability problems including calculation of a safety factor.
- Identify sources of water in surface mines. Describe current dewatering strategies and design a dewatering circuit. Select the correct type and size of pumps based for a dewatering circuit.
- Critique haul road designs using best practices in safety and operational design. Describe the importance of haul roads, design and maintain haul roads.
- List the elements of open pit operating costs. Describe open pit capital costs. Evaluate the impact changing operating and capital costs have on equipment selection.
- Analyze case studies using learning objectives 1 through 13.