The objective of mine planning is to produce a plan for the extraction of a mineral resource that can be executed safely and for a profit. In this course students will demonstrate that the practice of mine planning varies along a spectrum from long range planning through to short term planning with the distinguishing factor being the required level of detail in the mine plan. In the context of long term planning, students will study underground mine design principles such as mining method selection, mine design methodology, mine scheduling and mineral reserves. A progression towards short term planning will lead to the exploration of topics including underground drill and blast design, ground support requirements, ventilation, backfill and reconciliation. Modern mine planning practices involve the application of technology to facilitate mine design, optimization and scheduling. These techniques will be discussed and some of the tools being used in the mining industry will be used in this course. Available Online.
(Lec: 3, Lab: 0, Tut: 0)