Mining Goes Digital – Mueller et al. (Eds)
© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-367-33604-2
257
Multi stage dumping sequence—a new approach for waste disposal
B.T. Kuckartz & R.L. Peroni
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
ABSTRACT: The mining industry has developed several strategies to optimize ore
extraction along past decades. Ore is related to the mine incomes, thus research regarding
mine planning focus on ore extraction. However, to mine ore blocks it is necessary to move
large volumes of waste material. It is estimated that waste haulage and disposal might
represent more than 50% of operational costs, which highlights the importance of integrating
waste management in mine planning. Definition of waste dumps can be a complex and difficult task as it relies on several technical and environmental aspects. This paper proposes a
new approach for waste disposal called a Multi Stage Dumping Sequence (MSDS), which
allocates temporary waste dumps along the way to final dump destination. Although this
method demands material re-handling, if well planned, it provides additional time to design
and license final waste dump site, and yet, resulting increases in NPV by reducing haulage
distances.
1 INTRODUCTION
Mine planning optimization evolved in many aspects in the last decades, aided by mathematical
programming and processing software which provide the necessary tools to solve complex and
multivariable problems. There are several software and studies regarding mine planning optimization (Li et al. 2012), such as pit limits definition (Dagdelen, 2001, Deutsch et al. 2015,
Dimitrakopoulos, 2007; Espinoza et al., 2013) and extraction sequencing (Askari-Nasab et al.
2011, Caccetta et al. 2003; Dimitrakopoulos & Ramazan, 2003, Ramazan & Dimitrakopoulos,
2013, Lambert et al. 2014, Waqar Ali Asad & Dimitrakopoulos, 2012). Profit and incomes are
typically related to ore extraction from the mine, thus research regarding mine planning focus
on ore optimization and sequencing to maximize the net present value (NPV). However, to get
to the ore, it is necessary to remove large mass/volumes of waste material in order to reach ore
blocks. The total amount of waste rock depends on stripping ratio and varies from deposit to
deposit, nevertheless, it is usually larger than ore quantities.
Waste portions of the mineral deposit do not deliver any profit (Li et al. 2012), given that
this material has zero or not enough grade to justify processing. This material is sent to rock
dumps which is a necessary mining structure. It is estimated that waste haulage and disposal
might represent more than 50% of operational costs (Lizotte & Bonates, 1986). The authors
highlight the importance to find ways to reduce transportation cost and integrate the waste
management in the mine planning.
Permanent nature of waste dump sites is important to consider not only technical and
economic aspects, but also for environmental issues before defining its location (Hekmat et al.
2008). Therefore, dump location is not necessarily the best economical alternative or the one
which represents the lower cost option, but a solution that also comply with environmental
issues, geotechnical stability, geochemical and physical aspects (Ortiz, 2017, Zinck, 2004). All
these factors contribute to make this decision very complex, especially in the early stages of
a project, when planners must choose the ideal location in order to avoid re-handling and
reduce haulage costs.
Some studies concerning waste rock sequencing and dump optimization (Askari-Nasab &
Ben-Awuah, 2011, Fu et al. 2016, Graskoski et al. 2013; Li et al. 2013, Li et al. 2015, Li et al.
© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-367-33604-2
257
Multi stage dumping sequence—a new approach for waste disposal
B.T. Kuckartz & R.L. Peroni
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
ABSTRACT: The mining industry has developed several strategies to optimize ore
extraction along past decades. Ore is related to the mine incomes, thus research regarding
mine planning focus on ore extraction. However, to mine ore blocks it is necessary to move
large volumes of waste material. It is estimated that waste haulage and disposal might
represent more than 50% of operational costs, which highlights the importance of integrating
waste management in mine planning. Definition of waste dumps can be a complex and difficult task as it relies on several technical and environmental aspects. This paper proposes a
new approach for waste disposal called a Multi Stage Dumping Sequence (MSDS), which
allocates temporary waste dumps along the way to final dump destination. Although this
method demands material re-handling, if well planned, it provides additional time to design
and license final waste dump site, and yet, resulting increases in NPV by reducing haulage
distances.
1 INTRODUCTION
Mine planning optimization evolved in many aspects in the last decades, aided by mathematical
programming and processing software which provide the necessary tools to solve complex and
multivariable problems. There are several software and studies regarding mine planning optimization (Li et al. 2012), such as pit limits definition (Dagdelen, 2001, Deutsch et al. 2015,
Dimitrakopoulos, 2007; Espinoza et al., 2013) and extraction sequencing (Askari-Nasab et al.
2011, Caccetta et al. 2003; Dimitrakopoulos & Ramazan, 2003, Ramazan & Dimitrakopoulos,
2013, Lambert et al. 2014, Waqar Ali Asad & Dimitrakopoulos, 2012). Profit and incomes are
typically related to ore extraction from the mine, thus research regarding mine planning focus
on ore optimization and sequencing to maximize the net present value (NPV). However, to get
to the ore, it is necessary to remove large mass/volumes of waste material in order to reach ore
blocks. The total amount of waste rock depends on stripping ratio and varies from deposit to
deposit, nevertheless, it is usually larger than ore quantities.
Waste portions of the mineral deposit do not deliver any profit (Li et al. 2012), given that
this material has zero or not enough grade to justify processing. This material is sent to rock
dumps which is a necessary mining structure. It is estimated that waste haulage and disposal
might represent more than 50% of operational costs (Lizotte & Bonates, 1986). The authors
highlight the importance to find ways to reduce transportation cost and integrate the waste
management in the mine planning.
Permanent nature of waste dump sites is important to consider not only technical and
economic aspects, but also for environmental issues before defining its location (Hekmat et al.
2008). Therefore, dump location is not necessarily the best economical alternative or the one
which represents the lower cost option, but a solution that also comply with environmental
issues, geotechnical stability, geochemical and physical aspects (Ortiz, 2017, Zinck, 2004). All
these factors contribute to make this decision very complex, especially in the early stages of
a project, when planners must choose the ideal location in order to avoid re-handling and
reduce haulage costs.
Some studies concerning waste rock sequencing and dump optimization (Askari-Nasab &
Ben-Awuah, 2011, Fu et al. 2016, Graskoski et al. 2013; Li et al. 2013, Li et al. 2015, Li et al.