MINING 101

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND

WORKSHOP
BY

F GOMEZ & M TORRES

APRIL 2016 PLANT MANAGERS MEETING
RAPID CITY, SD

April 27, 2016

CHAPTER I

ELEMENTS & MINERALS:

THE BASIC BULDING BLOCKS OF EVERYTHING

Origin of the elements and minerals

Rock forming minerals
Metallic minerals

Industrial minerals
Magnetite
(Fe3O4)
Gypsum

Pumice

Minerals
A Mineral is an inorganic,
naturally occurring solid that
has a definite chemical
composition and atomic
structure.

Rock forming minerals

See video 01
Rocks and minerals
6

Rock Types
Igneous

Sedimentary
Metamorphic

Rock Types
Igneous

Rock Types
Sedimentary

10

Rock Types
Metamorphic

11

Structures that affect rocks

Joints - fractures
Faults - fractures with displacement
Normal faults
Reverse faults
Strike slip faults

Folds - warped rock

Anticline
Syncline
12

See video 02
Fractures & Faults
13

Concepts
Strike & dip

Hanging wall & footwall

14

Exercise

Identify joints and faults.

Label all the footwalls and hanging walls
that you can spot

15

Folds

16

See video 03
Folds
17

CHAPTER II

CIVILIZATION:

THE RESULT OF MINING MINERALS AND ROCKS

18

Definition of Mining
Mining is the process of extracting metallic
and non-metallic mineral deposits from the
Earth and processing the ore to recover
valuable material.

19

Types of Mines
Open Pit Mines
Underground Mines

20

See video 04
Mining
21

Definition of Ore Body

An Ore is the naturally occurring material from which a mineral or minerals of economic value can be
extracted profitably or to satisfy social, political or military objectives.

Ore body is a mineral deposit that has been demonstrated to be economic through engineering and
economic analysis.

22

Ore Bodies
Ores recovered by mining include metals, coal, oil shale, gemstones, limestone,

dimension stone, rock salt, potash, gravel, and clay.

Fluorite CaF2 (Fluor ore)
Iron ore

Limestone

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CHAPTER III

EXPLORATION:

THE SEARCH, LOCATION & APPRAISAL OF AN

ORE BODY

24

Exploration Techniques
Prospection (finding the target)

Detailed exploration (target area defined)

Literature search, USGS, Universities

Detailed geological mapping & sampling

Geologic maps

Drilling

Satellite imagery

Core drilling

Aerial reconnaissance

Chip drilling

Field reconnaissance
Geophysical surveys
Geochemical surveys

Track / Rotary

Reverse Circulation

Sampling

Determining sample length

Calculating weighted averages

Area of influence around a drill hole

25

Prospection
(finding the target)
Literature search, USGS, Universities
Geologic maps

Satellite imagery
Aerial reconnaissance

26

Prospection
(finding the target)
Field reconnaissance
Geophysical surveys - Using the physical properties

Geochemical surveys - Using the chemistry

properties

27

Detailed exploration
(target area defined)
Detailed geological mapping & sampling
Drilling
Core drilling
Chip drilling

Track / Rotary

Reverse Circulation

28

Detailed exploration
(target area defined)
Chip drilling
Track / Rotary
Reverse Circulation

29

Detailed exploration
(target area defined)
Sampling
Determining sample length
Calculating weighted averages
Area of influence around a drill hole

30

Sampling theory and practice

Sampling is he only practical and the economical way we have to infer knowledge about a
specific universe in order to answer specific questions.

In order for this knowledge to be valid, the sample must be representative of that specific
universe.
Since the sample is always a very small portion, its representativity will depend on the
uniformity of that universe.

31

Core hole sampling

32

Determining sample length

33

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Calculating weighted averages

SAMPLE

DEPTH

THICKNESS

GRADE

N-1

10

N-2

12

N-3

N-4

7.5

1.5

TOTAL THICKNESS

Weighted Average =

()
()

7.5

+ + +(.)
.

= 9.27
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Geologic interpretation

36

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Example

39

CHAPTER IV

TECHNICAL & ECONOMIC

EVALUATION OF AN ORE BODY:
EXPLORATION SUCCESS, THE TARGET HAS BEEN FOUND

40

See video 05
Evaluation of an Ore body

41

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e.g. Carlson Software

Can use all the geological information

44

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GRADE MODEL

Cant use all the geological data, as

chip samples and track drills.

46

Grade distribution in the Ore Body

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50

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PFS= Pre-Feasibility Study

Old Reserve Classification Scheme

I.

Classification by degree of certainly

Proven

> 90 %

Probable

70 90 %

Inferred

50 70 %

II.

Classification by economic category

ECONOMIC: Value of block pays for mining processing and

leaves a profit.

MARGINAL: Value of block doesnt pay for mining but can be

processed economically.
SUBECONOMIC: Does not pay for mining or processing.

RESERVES

RESOURCES

Proven

Measured
The economic value has been removed from the equation.

Probable

Indicated
Inferred

52

53

Cut-off Grade
Defines the minimum economic concentration of values in a ton of ore that can be mined and
processed at a profit.
It defines the break even grade and value per ton art a given commodity market value.

Example of a Break Even Cut-off Grade

Estimation for a Gold Deposit

Mining cost= $ 2.00/ Ton

Processing cost= $ 18.00/Ton

Operating & administrative cost= $ 2.00/Ton

Au Sales price= $ 1,200/oz

Royalty, refining & sales= 4 % (of sales)

Recovery= 80 %

COG =

+ + &
+ +

COG =
1 Troy ounce= 31.1 grams, so

$ 2.00 +$ 18.00 +$ 2.00

$ 1,200 $ 1,200 0.04 0.80

0.023 x 31.1 =

$ 22.00

$ 1,152 0.80

When the Cut-off grade is kept constant

Price drops = We will be processing waste.
Price increases= We will be wasting ore.

CHAPTER V

THE MINING PLAN

57

Quarry equipment requirements

58

Carlson Mining Software

Is a software used (mostly) for create:
geological models, reserve estimation, grade
estimation and mining design.

59

Carlson Mining Software

Topographic map
Drill hole location map

Drill hole lithology and assay table

60

Quarry Production:
Drilling and Blasting
61

See video 06
Drilling and Blasting
62

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Quarry Production: Drilling and Blasting

Anatomy of the production drill hole

69

Explosives
Commercial explosives
There are four main categories:

Dynamite
Slurries
ANFO

Two-component explosives

70

Initiation mechanisms
Initiation and delay devices
Non-electric

Electric blasting caps

Electronic blasting caps
Delay blasting caps
Detonating core

71

Quarry Production: Drilling and Blasting

How to properly load a production hole
Click here

The load factor

DISEO DE VOLADURAS VARIANDO DIAMETRO Y ALTURA DE BANCO
DIAMETRO BARRENO
ALTURA DE BANCO

3 pulg. (este valor se puede cambiar)

10 m

(este valor se puede cambiar)

Parmetros de diseo de una voladura

Burden (B)
Espaciamiento (E)
Taco (T)
Sub-barrenacion (S)
Longitud de carga (Lq)
T

BORDO
ESPACIAMIENTO
TACO
SUBBARRENACIN
LONGITUD TOTAL DE BARRENO

2.29
3.20
2.29
0.80
10.80

m
m
m
m

20 a 30 veces el diametro del barreno

1-1.8 veces el Bordo
0.7 A 1.3 veces el bordo
0.2-0.5 veces el bordo
altura de banco mas subbarrenacin

B
Lq

CALCULO DE EXPLOSIVO
ALTO
ANFO

5%
95%

* La relacion entre alto-bajo explosivo

debe estar entre (2-15/98-85) %

Parmetros de diseo de una voladura

Los parmetros de diseo dependern de mtodo de explotacin de la
mina, de las caractersticas de la mineralizacin y de las propiedades

LONGITUD DE CARGA EN EL BARRENO

LONGITUD A CARGAR DE ALTO EXPLOSIVO
LONGITUD A CARGAR DEL BAJO EXPLOSIVO
CANTIDAD DE ALTO EXPLOSIVO
CANTIDAD DE AGENTE EXPLOSIVO

8.51
0.43
8.09
2.23
27.6

Longitud total del barreno menos taco

Longitud de carga en el barreno por el porcentaje del bajo explosivo
Longitud de carga en el barreno por el porcentaje del alto explosivo
4.56 son los kilogramos que caben en un metro de un barreno de 3"
1.15 densidad del alto explosivo, 0.80 densidad del bajo explosivo
Estos datos estan en el manual de consulta para el usuario de ORICA
(se lo d en el Deny's)

geomcnicas del macizo rocoso.

De acuerdo a lo anterior, lo primero que se define es:

Nota.- Los estandares que usen en este clculo son los ms usados pero obviamente se deben de variar despus de observar las
primeras voladuras e ir ajustando constantemente. Para valores iguales o menos a un metro de altura de banco el cargado es practicamente artesanal
se debe usar no mas de dos kilogramos de explosivo.

Altura de banco (H)

Dimetro de perforacin (D)
D
H

72

Vibration and Noise

Peak Particle Velocity Prediction
1.6
D
PPV =

Required Charge Weight (Per Delay)

to Produce 134 dB (OSM STD)

W=

73

Rock Mechanics
The Tijeras quarry rock slides
Pre-existing fractures

Influence of the mining method on the rock slides

The Bingham Canyon rock slide example

74

Tijeras Quarry Joint System

75

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See video 07
Bingham Canyon Mine
Rock slide
77

RESERVE ESTIMATION
EXERCISE
78

Reserve estimation exercise

79

Reserve estimation exercise

EXPLORATION RESULTS
Hole
Number

Easting

Interval
From-to (m)

Intercept (m)

Grade Au
(units/ton)

Northing

DH-25

10 200

500

50 - 60

10

4.5

DH-26

10 200

600

53 - 62

3.8

DH-27

10 200

700

55 - 60

3.1

DH-28

10 150

800

58 - 64

3.2

DH-15

10 100

500

60 - 66

3.0

DH-16

10 100

600

63 - 69

3.1

DH-17

10 100

700

66 - 70

2.9

DH-05

10 000

500

69 - 72

2.8

DH-06

10 000

600

71 - 73

2.5

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EXPLORATION RESULTS EXERCISE

Hole
Number

Block #

DH-25

25

2.6

39.38

DH-26

26

2.6

39.38

DH-27

27

2.6

39.38

DH-28

28

2.6

39.38

DH-15

15

2.6

39.38

DH-16

16

2.6

39.38

DH-17

17

2.6

39.38

DH-05

05

2.6

39.38

DH-06

06

2.6

39.38

Area (m2)

Ore
thickness

Volume (m3)

Density
(Ton/m3)

Metric Tons

Grade Au
(gr/ton)

Gold value
per gram

Value of each mton

(in situ)

Reserve
Classification

Ounces of
Au

81

EXPLORATION RESULTS EXERCISE USING CARLSON

Hole
Number

Block #

Area (m2)

Ore
thickness

Volume (m3)

Density
(Ton/m3)

Metric Tons

Grade Au
(gr/ton)

Gold value
per gram

DH-25

25

10 000.0

8.49

83 575.3

2.6

217 295.9

4.01

39.38

DH-26

26

10 000.0

7.68

76 767.2

2.6

199 594.7

3.62

39.38

DH-27

27

10 000.0

5.58

55 808.2

2.6

145 101.2

3.21

39.38

DH-28

28

10 000.0

5.67

56 706.9

2.6

147 438.0

3.16

39.38

DH-15

15

10 000.0

5.97

58 741.3

2.6

152 727.4

3.17

39.38

DH-16

16

10 000.0

5.67

56 716.8

2.6

147 463.6

3.13

39.38

DH-17

17

10 000.0

4.77

47 654.8

2.6

123 902.4

3.02

39.38

DH-05

05

10 000.0

3.80

36 814.8

2.6

95 718.6

2.89

39.38

DH-06

06

10 000.0

3.35

32 934.4

2.6

85 629.5

2.78

39.38

Value of each mton

(in situ)

Reserve
Classification

Ounces of
Au

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