Mining Pipe-Shaped Ore Deposits

Bell, Peter (2018): Mining Pipe-Shaped Ore Deposits.

Abstract

This paper provides a rough comparison of two mine plans for a hypothetical, pipe-shaped ore body. The geometry for the ore body is based on stylized example of an auriferous tourmaline breccia pipes associated with porphyry deposits, which can have great vertical extent and relatively small surficial expression. I suppose the pipe outcrops on a hillside and can be accessed from the base of the hill, allowing the miner to enter the pipe at the midpoint of the vertical extent. Accessing the pipe in the middle allows the miner to either go up or downwards and this paper explores one mining method for each case. I calculate basic statistics associated with each method and compare the two models for mining method.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Engineering Economics, Mining
• Subjects: C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C0 - General > C00 - General; G - Financial Economics > G0 - General > G00 - General; L - Industrial Organization > L7 - Industry Studies: Primary Products and Construction > L72 - Mining, Extraction, and Refining: Other Nonrenewable Resources

References

Bell, P. (2017). " Valuation of Net Smelter Return Royalty for a Cu-Au Tourmaline Breccia Pipe Mining Project," MPRA Paper 87074, University Library of Munich, Germany. Retrieved from https://ideas.repec.org/p/pra/mprapa/87074.html

Deep Exploration Technologies Cooperative Research Centre (2018). What is DET CRC? Retrieved from http://detcrc.com.au/about/what-is-det-crc/