A new stope optimization for underground mining operations

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Canada is a resource-endowed country and generally known with underground mines. Metal recoveries in underground mines are usually low due to prominent dilution and the operation costs are high. Since production decisions are governed by rock mechanics, there is also no big maneuvering room to make major modifications throughout mining operations. Therefore, the planning stage has a vital role for a successful production. Over the last few years, global mineral industries have experienced with falling prices, which cause an extra challenge in such a way as to bring underground mining operations on the brink of profit margin. One way to respond to these challenges is to rationalize the operations through optimizing production layouts and determining sequences without the violation of geo-technical, stability of openings, backfill curing, dilution, capacity and grade requirements. Thanks to new operation research and computer technologies, production layout and sequencing problem can be re-formulated and solved by emerging techniques. This problem can be expressed as linear/non-linear optimization problems suiting the production method and associated constraints. To generate applicable optimization models, it is required to understand the interactions among geo-technical characterization, drilling/blasting practices, backfill curing, dilution and recovery. This research addresses to (1) quantify these interactions, which are inputted to the models, and (2) develop the optimization models such that the best extraction configurations will be generated. Goldcorp, one of global leader companies in gold mining, always concerns about improving their underground mining operations and expressed an interest to collaborate with McGill researchers to develop the optimization models for production layout and sequencing. This innovative research will make Goldcorp more powerful and competitive in mineral industries. This ENGAGE support will also assist Goldcorp in establishing long-term research collaboration with the applicant's research team in which efficient and productive mine optimization practices will be introduced to Canadian mining industry.