An optimization framework for block-cave mine planning

加拿大矿业是北美增长最快的行业之一。根据加拿大的经济行动计划，能源和矿业部门每年为政府提供300多亿美元的收入，这些收入用于支持医疗保健、教育和公共养老金等关键社会项目。加拿大对可持续和最佳地开发和利用其矿产资源负有全球责任。当今采矿业的经济状况使得主要采矿公司正在增加大规模采矿方法的使用。他们预计，到2020年，全球约50%的铜产量将来自地下矿山。这是该行业从传统露天矿向地下转移的一个步骤。在现有的采矿方法中，崩落法因其低成本和高生产率而受到青睐。大块崩落采矿法是深凹露天矿停产后继续生产的最佳方案之一。 建议的研究计划建立在我们过去的研究结果，开发一个优化框架块洞矿山规划。这项研究直接有助于创造新的知识，并为块状洞穴生产规划的创新技术。这项研究的重点是在矿山规划的背景下，运筹学的应用。预计这项研究的成果将有助于负责任的资源开发，通过资源行业的原型开放源码软件应用程序向从业人员和最终用户转让知识。 这项研究的重要性可以从不同的角度来考察。基于有限数量的影响参数的生产调度方法将导致乐观的生产调度。此外，仅依赖于基于启发式算法的手动规划方法或计算机软件将导致不是最优全局解的挖掘调度。不幸的是，常见的方法和工具，在采矿业中使用的块洞调度不足以处理的复杂性，可开采矿床的最优生产调度。此外，与块体-洞穴规划相关的决策是基于预测岩体行为和矿石回收的模型。这些模型很少考虑冶金特性的变化或空洞破碎对磨机性能的影响。 在长期规划中，新技术的开发、优化和不确定性量化在减少块洞项目的环境足迹和财务风险方面发挥着至关重要的作用。研究结果预计将导致可持续的最佳区块洞穴计划。这项研究还将导致培训HQP的关键能力，在块洞矿山设计和优化。

The Canadian mining industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in North America. According to Canada's Economic Action Plan the energy and mining sector provides over $30 billion a year in revenue to governments- money that supports critical social programs such as health care, education and public pensions. Canada has a global responsibility to develop and utilize its mineral resources sustainably and optimally. The economics of today’s mining industry are such that the major mining companies are increasing the use of massive mining methods. They expect that, approximately 50 percent of the world’s copper production will come from underground mines by 2020. It is a step change for the industry, from the traditional open-pit to a move underground. Among the mining methods available, caving methods are favored because of their low-cost and high-production rates. Block-cave mining is one of the best solutions for continuing the operation after shutting down the mine in deep open-pit mines. The proposed research program builds on our past findings to develop an optimization framework for block-cave mine planning. This research directly contributes to the creation of new knowledge, and innovative technologies for block-cave production planning. This research is focused on applications of operations research in the context of mine planning. It is anticipated that the outcome of this research will contribute to responsible resource development by transferring knowledge to practitioners and end-users through prototype open-source software applications in the resources industry. The importance of this study can be examined from different perspectives. A production scheduling methodology that is based on a limited number of influential parameters will lead to optimistic production schedules. Also, relying only on manual planning methods or computer software that is based on heuristic algorithms will lead to mine schedules that are not the optimal global solution. Unfortunately, common methodologies and tools used in mining industry for block-cave scheduling are not adequate in dealing with the complexity of the optimal production scheduling of mineable deposits. Moreover, decisions related to block-cave planning are based on models that predict the behavior of rock masses and the recovery of ore. Rarely do these models account for variation in metallurgical characteristics or the influence of cave fragmentation on mill performance. Development of new technologies, optimization, and uncertainty quantification in long-term planning play a vital role in reducing environmental footprint and financial risk of block-cave projects. The outcome of the research is expected to result in sustainable optimal block-cave plans. This research will also result in training HQP with key capabilities in block-cave mine design and optimization.