An optimization framework for block-cave mine planning

加拿大的采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，能源和采矿业每年为政府提供超过300亿美元的收入，这些钱用于支持医疗保健、教育和公共养老金等关键的社会项目。加拿大负有以可持续和最佳方式开发和利用其矿产资源的全球责任。当今采矿业的经济状况是这样的，主要的矿业公司正在增加大规模采矿方法的使用。他们预计，到2020年，全球大约50%的铜产量将来自地下矿山。这是该行业的一个重大转变，从传统的露天开采转向地下开采。在现有的采矿方法中，崩落法因其成本低、产量高而受到青睐。块洞开采是深露天矿停矿后继续生产的最佳解决方案之一。****建议的研究计划建立在我们过去的研究结果的基础上，以开发一个块洞矿山规划的优化框架。这一研究直接有助于块状溶洞生产规划的新知识和创新技术的创造。本研究的重点是运筹学在矿山规划中的应用。预计这项研究的结果将通过资源行业的原型开源软件应用程序将知识传递给从业者和最终用户，从而有助于负责任的资源开发。****这项研究的重要性可以从不同的角度来考察。基于有限数量的有影响的参数的生产调度方法将导致乐观的生产调度。此外，仅依靠人工规划方法或基于启发式算法的计算机软件将导致采矿调度不是全局最优解。不幸的是，采矿业中用于块洞调度的常用方法和工具不足以处理可采矿床最优生产调度的复杂性。此外，与块状洞室规划相关的决策是基于预测岩体行为和矿石回收率的模型。这些模型很少考虑冶金特征的变化或洞室破碎对磨机性能的影响。****新技术的开发、优化和长期规划中的不确定性量化对减少块状洞洞项目的环境足迹和财务风险至关重要。研究结果有望产生可持续的最优块洞方案。这项研究还将培养具有块状洞室矿山设计和优化关键能力的HQP

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.**