PRODUCTION OF BLASTING OPERATIONS FOR A GIVEN GRANULOMETRIC COMPOSITION OF ORE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE «MINE-TO-MILL» CONCEPT: CURRENT STATE AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

Relevance. The conditions for reducing the content of the valuable component in the ore, increasing the depth of mining and reducing the unallocated fund of deposits induce the necessity of development of effective solutions for the «mine-to-mill» process, which must be adapted for each specific mining enterprise and will optimize production costs. The aim of the study was to develop a methodological approach to assess the influence of technological factors on the production chain of cost formation from mining to grinding ore. The objects of the research are open-cut gold deposits in Russia. Methods: analysis of the best technological practices of gold mining, including the analysis of foreign and domestic experience in organizing mining and ore preparation processes; impact assessment of the particle size distribution of ore on the technological and operational parameters and performance of the mining equipment in the open pit, crushing and screening complex and grinding equipment of the gold processing plant (productivity, cycle analysis, energy consumption and standard materials). Results. We provide an overview of the current state of the issue of drilling and blasting operations for a particle size distribution within the «mine-to-mill» concept for the conditions of opencast mining of ore gold. Scientific research is focused on achieving maximum productivity of the mining and conveyor equipment of the quarry, the crushing and screening complex and the grinding equipment of the gold processing plant. This will allow not only obtaining a stable quality of recovered raw materials, optimizing the costs of further ore preparation, but also increasing the recovery ratio according to the principles of sustainable subsurface use. Basing on the experience of world practice in the production of drilling and blasting operations, we provide blasting design recommendations for a target particle size distribution within «mine-to-mill» concept.

Keywords

• drilling and blasting
• mine-to-mill
• particle size distribution
• quarry
• mining of ore gold
• cost optimization