WS 2002
Department of Mining Engineering
UMR
MIN 325 - MINING METHODS FOR METALS AND INDUSTRIAL MINERALS
Section on Surface Mining
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Note: This is the first section of this course and the information that follows deals with this section only.
The second section, Underground Mining, will be taught by Dr. Bullock beginning on or around March
11. Each of the two sections has equal weight & counts for 50% of the final mark in this course.
What will you learn? Upon completion of this section of the course you will be able to:
 Decide if a deposit can be mined using a surface mining method
 Select the suitable surface mining method given the geology, location and other properties of a
deposit
 Decide what is to be mined, propose suitable mine design and equipment deployment, and estimate
the unit cost of mining.
NOTE:
Refer to http://Blackboard.umr.edu for full details. Login with usual UMR’s UserID and Password.
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CONTENTS
General information. Material properties: swell, bank vs. loose measure, fill factors, etc.
Module 1: Mine planning and design (approximately 10 lecture hours)
Stripping ratios
Geological, mining: overall, incremental
Underground or surface mining?
Economic pit depth
Grade cut-off and stripping ratios
Mine planning
Deposit models: geological, economic
Types of plans
Long range planning
Targets
Mine life, Pit limit definition
Manual
Heuristic algorithms
Mathematical algorithms
Short-range mine planning
Targets, Methods, Production scheduling
Mine design
Slopes, benches, etc.
Haulroads, other pit design features
Dump design
Other topics
Module 2: Surface mining methods (approximately 10 lecture hours)
Open pit mining
Applications
Truck-shovel mining
Types and applications of trucks
Types and applications of loaders
Fleet management
Haul roads (Ref. MIN 217)
Tires
Placer (alluvial) mining
Reference
(3) Ch.4.10
(2) Ch.23.2.
(3) Ch. 5.2
(3) Ch. 5.3
(3) Ch 5.
(3) Ch.5.2
(3) Ch.5.4
(3) Ch. 5.5-7
(3) Ch.6
THE
NUMBERS IN
BRACKETS
IDENTIFY THE
RELEVANT
REFERENCE
(see
“References”
below)
(3) Ch. 4.6-8
(3) Ch. 4.9
(2), (3), (4)
(4) 6.5.2; 6.5
(4) Ch. 6.3
(4) Ch. 6.5.9
(3) Ch.4.9
(1)
(2) Ch. 22.3
1
Applications, Sluicing, Dredging
(2) Ch. 22.3, 22.8
Strip mining – a review (Ref. MIN 343)
Applications, Stripping shovels, Draglines
(4) Ch. 6.3, (2) Ch.13
Continuous mining
(2) Ch.13.3, (4) 9.2
Bucketwheel excavator – conveyor systems, across-the-pit systems
Combined systems & in-pit crushing
Material diggability, matching the productivity of system components
Other mining methods
Bulldozing, Scrapers, Continuous surface miners, other
Mining method selection
(2), (4)
Module 3: Production rates and costs in cyclical mining (approximately 6 lecture hours)
Estimating production rates in cyclical mining
Basic concepts, cycle time estimation
(1)
Fleet size and its production estimation
(1)
Mining costs: Comparing the costs of various production scenarios
(1)
REFERENCES
1. Caterpillar Performance Handbook, 29th edition or later. See notes below.
2. Hartman, H.L.(ed.). 1992. SME Mining Engineering Handbook, 2 nd ed. SME (available free of charge
online at www.smenet.org if you are a member of SME)
3. Hustrulid, W. and Kuchta, M. 1995. Open Pit Mine Planning and Design. A.A. Balkema,
Rotterdam/Brookfield – best book for this class and for the future reference. BUY IT!
4. Kennedy, B.A. (ed). 1990. Surface Mining, 2nd ed. SME
Note: #2 and #3 can be purchased through the Department. Check with Tammy for details.
MARKING
1. You will be required to prepare and submit four home assignments spaced one to two weeks apart.
Each assignment will count for 8% of the mark (total of 32% for assignments). In addition:
2. There will be a one-hour long exam on or around March 8 (exact date to be announced 2 wks in
advance) that counts for 50% of your mark. Furthermore, you will have to take
3. Six quizzes, an average one a week, each quiz counting for 3% of your mark
Overall this section counts for ½ of your MIN 325 mark, the other half to be earned in Dr. Bullock’s section
of the course.
GENERAL INFORMATION
 Attend the lectures, as some of the material may not be readily available. Up to 10% of your overall
mark may be deducted for non-attendance. Take notes. Collect handouts.
 Actively participate in Discussion Board exchanges. Unless you post at least eight (8) messages, you
will loose marks: up to 10% maximum if I do not see any entries from you.
 Make sure that you have an access to the required references. A copy of CAT Performance
Handbook (30th edition) is installed on Mining CLC computers, courtesy of the Caterpillar Inc. Buy the
textbook (ref. #3) and secure access to other references.
 In addition to the lectures, tutorials will be held to help with your work on home assignments.
Scheduled several days before the assignments are due, their exact timing and location is to be
agreed to during the lectures, to fit everyone’s schedules.
 All deadlines (homework, etc.) will be strictly enforced. Late submissions: 30% penalty for the first
week, 50% penalty for two weeks of delay. No mark given for submissions more than two weeks late,
however, you will still have to submit the work to get a pass in this course!!!!!
 Topics covered in this course are of paramount importance to a mining engineer and you are
strongly advised to study these carefully and in-depth. MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE
BASIC IDEAS AND CONCEPTS. Think of these and demand explanations until you are sure that you
understand! If needed, ask for tutorials or make a special appointment with the instructor.
 If you experience problems, contact your friendly course instructor (see below) without delay. Note
that this is very intensive (4 hrs/wk) course. No margin for taking things easy!
HOW TO GET HOLD OF YOUR FRIENDLY INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Tad S. Golosinski, Rm. 280 McNutt Hall, golosins@umr.edu. If you want to see me, make an
appointment (during the lecture), use e-mail, or take your chance and check Rm. 280 in McNutt ……
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