Justification of Logistical System Development at Svetlinskiy Open-Pit Mine with Account for Potential Transition to Combined Open Cast and Underground Mining Methods
Introduction: Mining and geological features of ore vein occurrence at Svetlinskiy Open-Pit Mine, irregular distribution of gold ore inclusions, prospective reserve increment with increasing depths, the need for timely transition to combined opencast and underground mining operations have served as the ground for justification of the strategy to implement innovative combined geotechnologies with introduction of complex process automation and cyclic-flow technology for ore transportation. Objective: creation of competing versions of logistical systems for ore and overburden haulage aiming to cut costs concerned with ore delivery from the open pit to the processing plant. Methodology: development of a mathematical model that would account for the use of different modes of transportation, the number and location of mined rock production and transloading stations, areas of ore and overburden accumulation and unloading/stockpiling as well as the cost of ore and overburden haulage. Results: the designed mathematical economic model helped to define that with the view of prospective transition to the combined development of the deposit, the optimal location of the ore transloading station is the site with the actual elevation of +287 m. The following two competing options have been selected for overburden haulage: a) a site in the central part of the Western pit wall; b) a site in the central part of the South-Eastern pit wall. The final selection of the site should be done after the prospective mining development plan is specified.