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Examination for the Bachelor of Engineering School of Civil & Environmental Engineering) Semester 2, 2009

Course ID: 103962

INTRODUCTION TO MINING ENGINEERING (Undergraduate) C&ENVENG 1011 10 mins 120 mins 130 mins

Official Reading Time: Writing Time: Total Duration:

Instructions for Candidates This is a closed-book examination. No course materials (lecture slides, textbooks, notes) can be brought into the exam Please, ANSWER ANY FOUR (4) OF THE SIX QUESTIONS; the questions are of equal marks. Each question has multiple parts that should be answered. Your exam question paper must be submitted together with your exam answer booklets. Make sure you complete the details at the top-right corner of this page. Show all calculations and assumptions. If you believe that a parameter or an important piece of information has been inadvertently omitted by the examiner, assume a suitable value, clearly stating it, and continue with the solution. Write your answers clearly in your exam booklet, clearly mark the question number, e.g., Question 1 Part b. Illegible writings will not be marked.

Permitted Materials The use of calculators is permitted, this equipment to be supplied by the candidate. No pre-recorded material or calculator instruction book is permitted, and calculators with remote communication links will be barred from the examination room.

DO NOT COMMENCE WRITING UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO

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Course ID: 103962

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QUESTION 1 (25 marks) MINING GEOLOGY AND RESOURCE ESTIMATION a) Draw the diagram showing the relationship between exploration information, mineral resources and ore reserves according to the JORC Code; write a brief definition of each category of mineral resources and ore reserves. [8 marks] b) A diamond drill hole coring 3-m runs intersected the hanging wall of a vein at 19.5m and went into the footwall 28.3m. A high grade zone was noted between the 23 and 25-m interval. The core was split and assayed as shown in Table 1. Complete the table (distance column) and estimate the weighted average assay value for this intersection. [7 marks] Table 1 Core Assay From (m) To (m) Sample Assay (g Au/t) Length (m) 19.5 21.3 10.7 21.3 23.5 8.9 23.5 24.4 19.2 24.4 25.1 21.0 25.1 27.4 13.1 27.4 28.3 7.6 c) ABC Mining Pty Ltd has finished exploration for a near surface polymetallic deposit. The deposit contains copper, zinc, silver and gold. Calculate the Unit Value for this deposit. [6 marks] Metal Copper Zinc Silver Gold Grade 0.8% 3.1% 30g/t 2g/t Metallurgical. recovery 85% 80% 90% 90% Metal Price A$8000/tonne A$1600/tonne A$1.00/gram A$40/gram [4 marks] Unit Value ($/t ore)

d) List the names of four methods used in resource/reserve estimation.

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Course ID: 103962

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QUESTION 2 MINE PLANNING

(25 marks)

The following data are given for a mineral deposit occurring under conditions similar to those shown in Figure 1. You may use the equations in Appendix 1.

surface n

Overburden V e=1
Or eW

b
L

t
1m w

Figure 1: Simplified geometric representation of the pit parameters and SRmax at pit limit

Value of ore = $5.29/tonne Costs (excluding stripping) = $3.64/tonne) Stripping costs (for overburden of e=1) = $0.26/m3) Berm dimension, a = 0 Dip of deposit = 20o Pit slope = 60o Deposit thickness t =15.2m Equivalent yardage e=2 Tonnage factor TF = 0.47m3/tonne a) Calculate the maximum allowable stripping ratio, SRmax. Where does this ratio apply? [5 marks] b) Locate the pit limits for the deposit (specify h = vertical depth to the deposit and d = horizontal distance along the surface to the outcrop) [10 marks] c) Calculate the overall stripping ratio, SRo in mining the ore body by surface methods. [5 marks] d) What is meant by the term stripping allowance? [5 marks]
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Course ID: 103962

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QUESTION 3 MINING METHODS

(25 marks)

a) What are the three basic surface mine designs? b) What are the disadvantages and advantages of surface mining?

[3 marks] [4 marks]

c) Draw a vertical cross-section through an open pit mine at a certain stage in its life and show these features: bench, toe, crest, berm, bench angle, overall slope angle, pit floor, haul road and bench height. [5 marks] d) List one major advantage and one major disadvantage of each of the following underground mining methods: [5 marks] Room and pillar Sublevel stoping Block caving Long wall e) List three types of underground and two types of surface mining equipment and briefly describe their functions. [5 marks] (f) Mining methods used in metal mines are more varied than those used in coal mines why do you think that is? [3 marks]

(25 marks) QUESTION 4 MINE DEVELOPMENT AND ROCK BREAKAGE a) With the aid of sketches, write short notes on each of the following common methods of mine access: (i) Shaft, (ii) Decline; (iii) Adit. What factors influence the choice of each method? [5 marks] b) List three major types of explosives commonly used in todays mining operations. Give one major advantage and one major disadvantage for each explosive listed. [5 marks] c) What are blasting caps? List three types of blasting caps and give one major advantage and one major disadvantage for each explosive listed. [5 marks]

d) Rock breakage by explosion is caused by two major explosion actions. What are they? Give a brief description. [5 marks] e) Briefly describe the environmental impacts of blasting and ways to minimise the impacts? [5 marks]
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Course ID: 103962

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QUESTION 5 (25 marks) MINERAL PROCESSING a) Define the following terms: i. Tailings ii. Middlings iii. Head grade v. Reduction ratio [5 marks]

b) List the names of three types of physical concentration and two types of commonly used chemical concentration: [5 marks] i. Physical concentration: ii. Chemical concentration:

c) Describe the use of the following equipment in the mineral processing plant:[10 marks] i. SAG Mill ii. Hydrocyclone iii. Scavenger iv. Thickener v. Pressure filter

d) List the common steps involved in the smelting and refining of the following metals (no detailed explanation necessary): [5 marks] i. Lead ii. Copper iii. Iron Ore

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QUESTION 6 (25 marks) MINING GEOMECHANICS AND MINE VENTILATION a) Give definitions of uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus and Poissons ratio. What are the units of these three parameters? [5 marks] b) Figure 2 below was obtained from a uniaxial compressive test on a rock from a mine. The graph shows the response of axial strain and lateral strains against the axial force applied on a cylindrical rock sample whose diameter is 5.4 cm and length is 10.0 cm. What are the uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus and Poissons ratio of the rock measured from the above experiment? Use the relevant units when necessary. [10 marks]

Figure 2: Uniaxial compressive test result c) List 5 major types of air contaminants in underground mining operations that must be removed by ventilation: [5 marks]

d) Give a brief account of the three types of radiations generated by the decays of heavy elements. [5 marks]

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APPENDIX 1
To determine the ultimate pit limit, one needs to calculate the maximum stripping ratio (SRmax), also known as the Breakeven Stripping Ratio (BEVSR). This ratio is based solely on mining economics. Mathematically,

SRmax =

value of ore - production cost stripping cost

(1)

RELATIONSHIP FOR MAXIMUM STRIPPING RATIO AND PIT LIMITS Referring to Figure 1: t = deposit thickness (m) = dip of deposit (degrees) m = inclined length of the deposit to the pit limit (metres) ; measured to toe of the bank = pit slope (degrees) L = inclined length of pit slope (m) h = vertical length of the inclined pit slope (m) d = horizontal distance from outcrop to pit limit (m); measured to the crest of the bank

Assume: thickness of the cross-section = 1 V = Overall volume of overburden W = Overall weight of the ore The volume of overburden removed = v The tonnage of ore recovered = w TF = tonnage factor of ore (m /tonne)
3

v = 1 .0 b L
w = 1 .0 1 .0 t TF

(2)

(3)

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The ratio of the two is the maximum allowable stripping ratio:

SR max =

v eb L = w t / TF

(4)

e = equivalent yardage: allows one to use the equation when different rock types are present.

Determine b:

+ + + 90
Therefore;

= 180

b = 1 .0 cos = cos 90 0

(5)

Recall: SRmax is calculated using the economic relationship in equation (1). Therefore, one can determine L by rearranging equation (4) as follows:

L =

t SR max e b TF

(6)

Using trigonometry, determine the vertical height of the pit slope, h

h = L sin

(7)

Assuming a berm width = a, as a safety measure, determine the horizontal distance d from outcrop m.

d =a+

h h + tan tan

(8)

Finally, the inclined length of ore from the outcrop m is:

m =

h sin

(9)

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Course ID: 103962

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DETERMINATION OF OVERALL STRIPPING RATIO From Figure 2:

V = 1 .0

1 hd 2

(10)

1 .0 m t TF

(11)

Hence, the Overall Striping Ratio is:

SR o

1 hd V 2 = = mt W TF

(12)

The above equation (12) ignores area A in Figure 2. The area must calculated and added to W.

END OF EXAMINATION