Dilution and Ore-Loss Optimization in Underground Mines

摘要

As a mining project is developed from conceptual to production phases, there exists a variety ofuncertainties and difficulties that affect the operation’s designs and economic values. A notable designparameter to be taken into account is the factor of dilution. Dilution is the waste material not separatedfrom the ore in the stages of mining, and is sent to the processing plant. It is defined at the ratio of tonnagewaste mined and sent for processing over the combined ore and waste tonnage milled.Dilution reduction is one of the areas that offer metal mines an opportunity to increase revenue and reducecosts, resulting in enhanced profits. Effective dilution control programs require interaction on a multidisciplinarylevel. This paper outlines recent initiatives undertaken at Polysmetal Silver Magadam Mineto reduce dilution and increase revenue.This paper provides an overview of the solution applied in underground Silver mine in Russia. The paperreviews the dilution problem throughout the entire mining process, and provides a rational approach tounderground mine Blast design in order to minimize dilutionThe mining companies put a lot of effort into extracting lower grade while minimizing cost. The dilutioncontrol assists with achieving this goal. In Polymetal Silver Magadam Mine we succeeded to control morethan 20 blasts by keeping almost the same grade measured in the face.The results indicated that using the adequate blasting timing design can help to separate the ore from theadjacent waste in drift blasting with different ore body configuration.