RAMC (Resource Allocation and Mine Costing) Surface-Mining Cost-Equations Development

摘要

The Resource Allocation and Mine Costing (RAMC) Model is an engineering process model used to provide coal supply cost curves for a set of pre-defined coal types and producing regions. It develops its mining cost estimates on the basis of equations that relate initial capital, deferred capital, and operating costs to annual production and overburden ratio. This report presents revised versions of the model mine cost equations used in the RAMC for the past two years. Surface mining in the United States is accomplished by a variety of different methods, developed to ensure maximum mining efficiency for different topographic and geologic conditions. The original cost equations were based on costs developed for a mine using the area mining method. However, although area mining is well-suited for application in flat-land regions, it is not used in the hilly or mountainous terrain characterizing many of the regions in which surface mining is now conducted. Because the cost differences for the various mining methods available can be substantial, it was believed that the development of new equations, based on five model mine designs covering the major methods, would result in a significant improvement in mine cost prediction. In developing the model mine designs, cost estimates, and final equations, it was necessary to make a number of major assumptions. (ERA citation 08:056858)