Quinteiro, C & Nordqvist, A 2024, 'Results from mining tests with SLC using 40 and 50 m high sublevels at LKAB  ', in Daniel Johansson & Håkan Schunnesson (eds), MassMin 2024: Proceedings of the International Conference & Exhibition on Mass Mining, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, pp. 30-39.
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/2435_A-03/)
Abstract: LKAB has developed three sublevels at the Konsuln mine in Kiruna, Sweden, to evaluate sublevel caving (SLC) using 40 and 50 m high sublevels. The objective with these tests was to assess the applicability of SLC with higher sublevels at some future production areas. Drifting work in Konsuln started in early 2018 with the ramp development to access these planned lower levels. The first sublevel with 40 m height started production in March 2021, the second sublevel, with 50 m height, started production in May 2022 and the third sublevel, with 50 m height started production in December 2023. Presently, only the two lower levels are in production. The first level, having 40 m sublevels was mined out in January 2024. Since its start in Q1-2021, about 4,7 Mt has been produced from SLC using higher sublevels. From SLC40 about 2,6 Mt has been mucked from the stopes and from SLC50 about 2,1 Mt has been mucked so far. This paper summarizes some of the results obtained with these tests. Key performance indicators such as extraction ratio, ore recovery and dilution are presented for these tests.