Fitzmaurice, V, Beck, D & Hodgeson, S 2024, 'Pebble: New approach for planning and development unlocks value for a massive new block cave ', in Daniel Johansson & Håkan Schunnesson (eds), MassMin 2024: Proceedings of the International Conference & Exhibition on Mass Mining, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, pp. 151-165.
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/2435_A-14/)
Abstract: The Pebble Project is one of the world’s largest, potential copper mines. Early concepts for underground mining at Pebble followed a typical path for Block Caving concepts in the early 2000’s, which was to target the tallest possible draw columns. For an inclined, massive deposit this involved a single deep production level near the bottom of the deposit, inclusion of considerable waste and an assumption of high recovery of material, high in the columns. The challenges of this approach are that it is capital intensive and lengthens to the lead time to start of production. Such a design also increases the volume of waste, but reduction of waste is a goal for the Pebble team. An assessment was completed of an easier to start, higher grade, lower risk block caving concept, that considered emerging deposit knowledge. A staged concept, shaped to the deposit and the geotechnical conditions was developed that is a better techno-economic and environmental fit. The focus was staged exploration, development and impact. The following summarizes the workflow followed to develop the improved concept, including a description of the simulation techniques used to quantify the fit between deposit geometry and design.