van As, A & Noppe, M 2024, 'Sufficient geotechnical data for reliable mine design during mining studies ', in Daniel Johansson & Håkan Schunnesson (eds), MassMin 2024: Proceedings of the International Conference & Exhibition on Mass Mining, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, pp. 194-207.
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/2435_B-01/)
Abstract: The recurring question of “How much geotechnical data is enough?” is rarely answered satisfactorily during mining studies. This is despite the increasing regulatory demand for compliance with international mineral disclosure standards and guidelines, which attempt to ensure that adequate levels of confidence in geoscientific knowledge are available when evaluating mineral deposits and mining projects.  

Increasing mine underperformance attributed to unforeseen geotechnical challenges has led to significant shareholder losses, necessitating improved geotechnical data collection and analysis. Delineating a mineral deposit is only the initial step in the mining equation; defining it as a mineral reserve depends on its viable extraction within tolerable levels of risk. This question is technically challenging and often hinges on the geotechnical complexity and variability of the deposit and surrounding rock, influencing mining performance and success. 

Although several authors have provided guidance on types of data and levels of confidence required for mine design and scheduling at the various stages of mining studies, there is little guidance on how these confidence levels can be derived. 

This paper highlights the issues of geotechnical data adequacy, sufficiency and quality that should be expected for geotechnical analysis at the various stages of mining study and proposes various methods that might be used to test the levels of confidence and geo-risk, both spatially within the proposed mine plan and temporally within the proposed mine schedule.