Back analysis and forecast of cave fragmentation at Cadia East mine

Authors: Fuenzalida, M; Orrego, C; Ghazvinian, E Download Paper

Cite As:
Fuenzalida, M, Orrego, C & Ghazvinian, E 2024, 'Back analysis and forecast of cave fragmentation at Cadia East mine', in Daniel Johansson & Håkan Schunnesson (eds), MassMin 2024: Proceedings of the International Conference & Exhibition on Mass Mining, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, pp. 679-691.



Abstract:
One of the key parameters impacting the performance and success of caving operations is rock fragmentation. Fragmentation directly affects productivity as it dictates hangup and secondary breakage events frequency and the likelihood of inrush events when percentage of fines is significant. This paper outlines the methodology and results of a study aimed at forecasting fragmentation at Cadia East PC1-2/1-3 mine. The methodology employed in this study follows from previous methods (Pierce, 2010; Garza-Cruz et al., 2014; Fuenzalida et al., 2014; Pierce et al., 2022a) where a primary fragmentation nomogram is derived based on a series of numerical simulations conducted using the Synthetic Rock Mass (SRM) approach and estimates of secondary fragmentation are based on a shear-induced fragmentation logic included in the software MassFlow (Itasca, 2023). A review of historical fragmentation data, including observations and measurements at drawpoints and beltcut, as well as hangup and secondary breakage frequency records is presented. The historical data is used as a metric to conduct a back-analysis of the predictive model. The results of this analysis suggest a strong correlation between historical data and model results. The model is then used to forecast fragmentation specifically, in terms of hang-up frequency and percentage of fines at PC1-2/PC1-3.