DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2465_88
Cite As:
Woodward, K, McFadyen, B & Tremblay, K 2024, 'Integrating a new approach at the Westwood mine site for predicting the stope mined geometry', in P Andrieux & D Cumming-Potvin (eds),
Deep Mining 2024: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Deep and High Stress Mining, pp. 1335-1348,
https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2465_88
Abstract:
Open stoping has become a popular mining method in hard rock mines, not only due to the safety of the method as a non-entry approach, but also because of the high extraction rate and low costs. At mine sites, stope performance is evaluated by calculating stope overbreak using the Stability Chart. The limitations of the Stability Chart regarding the precision of the predictions, non-consideration of factors such as the influence of blasting, and the exclusion of underbreak have led to suboptimal designs. The modern capabilities of computers have resulted in large amounts of data being collected and despite subsequent statistical models being more capable, they have been underutilised in the stope design process.
To increase the information and knowledge that is extracted from the data and to progress from the simple qualitative per stope face prediction that is provided by a traditional Stability Chart approach, the Australian Centre for Geomechanics has developed a design approach that can account for many of the variables that influence stope performance and uses multivariate modelling methods to forecast the expected stope geometry. This approach is implemented as a stope reconciliation and design application and is integrated in mXrap software that allow users to import their stope design as well as their blasting design and predict the expected mined geometry for stope planification and optimisation.
This paper presents a case study of how the stope reconciliation and design application has been integrated at Westwood mine to understand and predict stope performance. An overview of the approach, the analysis of past stope performance and the generation of future predictions is presented along with the utility of this approach for optimising stope performance.
Keywords: open stope, octree, machine learning, performance optimisation, dilution, overbreak, underbreak
References:
Clark, L 1998, Minimizing Dilution in Open Stope Mining with a Focus on Stope Design and Narrow Vein Longhole Blasting, PhD thesis, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Girardeau-Montaut, D 2022, CloudCompare, computer software,
Kazhdan, M, Bolitho, M & Hoppe, H 2006, ‘Poisson surface reconstruction’, in AS Konrad Polthier (ed.), Eurographics Symposium on Geometry Processing, ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, Cagliari.
Martel, M & Tremblay, K 2023, ‘Competency contrast modelling Using XRF data to identify areas of high seismic risk’, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
Mathews, KE, Hoek, E, Wyllie, DC & Stewart, SBV 1981, Prediction of Stable Excavation Spans for Mining at Depths Below 1000 Meters in Hard Rock, CANMET report, Vancouver.
McFadyen, B 2024, Developing a New Methodology for Predicting Open Stopes’ Performance, PhD thesis, Université Laval, Québec.
McFadyen, B, Grenon, M, Woodward, K & Potvin, Y 2023, ‘Predicting open stope performance at an octree resolution using multivariate models’, Journal of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, pp. 309–320,
Nickson, SD 1992, Cable Support Guidelines for Underground Hard Rock Mine Operations, Masters thesis, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Pearson, K 1901, ‘LIII. On Lines and Planes of Closest Fit to Systems of Points in Space’, The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, vol. 2, no. 11.
Potvin, Y 1988, Empirical Open Stope Design in Canada. Mining and Mineral Process Engineering, PhD thesis, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Potvin, Y, Grant, D, Mungur, G, Wesseloo, J & Kim, Y 2016, ‘Practical stope reconciliation in large-scale operations part 2, Olympic Dam’, Seventh International Conference & Exhibition on Mass Mining, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Melbourne, pp. 501–509.
Potvin, Y, Woodward, KR, McFadyen, B, Thin, I & Grant, D 2020, ‘Benchmarking of stope design and reconciliation practices’, in J Wesseloo (ed.), UMT 2020: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Underground Mining Technology, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 299–308,
R Core Team 2021, R: A language and environment for statistical computing, computer software.
Wright, MN & Ziegler, A 2017, ‘ranger: a fast implementation of random forests for high dimensional data’, C++ and Journal of Statistical Software, vol. 77, pp. 1–17,
Yergeau, D, Mercier-Langevin, P, Dubé, B, Malo, M, McNicoll, V, Jackson, SE … & La Rochelle, F 2015, The Archean Westwood Au deposit, southern Abitibi: telescoped Au-rich VMS and intrusion-related Au systems, (Open FIle 7852), Natural Resources Canada, Abitibi.