Geostatistical Algorithm Selection for Mineral Resources Assessment and its Impact on Open-pit Production Planning Considering Metal Grade Boundary Effect


Maleki M. Madani N. Jélvez E.
December 2021Springer

Natural Resources Research
2021#30Issue 64079 - 4094 pp.

Mine planning is influenced by many sources of uncertainty. Significant sources of geological uncertainty in mine planning include uncertainty in layout of geological domains and uncertainty in metal grades. These two sources of uncertainty cannot be modeled separately because the distribution of the grade is controlled usually by geological domains. Two approaches exist for combining these two sources of uncertainty: the joint simulation approach and the cascade approach. In this paper, these two approaches were compared using a real case study. To this end, uncertainty in iron grade (quantitative variable) and ore zones (qualitative variable) was modeled using both approaches. There were some considerable differences in the results obtained by each approach, which confirm the importance of choosing the most appropriate approach with consideration of the dominate features of a deposit.

Cascade approach , Geostatistical simulation , Joint simulation , Mine planning

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Department of Metallurgical and Mining Engineering, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
School of Mining and Geosciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan city, Kazakhstan
Delphos Mine Planning Laboratory, Department of Mining Engineering, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Advanced Mining Technology Center, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

Department of Metallurgical and Mining Engineering
School of Mining and Geosciences
Delphos Mine Planning Laboratory
Advanced Mining Technology Center

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