Open Pit Mine
Open Pit Optimization: We provide the service of open-pit mining optimization, which entails maximizing resource extraction, minimizing operational expenses, and ensuring environmental sustainability. By leveraging well-established software in the mining industry, we can determine the most efficient pit design, excavation sequence, and production schedule. This approach ultimately enhances profitability while simultaneously adhering to safety and environmental standards.
Mine Design: We offer the service of determining the layout for various elements, including pits, ore and waste dumps, haulage roads, and mineral reserves calculations by taking into account a range of design and optimization parameters.
Production Schedule: We offer a service where we utilize a range of input parameters to determine the most effective mining sequence, with the goal of maximizing the Net Present Value of a mining project.
Haulage and Material Handling: Our knowledge in mining equipment, coupled with strong software analysis, allow us to provide the best fleet choice for the Life Of Mine (LOM).
Dewatering: We can identify the pumps and piping required to ensure the dewatering throughout the LOM.
Power Distribution: We can estimate the power needed for mining equipment and mining fleet (Drills, Shovels, in-Pit Crusher, Pumps).
Underground Mine
Mining Method Selection & Mining Rate: We can evaluate and compare different mining methods which are best suited to the ore body. This process will involve various aspects such as desired productivity, stope dimension, mining dilution, and overall cost related to it. We can then determine the mining rate associated with the mining method and the tonnage of mineral resources.
Stope Optimization: We use the latest technology to generate the minable stopes’ shape. Once the mining method is selected, the material cut-off grade will be calculated before running the slope optimization. Several scenarios will be carried out to obtain the best mining stopes’ shape.
Mine Design: We will start the mine design process once the final mining stopes have been obtained through the stope optimization process. Before we start the center lines drawing, we define certain parameters such as the length and width of all the mining drifts (main decline, haulage drift, etc.); this must work in conjunction with the equipment selection criteria, because high production will require large LHD and trucks resulting in larger drifts.
Production Schedule: We can provide consulting services for production scheduling, which will be done latest technology by the mine design process. We will establish scheduling parameters for various aspects of mining operations, including drifts and stopes. This includes determining development rates for each type of development, including vertical raises, and managing all activities related to shaping and mining the stopes. These activities encompass stope preparation, cable bolting, and more.
Mine Ventilation: In mining, ventilation is a crucial process for underground operations. We can determine appropriate dimensions for ventilation shafts and select primary and secondary fans. We can help our clients identify best practices for primary and secondary mine ventilation.
Materials Handling: We offer material handling consulting services, which involve optimizing the cost-efficient handling of ore and waste materials. We can evaluate various approaches to materials handling such as trucks, LHDs (Load-Haul-Dump machines), shafts, conveyors, autonomous trucks, electric trucks, and more.
Backfill Method and Distribution Design: We can evaluate different backfill types of methods, which are part of the process. Depending on the mine’s location, some materials may not be available or may be too expensive. We will then evaluate an alternative way to reduce costs; for example, cement in the Arctic area is very expensive due to the transportation cost. Therefore, it needs to be reduced to a minimum by designing the primary stope smaller than the secondary one in the Longhole Transverse Stoping, as the primary stopes will be backfilled with the cemented rockfill, whereas secondary stopes are backfilled by rockfill.
Dewatering Design: We can determine the pumps and piping required to ensure the dewatering throughout the LOM.
Power Distribution Design: We can evaluate the power needed for mining equipment and mining fleets (Drills, Shovels, crushers, Pumps) and we can design the distribution system. Compress Air and Industrial Water Design: We can assess the need to use compressed air underground for mining equipment and its distribution system.
Communication: Communication is key for all aspects of the mine so that we can evaluate the best system available on the market to ensure the most effective communications for daily production and worker safety.
Mine Design and Planning
Our Mine Design and Planning services provide expert solutions for optimizing the efficiency and profitability of mining operations. We deliver tailored mine plans through rigorous feasibility studies, advanced geological modeling, and strategic engineering. Our approach integrates safety, sustainability, and cost-efficiency to ensure effective resource extraction and operational excellence, addressing both short-term and long-term project goals.
Capital and Operating Cost Estimation
Mine Equipment Selection, Capital, and Operating Cost: We can determine the most optimal production and service equipment for our clients. Additionally, we can assess the capital and operating costs of this specific equipment.
Manpower Requirements and Wage Scales: We can establish the manpower requirements of every area of the mine. This includes the estimation of the workforce for supervision, mine operations, mine services, mechanical maintenance, electrical maintenance, and technical services. This essential item also involves comprehensive as well as site-specific wage estimations.
Operating Supplies (Explosives, Ground Support, etc.): We can produce detailed consumable material consumption calculations that lead to activity-based costing results.
Activity-Based Costing (Drilling, Blasting, Mucking, Ground Support, Ventilation, Pumping, Services, etc.): We can analyze, based on first principles and performances, calculations allowing us to perform a complete activity-based costing about manpower requirements, consumable material,
and equipment operational cost.
Owner vs. Contractor Evaluations: We can complete a trade-off involving looking at the pros and cons, of owner-operated or contractor-operated options, by comparing the activity-based costing results, as well as capital costs, to perform these activities to the operational rates of contractors.
Surface Installations: We can provide comprehensive solutions for all surface infrastructure needed to support mining activities. This includes ventilation infrastructures, heating/cooling systems, maintenance shops, compressed air plants, power plants, water management facilities, surface material stockpiles, waste dumps, and more. Our service encompasses sizing, design, and cost estimation for all these essential components.
General and Administration Cost: The calculation of the G&A costs includes everything related to the mine that is not related to production, but that is essential for the proper functioning of the mine. These include costs associated with, but not limited to: administration, human resources, logistics,
warehouse, IT, traveling, legal expenses, communication, camp, insurance, and many other items.
Pre-Production Cost: Establishing the pre-production cost is essential to refine the mine’s economic profitability. Typically, this period is very sensitive timing and costing-wise and needs some particular attention to seize every possible opportunity to increase the project’s profitability.
Economic Model: We can produce an economic model serving as the outcome of all other components associated with estimating mine operating and capital costs. Typically structured as a cash flow waterfall, this model facilitates the evaluation of the mine’s profitability by yielding metrics
such as the project’s net present value, internal rate of return, and payback period. The cash flow waterfall within the economic model also comprehensively outlines overall operational costs, capital expenditures, and sustaining capital.
Production Optimization
Operating Mine Planning (short and medium term): We offer short and medium-term operating mine planning services for our clients, optimizing resource extraction, minimizing costs, and ensuring environmental compliance to enhance mining operations’ efficiency and profitability.
Equipment Efficiency: We can calculate the cycle time of the fleet and the ways to improve it. Measurement of speed average, time loaded, time empty, and idle to identify opportunities for improvement.
Load distribution: Size of the buckets/truck bins vs targets of the supplier. Operational Analysis: Our expertise in mining operations enables us to assist our clients in optimizing their operational processes across all areas of operation.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Analysis: We can assess various greenhouse gas reduction options in both operational and future mining scenarios.
Mine to Mill Optimization: Blasting is the cheapest energy, and well-designed and monitored, and provides an ideal way to increase production at a lower global OPEX cost. At the same time, drill and blast operations are key to achieving global mining performance by controlling safety, floor level, easy
digging, slopes stability, ground vibration, and best feed size requirements for the mill. We can assess all these aspects to determine the best operating practice.
Maintenance Optimization Process: We can assist our clients in optimizing the maintenance process by analyzing, planning, managing spare parts, participating in monitoring and diagnostics phases, etc.