Open-Pit Mine Planning and Design

The Open-Pit Mine Planning and Design short course provides you with a comprehensive look into the basics and key elements of planning and designing a surface mine that uses open-cut or open- cast mining techniques.

The course specifically focuses on aspects of the geological resource model right through to the reserve statement and all aspects of the open-pit mine value chain.

Not only will you be equipped with a basic theory of open-pit mine design and its application, but you will also receive the opportunity to interact with and gain practical know-how from experts and peers in the field of mining.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of the course, you will have a better understanding of the open pit mine planning process.

The detailed outcomes would be reached as presented in the industry syllabus, however on a broader base, the course will be aimed at developing the candidates abilities in the six cognitive levels: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

Thus, when being examined on the topics detailed in this syllabus, candidates would be able to demonstrate their capacity for:

•     Comprehending and understanding the general Open Pit Planning and Design engineering principles covered in this syllabus and applying these to real orebodies and optimising the mine designs.
•     Applying fundamental scientific knowledge, comprehension and understanding to predict the behaviour of mine layouts in terms of the different types of risks in real world mining environments.
•     Performing creative procedural design and synthesis of short term planning and support systems to control and influence production scheduling processes.
•     Understanding the greater picture in the total value chain process and the overall evaluation thereof.
•     Communicating, explaining and discussing the reasoning, methodology, results and ramifications of all the above aspects in a professional manner at all levels.

Course Content

The value chain incorporated into the course consists of:

•     Geological resource, drill samples, ore body models and block modelling
•     Pit optimisation
•     Physical pit design E
•     quipment optimisation and requirements P
•     roduction schedule
•     Mining cost modelling, mining capex and opex
•     Reserve statement

Sub-topics, incorporated into the value chain, discussed during the course will include the following:

•     Key factors to consider in pit design and design criteria
•     Modelling techniques and calibration
•     Drilling and blasting for stable pit walls
•     Mine water risk in slope stability
•     Monitoring and maintaining open pit slopes
•     Assessing the risks with open pit mining