Surface mining operations play a crucial role in meeting the world’s increasing demand for mineral resources for the advancement of technology and debauched expansion of economies. The search for and exploitation of these mineral resources are therefore important for the sustainability of the mineral extraction industry. To this end, efficient mine planning must incorporate sterilisation drilling and effective waste rock management principles in the search and exploitation of these minerals. In this article, sterilisation drilling is being reviewed vis-a-vis the establishment of waste and tailings dump locations, backfilling of open pit excavations and mine closure giving critical attention to the minerals and mining laws of Ghana. Subsequently, a detailed case study of a surface mining operation that successfully incorporated sterilisation drilling in determining waste dump location in its mine planning process has been presented in this study. The findings indicate that the proposed waste dump location could present a potential mining prospect in the future based on enhanced milling capacity/technology and improved mineral commodity price; underscoring the significance of sterilization drilling in the sustainability of the mining industry.
References
[1]
Wellmer, F.W. (2012) Statistical Evaluations in Exploration for Mineral Deposits. Springer Science & Business Media, Berlin, 379.
[2]
Gonzalez-Alvarez, I., Goncalves, M.A. and Carranza, E.J.M. (2020) Introduction to the Special Issue Challenges for Mineral Exploration in the 21st Century: Targeting Mineral Deposits under Cover. Ore Geology Reviews, 126, Article 103785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2020.103785
[3]
Mom, T.J., Van Den Bosch, F.A. and Volberda, H.W. (2007) Investigating Managers’ Exploration and Exploitation Activities: The Influence of Top‐Down, Bottom‐Up, and Horizontal Knowledge Inflows. Journal of Management Studies, 44, 910-931. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6486.2007.00697.x
[4]
Kumral, M. and Dimitrakopoulos, R. (2008) Selection of Waste Dump Sites Using a Tabu Search Algorithm. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 108, 9-13.
[5]
Falagan, C., Grail, B.M. and Johnson, D.B. (2017) New Approaches for Extracting and Recovering Metals from Mine Tailings. MineralsEngineering, 106, 71-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2016.10.008
[6]
Oyewo, O.A., Agboola, O., Onyango, M.S., Popoola, P. and Bobape, M.F. (2018) Current Methods for the Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage Including Continuous Removal of Metals from Wastewater and Mine Dump. In: Vara Prasad, M.N., de Campos Favas, P.J. and Maiti, S.K., Eds., Bio-Geotechnologies for Mine Site Rehabilitation, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 103-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-812986-9.00006-3
[7]
Zahl, E.G., Biggs, F., Boldt, C.M.K., Connolly, R.E., Gertsch, L.E., Lambeth, R.H., Stewart, B.M. and Vickery, J.D. (1992) Waste Disposal and Contaminant Control. SME Mining Engineering Handbook, Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc, Littleton, CO, 1170-1180.
[8]
Anon. (2012) Minerals and Mining (Health, Safety and Technical) Regulations. Ghana Minerals Commision, 241. https://www.mincom.gov.gh/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Minerals-and-Mining-Health-Safety-and-Technical-Regulations-2012L.I.-2182.pdf
[9]
Broadhurst, J., Amaral Filho, J., Moyo, A., Nwaila, P., N’Gandu, H.S., Shongwe, B., Sibanda, L., Stander, H.M. and Harrison, S.T.L. (2019) Resource Efficient and Socially Responsible Approaches for the Integrated Management of Mine Waste: Understanding the Risks, Opportunities, Enablers and Barriers, Minerals to Metals. Department of Chemical Engineering University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
[10]
(2001) Management of Mining, Quarrying and Ore—Processing and Waste in the European Union. Study Made for DG Environment, European Commission, 88. https://ec.europa.eu/environment/pdf/waste/studies/mining/0204finalreportbrgm.pdf
[11]
Pell, R., Tijsseling, L., Palmer, L.W., Glass, H.J., Yan, X., Wall, F., Zeng, X. and Li, J. (2019) Environmental Optimisation of Mine Scheduling through Life Cycle Assessment Integration. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 142, 267-276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.11.022
[12]
Alberruche-del Campo, M.E., Arranz-González, J.C., Rodríguez-Gómez, V., Fernández-Naranjo, F.J., Rodríguez-Pacheco, R. and Vadillo-Fernández, L. (2015) Metodología para la evaluación del impacto paisajístico residual de una mina de carbón a cielo abierto en el Valle de Laciana (España). Dyna, 82, 60-69. https://doi.org/10.15446/dyna.v82n190.42809
[13]
Slack, R.J. and Voulvoulis, N. (2006) Mine Wastes: Characterization, Treatment and Environmental Impacts. Springer Berlin, Heidelberg, 277. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12419-8
[14]
Bobbins, K. (2015) Acid Mine Drainage and Its Governance in the Gauteng City-Region. Gauteng City-Region Observatory. https://doi.org/10.36634/WBLW2239
[15]
Song, S., Marks, E. and Pradhananga, N. (2017) Impact Variables Of Dump Truck Cycle Time for Heavy Excavation Construction Projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management, 7, 11-18.
[16]
Raffaello, C., Luis F.D. and Rainer, S. (2007) Site Selection and Management of Solid Wastes Disposal Sites: Case Study. Sardinia 2007: Eleventh International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium: Executive Summaries. Proceedings Sardinia, Cagliari, Italy, 2007, Vol. 1, 1168.
[17]
Osanloo, M. and Ataei, M. (2003) Factors Affecting the Selection of Site for Arrangement of Pit Rock-Dumps. Journal of Mining Science, 39, 148-153. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOMI.0000008460.62695.44
[18]
Darmstadter, J. and Kropp, B. (1997) Productivity Change in US Coal Mining (No. 1318-2016-103401).
[19]
Barritt, R., Scott, P. and Taylor, I. (2016) Managing the Waste Rock Storage Design—Can We Build a Waste Rock Dump That Works? MineClosure 2016:Proceedingsofthe 11thInternationalConferenceonMineClosure, Perth, 2016, 131-140. https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1608_07_Barritt
[20]
Tayebi-Khorami, M., Edraki, M., Corder, G. and Golev, A. (2019) Re-Thinking Mining Waste through an Integrative Approach Led by Circular Economy Aspirations. Minerals, 9, Article 286. https://doi.org/10.3390/min9050286
[21]
Lèbre, É. and Corder, G. (2015) Integrating Industrial Ecology Thinking into the Management of Mining Waste. Resources, 4, 765-786. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources4040765
[22]
Ureel, S.D. (2014) Concepts Used to Analyze and Determine Rock Slope Stability for Mining and Civil Engineering Applications. The University of Arizona, Tucson.
[23]
Upadhyay, O.P., Sharma, D.K. and Singh, D.P. (1990) Factors Affecting Stability of Waste Dumps in Mines. International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 4, 95-99. https://doi.org/10.1080/09208119008944174
[24]
Rosengren, K., Simmons, J., Maconochie, A.P. and Sullivan, T. (2010) Geotechnical Investigations for Open Pit Mines—250m and Beyond. Bowen Basin Symposium, Australia, 2010, 169-179.
[25]
Doderovic, A., Doderovic, S.M., Stepanovic, S., Bankovic, M. and Stevanovic, D. (2023) Hybrid Model for Optimisation of Waste Dump Design and Site Selection in Open Pit Mining. Minerals, 13, Article 1401. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13111401
[26]
Zanbak, C. (2012) Heap Leaching Techniques in Mining, within the Context of Best Available Techniques (BAT). Euromines—The European Association of Mining Industries, Metal Ores & Industrial Minerals.
[27]
Zhang, D., Inoue, N., Sasaoka, T., Shimada, H., Hamanaka, A. and Matsui, K. (2014) Study on Formation Mechanism of Dumping Piles on Dumping Area Stability. Open Journal of Geology, 4, 161-175. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojg.2014.44012
[28]
Peng, C., Ji, D., Zhao, L. and Ren, F.H. (2013) Study on Limit Height and Its Stability of Open-Pit Dump Based on Basement Bearing Mechanism. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 405, 177-181. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.405-408.177
[29]
Russell, M. (2008) So, You Want to Have the Best Possible Waste Rock Dump. Rock Dumps 2008: Proceedings of the First International Seminar on the Management of Rock Dumps, Stockpiles and Heap Leach Pads, Perth, 2008, 117-127. https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/802_10
[30]
Kappes, D.W. (2002) Precious Metal Heap Leach Design and Practice. Proceedings of the Mineral Processing Plant Design, Practice, and Control, Leibniz Information Center for Science and Technology University Library, Germany, 2002, 1606-1630.
[31]
Sommerville, K. and Heyes, J. (2009) Be Open to Closure—It Can Save You Money. Seventh International Mining, Geology Conference, Perth, 2009, 317-322.
[32]
Zasterova, P., Marschalko, M., Niemiec, D., Durďak, J., Bulko, R. and Vlcek, J. (2015).Analysis of Possibilities of Reclamation Waste Dumps after Coal Mining. Procedia Earth and Planetary Science, 15, 656-662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeps.2015.08.077
[33]
Oregon, E. (2010) Guidebook for Evaluating Mining Project EIAs, Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide. Joshua Keith Vincent Press, Lincoln, 122.
Baidowi, N., Rosyidi, C.N. and Aisyati, A. (2021) A Cut-Off Grade Optimization Model in Open Pit Mining Considering Reclamation Cost and Revenue. IOPConferenceSeries: MaterialsScienceandEngineering, 1096, Article 012021. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1096/1/012021
[36]
Gama, C.D. (2013) Easy Profit Maximization Method for Open-Pit Mining. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 5, 350-353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2013.07.001
[37]
Johnson, P.V., Evatt, G.W., Duck, P.W. and Howell, S.D. (2011) The Determination of a Dynamic Cut-Off Grade for the Mining Industry. In: Ao, S.I. and Gelman, L., Eds., Electrical Engineering and Applied Computing, Springer, Dordrecht, 391-403. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1192-1_32
[38]
Thompson, M. and Barr, D. (2014) Cut-Off Grade: A Real Options Analysis. Resources Policy, 42, 83-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2014.10.003
[39]
Henning, U. (1963) Calculation of Cut-Off Grade. Canadian Mining Journal, 8, 54-57.
[40]
Lane, K.F. (1964) Choosing the Optimum Cut-Off Grade. Colorado School of Mines, 59, 811.
[41]
Narrei, S. and Osanloo, M. (2015). Optimum Cut-Off Grade’s Calculation in Open Pit Mines with Regard to Reducing the Undesirable Environmental Impact. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 29, 226-242. https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2014.994734
