Open Pit Mine Planning and Design

        Open Pit Mine Planning and Design is an excellent textbook for courses in surface mine design, open pit design, geological and excavation engineering, and in advanced open pit mine planning and design. The principles described apply worldwide. In addition, the work can be used as a practical reference by professionals. The step-by-step approach to mine design and planning offers a fast-path approach to the material for both undergraduate and graduate students. The outstanding software guides the student through the planning and design steps, and the eight drillhole data sets allow the student to practice the described principles on different mining properties (three copper properties, three iron properties and two gold properties). The well-written text, the large number of illustrative examples and case studies, the included software, the review questions and exercises and the reference lists included at the end of each chapter provide the student with all the material needed to effectively learn the theory and application of open pit mine planning and design

      Appropriate for diverse audiences, this book is an outstanding technical reference that provides the reader with an understanding of the fundamental principles associated with the design and planning of modern surface open-pit mines. The book is well-written and addresses topical subjects in a manner highly conducive for use in undergraduate and graduate education, as well as by a wide range of professionals interested in the subject. The text emphasizes the influence of economic and environmental considerations in mine design and planning, where applied engineering principles and approaches are effectively introduced through numerous examples and exercises. While the book is ideally suited for students in mineral related disciplines, seasoned professionals will also find it extremely useful as a technical reference. Overall, it is an excellent book that successfully introduces the interdisciplinary aspects of surface design and planning in a straight-forward, easy to understand manner that challenges the reader to think in a broader context about the subject.

Hugh B. Miller, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Mining Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA

Over the years, attempts have been made to capture the essence of open pit engineering. Past volumes have been organized by assembling papers and chapters written by experts and practitioners. These works contain valuable information but often digress into specialized areas and frequently repeat introductory material. Students who are trying to put all this information into a practical context find the repetition tedious and often are overwhelmed by esoteric subtopics. In this two-volume treatise, Dr.Hustrulid and his coauthors have captured the essence of ore body modeling, open pit planning, unit operations, and responsible mining in an organized and succinct manner. This work is especially valuable for mining students who are eager to learn about open pit mining and for the faculty tasked to teach the topic. The software included with the volumes provides an excellent introduction to computerized planning and a logical transition to more complicated programs.

M. K. McCarter, Ph.D., P.E., Professor of Mining Engineering, Malcolm N. McKinnon Endowed Chair, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Open Pit Mine Planning and Design is an ideal textbook for courses in surface mine design, open pit design, geological and excavation engineering, and in advanced open pit mine planning and design, and can also be a priceless reference resource for active professionals around the world.

Underground Mining Methods: Engineering Fundamentals and International Case Studies

        Under certain circumstances surface mining can become prohibitively expensive and underground mining may be considered. A major factor in the decision to operate by underground mining rather than surface mining is the strip ratio, or the number of units of waste material in a surface mine that must be removed in order to extract one unit of ore. Once this ratio becomes large, surface mining is no longer attractive. The objective of underground mining is to extract the ore below the surface of the earth safely, economically, and with as little waste as possible. The entry from the surface to an underground mine may be through an adit, or horizontal tunnel, a shaft (see shaft sinking), or vertical tunnel, or a declined shaft. A typical underground mine has a number of roughly horizontal levels at various depths below the surface, and these spread out from the access to the surface. Ore is mined in stopes, or rooms. Material left in place to support the ceiling is called a pillar and can sometimes be recovered afterward. A vertical internal connection between two levels of a mine is called a winze if it was made by driving downward and a raise if it was made by driving upward.

             A modern underground mine is a highly mechanized operation requiring little work with pick and shovel. Rubber-tired vehicles, rail haulage, and multiple drill units are commonplace. In order to protect miners and their equipment much attention is paid to mine safety. Mine ventilation provides fresh air underground and at the same time removes noxious gases as well as dangerous dusts that might cause lung disease, e.g., silicosis. Roof support is accomplished with timber, concrete, or steel supports or, most commonly, with roof bolts, which are long steel rods used to bind the exposed roof surface to the rock behind it.

Underground Mining Methods presents the latest principles and techniques in use today. Reflecting the international and diverse nature of the industry, a series of mining case studies is presented covering the commodity range from iron ore to diamonds extracted by operations located in all corners of the world. Industry experts have contributed 77 chapters.

This book is certain to become a standard for every practicing mining engineer and student alike. Sections include: General Mine Design Considerations, Room-and-Pillar Mining of Hard Rock/Soft Rock, Longwall Mining of Hard Rock, Shrinkage Stoping, Sublevel Stoping, Cut-and-Fill Mining, Sublevel Caving, Panel Caving, Foundations for Design, and Underground Mining Looks to the Future.