Reflections about a management model for the optimization of ore reserves in iron ore mines according to the customers' needs

Ore reserves are one of the most important parameters in the mining business, and are usually considered in long-term mine planning. This paper presents a study of model of reserve management developed in an iron ore open pit mine in Brazil. It starts with the long-term mining plan and goes through the optimal mining sequences until the day-to-day mining operations. In this model the reserves’ optimization is based on the development of products, the flexibility of the cutoff and average grades using the minimization of variability, and is achieved by the research of the best combination of the working places taking into account the control of different grades and different policies of quality control.