Ongoing Grade Control in Open Pits Using Advanced Digital Technologies

In the context of varying ore quality indicators at mining open-pit mines, ongoing grade control is very important and affects the economic performance of the mining enterprise. The article analyses modern methods and ways of current grade control. A method for qualitative indicators assessment in an open pit mine and data processing using modern software is presented. An algorithm for grade control in the process of drilling and mining is analysed and presented. The main data is the geological database, which is updated during operational exploration and planning. Updates are carried out during the blast hole sampling and preparation of the massif for blasting. The dense network of blast holes allows to clarify the contours of high-grade and low-grade ores, which allows to control the order of ore material mining and form cargo flows in the open pit. As shown by the comparison of the parameters of waste rock, high-grade and low-grade ores in the mining block using the resource and operating models, the tonnage and quality of materials can be increased or decreased due to clarification. The article presents the grade control workflow in open pit mining as a generalised algorithm using advanced Micromine software.