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Surface Exploitation of Ore Bodies

Code: MEMG0007     Acronym: EMM

Keywords
Classification Keyword
OFICIAL Technology and Applied Sciences

Instance: 2022/2023 - 2S Ícone do Moodle

Active? Yes
Responsible unit: Mining Engineering Department
Course/CS Responsible: Master in Mining and Geo-Environmental Engineering

Teaching language

Portuguese
Obs.: Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Two major themes that have not yet been addressed in the previous three Curricular Units (CU) of the Mining Area are reserved for this CU: the large open-pit extraction units of ores and quarries for the extraction of dimension stones (DS).

It is also in this CU, after a journey of about 168 hours of contact with rock extraction issues, that the parts inherent to the preparation of Mining Plans and Environmental Landscape Recovery Plans are analysed, as guiding documents for the licensing of the extraction units and their closure that, sooner or later, will always occur.

Learning outcomes and competences

The core aim is to provide students with skills (and attitudes) that will enable them to design a system for extracting rock masses in practice, either as a resource (ore) for the production of concentrates, or to obtaining final products from the area of dimensional stone.

The teaching and learning process in this CU is conducted in order to allow the mining operations addressed to be analysed from the point of view of optimisation according to the processes known as "Mine to Mill" (M2M).

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Those acquired in the preceding CUs, namely the three CUs of the Mining Area (DM - LOS - SCT).

Program

Within the scope of the large mining ore units, the following concepts, amid others, are studied:



  • Planning of large scale rock blasting operations;

  • Acquisition of information for the construction of Digital Terrain Models;

  • Integrated optimization of the drilling diagram;

  • Management and control of transport and loading processes of explosives in emulsion;

  • Control of the degree of fragmentation to be generated;

  • Initiation and delay systems;

  • Methodology to minimize dilution effects;

  • Acquisition of information during the detonation process;

  • Control and minimization of:

    • Vibrations;

    • Shockwave;

    • Sound wave;

    • Projections;

    • Generation of hazardous gases;



  • Control of the stability of large final slopes;

  • Management of large organized systems of loading and and transport.



Will be presented, even briefly, planning and simulation software which in practice can be addressed concepts of the previous list.


Regarding the DS extraction units, in addition to the geomechanical characteristics inherent to the rock masses for ornamental purposes, several techniques are addressed that are generally used to obtain rock blocks:



  • Geology and degrees of alteration of the rock mass;

  • Size of pickling works;

  • Fracture density/spacing - Index of blocometry;

  • Punctual and statistical analysis of slope stability;

  • Techniques and details of rock blasting:

    • Drilling:

    • Cut Boca de Lobo;

    • Diamond wire:

    • Mowers:

    • Seat opening:

    • Drop:

    • Square shoulder;





 The main transformation activities leading to the obtaining of marketable final DS products, are also addressed:



  • Transport methodologies:

  • Sawing processes:

  • Equipment and reinforcement;

  • Finishing techniques:

  • Quality control;

  • Packaging;

  • Shipping.



Also in this area of DS, particular emphasis is given to the issue of waste management in the various stages of the production process, as well as with regard to safety conditions in the various working environments, with special emphasis on the cuttings and their slopes.

 Several thematic modules, taught in accordance with the annual planning of the CU, also take place in this unit:



  • Units producing blocks for rockfill purposes (mainly for port works and coastal protection);



  • Waste dumps - Management of waste from quarries, mines and public works;



  • Details and problems associated with the construction and maintenance of fine dams from ore treatment facilities;



  • Challenges in the management of production units;



  • Legal and Regulatory Framework – Open-pit Mine / Quarry Plan:



    • The Mining Plan;



    • Environmental Landscape Recovery Plan.




Mandatory literature

López Jimeno, CARLOS, López Jimeno, EMILIO, García Bermúdez, PILAR; Manual de Perforacion, Explosivos y Voladuras , Entorno Grafico, 2017. ISBN: ISBN: 978-84-96140-60-8
Shevyakow, L; Mining of Mineral Deposits, Ed.MIR, MOSCOV
Gornovoy; Labores Mineras, Ed.Mir, Moscov
Kennedy, Bruce A.; Surface mining. ISBN: ISBN: 0-87335-102-9

Teaching methods and learning activities

The classes of this CU will be fully theoretical and practical, emphasizing the existence of a component of field classes of direct contact with industrial units of rock blasting and transformation of rock. The Rock blasting Project is carried out with the support of a specific computer platform for planning and optimisation for open pit extraction, installed on a CICA server.

Software

O-Pitblast

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation Weight (%)
Defesa pública de dissertação, de relatório de projeto ou estágio, ou de tese 10,00
Teste 75,00
Trabalho escrito 15,00
Total: 100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas 45,50
Estudo autónomo 60,00
Trabalho escrito 16,00
Total: 121,50

Eligibility for exams

Students have to attend at least 75% of the classes.
Minimum attendance level is required to take the appeal exam.

Calculation formula of final grade

The distributed evaluation will be composed by the elaboration and presentation of 1 monographic work, performed in Teams of 2 Students and 1 individual test.


In the monographic work, the students must produce a Written Report and make an Oral Presentation, products that will be evaluated.

 

Students who obtain 10 or more values, according to the weights defined for each evaluation component (75% for the test and 25% for monograph work) are approved by UC.


The remaining students have the opportunity to take written exams in the supplementary examination period, as long as they have attended the course.

Examinations or Special Assignments

According to the general rules established at FEUP

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to the general rules established at FEUP

Classification improvement

In the Exam in the Period of Appeal.

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