Abstract

PERONI, Rodrigo de Lemos; COSTA, João Felipe C. L.  and  KOPPE, Jair Carlos. Grade variability analysis and its use in mine planning. Rem: Rev. Esc. Minas [online]. 2012, vol.65, n.2, pp. 263-270. ISSN 0370-4467.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0370-44672012000200016.

This study presents the results obtained using geostatistical simulation techniques combined with pit optimization and sequencing to assess the grade uncertainty impact in mine planning and reserve assessment. Traditional approaches use an estimated model by geostatistical methods (Ordinary Kriging, Indicator Kriging) or even classical methods of estimation (IPD, polygons, moving average). In the same manner, to evaluate mining projects, analyses considering economical sensitivity aspects were made, disregarding the uncertainty of the geological model. This study demonstrates that grade estimation can have a relevant impact on the uncertainty over mining projects, even in the open pit design, i.e. in the feasibility study.

Keywords : Planning; simulation; geological uncertainty; reserves assessment; sensitivity.