TRANSACTION PAPER

 

A review of optimal planning of level and raise spacing in inclined narrow reefs

 

 

C. Musingwini

School of Mining Engineering, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

 

 

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SYNOPSIS

The subject of optimal planning of level and raise spacing for inclined narrow reef deposits has received intermittent attention over the years because the subject matter is inherently complex. Previous work has approached the problem as simply that of simultaneously minimizing the total excavation and haulage cost associated with the development workings. However, when level and raise spacing are altered, other factors such as productivity are negatively affected, thus requiring a delicate trade-off of contradicting planning or optimization criteria. The paper concludes that the problem is actually of the multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) type, contrary to traditional thinking that the planning problem is achieved solely by minimizing waste development.

Keywords: Strategic mine planning, level spacing, raise spacing, inclined narrow reefs, optimization, half-level optimization model, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)

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Paper received Dec. 2009
Revised paper received Feb. 2010