Evaluating the semi-mobile in-pit crusher option through a two-step mathematical model

Alireza Kamrani, Mohammad Mahdi Badiozamani, Yashar Pourrahimian and Hooman Askari-Nasab

Resources Policy, 2024, vol. 95, issue C

Abstract: Utilizing the in-pit crushing and conveying (IPCC) system presents a potential solution for reducing the substantial operational costs associated with truck and shovel operations in open-pit mining. Identifying optimal placements for in-pit crushers throughout the mine life establishes a new series of constraints for mine planning. In this paper, a two-step mathematical model is proposed to minimize the haulage costs. In the first stage, the best-nominated locations of the crusher or the optimum crusher panels are determined. In the second stage, a mine schedule honoring the spatial precedence for the optimum crusher panels is proposed. The objective of this work is to evaluate the IPCC option through a mathematical optimization model, utilizing the road network and proposing a practical rather semi-optimal crusher location. As open pit mining becomes deeper, the need for IPCC implementation becomes more critical that can be truly explored through the road network proposed in this study. The model is verified by a real iron ore mine case study for three scenarios without IPCC, ore IPCC, and ore and waste IPCC. The findings indicate that at the culmination of the ninth year of extraction, a substantial 55% disparity in ore tonne-kilometers transported is observed between scenarios involving the presence of at least one IPCC and those without any IPCC. Furthermore, a notable difference of 110 km of travel emerges in the overall distance when comparing scenarios incorporating both ore and waste IPCCs versus those lacking IPCC.

Keywords: IPCC; Long-term planning; Two-step model; MILP; Crusher panel; Road network (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:95:y:2024:i:c:s030142072400480x

DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.105113

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