An analysis of the impact of potholes and waste over-break on the economics of a stope panel on a platinum mine
Date
2009-03-20T10:41:20Z
Authors
Tlhapi, Kabelo
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Abstract
In the Bushveld Complex, potholes provide challenges that have proven difficult
for management to handle. The lack of innovative ways of solving the challenges
provided an environment in which value destructive paradigms came into
existence. There currently exists as a result, a paradigm in which tonnes, rather
than quality tonnes (tonnes against a certain grade) are the main focus of mine
management. In this paradigm has long existed a rule of thumb that dictated that
a panel can remain economically viable with two-thirds of its facelength being offreef.
This research employs a simple MS Office Excel-based model to investigate the
impact of varying pothole size and primary contamination on the rule of thumb. A
practical industry example is then used to show the impact on business, of the
current paradigm.
This research found that the amount of off-reef that a stope panel in a platinum
mine can tolerate is largely dependent on the operation’s overall pay limit and
that the off-reef tolerance decreases with increasing pay limit. For the particular
mine that this research was carried out on, the findings are that the maximum offreef
that a panel can mine is forty-two percent.
Finally, based on the findings of this research, recommendations and additional
areas of research are identified, which could help mine management in the
platinum industry achieve a paradigm shift, as well as enhance the findings in
this report.