Waste rock dumping optimisation using mixed integer programming (MIP)

Yu Li, Erkan Topal, David Williams

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Despite the fact that waste rock hauling and dumping comprises a large proportion of the cost of materials handling in an open pit mine, little detailed planning is devoted to optimising waste rock dumping. The lack of such planning could result in long-term exposure of potential acid forming (PAF) waste rock, causing acid mine drainage (AMD), which would incur ongoing collection and treatment costs. A waste rock dumping plan that not only minimises hauling costs, but also involves the encapsulation of PAF waste rock to minimise AMD, would benefit a mining operation economically and environmentally. In order to create such a plan, two new mixed integer programming (MIP) models are formulated and tested with a five-year mining schedule. Optimised dumping plans are automatically generated, which detail the dumping location for each mining block. A manual approach is also attempted, and comparison shows that the MIP models have obvious advantages in error prevention, faster solution time and cost saving, by up to 9.5%.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)425-436
Number of pages12
JournalInternational Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment
Volume27
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • acid mine drainage prevention
  • mine waste rock dumping
  • mixed integer programming
  • optimisation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
  • Geology
  • Earth-Surface Processes
  • Management of Technology and Innovation

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