TECHNICAL – ECONOMICAL EVALUATION EXPLOITATION OF DACITA SECTOR BY PANEL CAVING WITH FORCED CAVING MASSIVE METHOD EL TENIENTE MINE, CODELCO CHILE

Research output: ThesisMaster's Thesis (University Course)

Abstract

There are basically two different methods to explode Dacita Sector: o Forced Panel Caving with Temporary Extraction Level (TEL) o Sub Level Caving for swelling extraction (30%) and Panel Caving to complete the mineral extraction. • Traditional Panel Caving must be adapted according the geomechanical and geotechnical characteristics of Dacitic Porphyry to improve and ensure caving conditions of the rock mass. • This sort of adaptation of the method is to force the caving via taking into the design a temporally extraction level that enable fan drilling to help with rock fracturing and to extract the upper swelling (up to 30%). This process will ensure: o Ensure the productive process (production rate per day) o Operational safety in Dacita Sector, due to the control of seismicity and rock burst and hanging rock on draw points. • The challenge method, Sub Level Caving offers a higher certainty to produce the caving due to the complete blasting of the ore body, which incise on the total cost for the project. • Final cost of this two methods represent a variation of KUS$ 140.000 against the Sub Level Caving • In the other hand, Sub Level Caving looks to be a more safety method, so the final decision must be balanced by the final cost against risk expectations. • Codelco Chile and his El Teniente Division is a state owner company, where one on the most important objectives is to ensure the incomes, so the state of Chile could ensure all his social programs. 1

Details

Translated title of the contributionTECHNICAL – ECONOMICAL EVALUATION EXPLOITATION OF DACITA SECTOR BY PANEL CAVING WITH FORCED CAVING MASSIVE METHOD EL TENIENTE MINE, CODELCO CHILE
Original languageEnglish
Supervisors/Advisors
Award date28 Oct 2009
Publication statusPublished - 2009