Block Cave Mine Geometallurgy And Environmental Cost In Green Mining Strategy: A Case Study Of Analysis Using A System Dynamic Approach

Abstract

An orebody containing large volume of pyrites can generate acid mine drainage (ARD) upon rock-mineral is exposures due to the excavation. It goes through an oxidation process and without an in-place system enables pyrites is in properly handled could then create risk of environmental ecologist quality degradation. Many mines in today operation implement the recovery in area of mill-processing by including treatment process for ores containing pyrites along its generated acid at the mil facilities prior to release the tailing or wastewater. Activities extended into establishing the sedimentation pond for the tailing deposition area enable mine operator to properly control and measure the PH of waters along any other environmental risk-hazard. All of those happens in consideration of the solution after the fact which could contain more risk for mining operations following its less time given for mine to react and or potentially having more impact due to later spending extra cost on penalties upon fail managing the ARD. Risk possibly extends to the major discontinue of mine operation whenever reading result indicates beyond the accept level of tolerance. An effective of mining operation engineering in today’s industry not only consider the way of mine can be producing the large amount of tonnage in the good grade of metal but also in the zero harm of environmental were called green mineral exploitation. Green mineral exploitation on earth can be achieved through the performing of proper-robust engineering design at all stage activities. This robust engineering design will reduce until eliminate the negative impact since the presentation of pyrites in the orebody to surrounding mine environment while reduces consequences on area of commercials-cost. The underground mine method facing the challenge on its way of achieving ore extraction in effective and in efficient manners. The method is something that cannot be avoided when the location of orebody dictates the operator to do so which simply shows challenge is somewhat present the things to deal with it. This paper addresses the challenge of managing the containing of pyrites in underground mine orebody to prevent more impact on the environmental along the consequence impact on continuity of mining operation. It’s done through the structured risk assessments on each stage of mining activities, from the beginning of exploration, development-construction, production operations, processing in mill and refining facilities up until the last stage of mine closure. Multiple scenarios are developed using of the principles of system dynamics (SD) in oversee the possible negative impacts caused by mineral-chemical composition in the orebody along with the potential amount of environmental impact cost. Study research covers the analysis of gaps on current as-is process of mining engineering designation versus the ideal or to be process using the case of Grasberg district orebody complex. The current as-is process describes to extract the ores follows the production design capacities and mainly deferring mill-processing facility handling the pyrites. The to be considered of incorporate the planning of handling the pyrites as part of the underground blockcave mining operation scenario and reduce the load in area of mill-processing facility.