Project number
16088
Organization
UA Department of Mining and Geological Engineering
Academic year
2016-2017
Highwalls are the unexcavated step-like faces of exposed earth in open-pit mines. The purpose of the project is to perform a geological analysis of various highwalls and design a blast pattern for a copper mine 64 miles southeast of Phoenix.
Using lidar and mining-oriented computer-aided design software, 3-D representations were created to analyze various aspects of the mine, including geological characteristics and how they affect highwall stability. Results were compared to projected mine plans versus actual mining results.
Using the analytical data, the team designed an optimal blast pattern that accounted for blast efficiency and areas of geological instability while conforming to the sponsor’s mine plan requirements.
Using lidar and mining-oriented computer-aided design software, 3-D representations were created to analyze various aspects of the mine, including geological characteristics and how they affect highwall stability. Results were compared to projected mine plans versus actual mining results.
Using the analytical data, the team designed an optimal blast pattern that accounted for blast efficiency and areas of geological instability while conforming to the sponsor’s mine plan requirements.