In open-pit mining, dilution control is handled using several key strategies focusing on accurate grade control, mine design, and precise blasting techniques.
Grade control is critical for identifying ore boundaries and minimizing waste material mistakenly mined with ore. It includes sampling, updating block models regularly, and using high-precision GPS and geology data to define ore and waste contacts accurately. This helps reduce both internal dilution (waste within ore blocks) and external dilution (waste outside ore boundaries but mined with ore)(Unlocking Efficiency, 2024).
More so, an optimized mine design takes into account geological features of the ore body by incorporating appropriate bench heights, slope angles, and mining block layouts to minimize ore loss and waste dilution. Additionally, equipment is carefully selected and operated to enable precise ore extraction and reduce unnecessary dilution(Doc, 2025).
In addition, drill and blast methods play a vital role in dilution control. Accurate drilling and well-designed blasting help minimize overbreak and prevent unwanted fragmentation into surrounding waste rock. Effective blast designs protect ore boundaries while achieving optimal fragmentation, and practices such as cleaning ore contacts before blasting and conducting fragmentation analysis help preserve ore quality(Ore Dilution and Quality Control in Open Pit Mines E-Book | PDF | Mining | Global Positioning System, n.d.).
Open-pit mining involves moving mountains, but maximizing profit requires pinpoint precision! How is dilution minimized and managed through open-pit grade control from sampling to blast boundary demarcation? Share your best practice for defining clean ore!
Reference:
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Doc, M. (2025, April 15). Types of Dilution in mining and effective strategies to minimize them. Mining Doc. https://www.miningdoc.tech/2025/04/15/types-of-dilution-in-mining-and-effective-strategies-to-minimize-them/
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Ore Dilution and Quality Control in Open Pit Mines E-Book | PDF | Mining | Global Positioning System. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://www.scribd.com/document/755837370/Ore-Dilution-and-Quality-Control-in-Open-Pit-Mines-E-Book
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Unlocking Efficiency: Ore Dilution and Quality Control in Open-Pit Mines – Groundhog Apps. (2024, October 23). https://groundhogapps.com/ore-dilution-and-quality-control/
