Beyond geological factors, every tonne of waste rock that ends up in the ore stream represents an operational error made at the face. These mistakes, if not properly managed, can result in significant and costly dilution.
While unstable ground conditions such as varying rock wall strengths in the stope due to faults or leached zones can contribute to dilution, several critical operational practices are often at fault:
- Using inappropriate mining methods that do not align with the specific geology or orebody characteristics.
- Poor blasting practices, which can cause overbreak and unintended damage beyond the stope boundaries.
- Inconsistently defined stope boundaries, leading to unintentional inclusion of waste rock.
- Weak operational discipline, particularly where draw control procedures are either lacking or poorly implemented.
Addressing these issues is essential to maintaining ore quality, improving recovery, and ensuring the economic efficiency of a mining operation(Mubita, 2005).
What’s one common operational error you prioritize correcting to save the grade? Share your expertise!
References:
Mubita, D. M. (2005). Recent initiatives in reducing dilution at Konkola Mine, Zambia.
