Success Stories Improving the performance of drilling and blast designs
Understanding the varying degrees of hardness in mine rocks
The Sierra Gorda mine has been producing copper and molybdenum concentrates since 2014, in addition to by-products such as gold and silver, being a large mining project with a long-term operational perspective. Currently, blasting engineers define their designs based on information from the geological block model generated in the initial phase of the mining project. By its nature, this model does not specify contact zones well, developing opportunities in choosing an appropriate design to ensure fragmentation results with efficient consumption of explosives and drilling.
The Sierra Gorda deposit is of low grade, so maximizing plant performance and efficiently using resources is essential. This tool helps identify areas where we can save resources in soft zones while allocating necessary resources toward hard rocks. This approach allows us to achieve the desired fragmentation objectives that positively impact downstream operations.
José Luis Carrasco,
Operations Manager, Minera Sierra Gorda
Rock hardness modeling web application
Although drilling theoretically allows for more accurate differentiation between rock types, the data obtained is subject to sensor calibration variables that can lead to inaccurate information. However, by utilizing advanced analytical tools, we can detect and correct these errors, converting them into consistent sources of information. This information can be delivered through modeling applications as zoned knowledge of rock hardness in the mine.
We developed a web application for predicting rock hardness using borehole data to aid engineers.This solution allows us to:
Optimized drill and blast designs
In collaboration with our customer, we devised a custom solution that involved carrying out field exercises during a specific phase of mine development. Our analysis revealed a 77% correlation between the block model and hardness, with 23% different hardness zones detected over a 3-month analysis period. This information helped us design drilling and blasting strategies that ensured the desired fragmentation outcomes in the ballast and ore sectors of Minera Sierra Gorda’s mine:
The tool developed for Minera Sierra Gorda serves as an input for decision-making. It may suggest spending more in some cases, such as drilling and explosives, but in other cases, it can help save money. These decisions ultimately lead to achieving the desired levels of fragmentation, which is necessary for the expected performance of downstream processes. By working with our client on this project, we have demonstrated our commitment to achieving the highest standards of quality and service, making excellence our top priority.
