Economic and technological aspects of interrelation between open pit mine depth and mining transport parameters

Abstract

Introduction. This paper presents the results of research on ore pit depth justification in relation to mining transport parameters. Research theory. Features of the current state and further development of deep pits are considered. There is also the classification of fields by relative excavation difficulty depending on physico-technical features of rock, conditions of their occurrence and climate severity. Besides, extractable ore reserves are classified depending on its value. The indicators for joint justification of excavation difficulty, ore pit depth, mining transport complexes parameters have been offered as well as their established optimal regions. Results and conclusions. The dependences have been obtained allowing to efficiently determine excavator bucket capacity and dumptruck load-lifting capacity and validate pit depth taking into account ore value. It has been determined that when mining a deposit of corresponding excavation difficulty with an opencast method, cost behavior changes with depth due to the increase in power, productivity, and power-weight ratio of drilling rigs, excavators, dump trucks, and bulldozers; cost behavior is of an increasing nonlinear character. Rational uses of mining transport complexes based on electric and hydraulic excavators have been singled out. The reasons of their probable change have been estimated. Research results have been approved when planning the largest gold ore pit in Russia, Vostochny pit of Olimpiadinsky gold ore field.