Evaluation and Risk Analysis of Open-Pit Mining Operations

Abstract

Mining of raw materials is a process that consists of several stages. In open-pit mining, material with high compressive strength is extracted by drilling and blasting and material with low compressive strength is extracted by e. g. a bucket wheel excavator. Most important influencing factors for crusher decision are compressive strength, moisture content, capacity of crusher, abrasiveness, and feed size. Depending on sequence of mining, fixed, semifixed, semi-mobile, or fully-mobile crusher stations can be applied. Compressive strength, tensile strength, cleavage, fracture behaviour, and stickiness are the most significant influencing factors for bucket wheel excavator selection. The waste removal and dumping associated with mining must be handled very well, so that the environmental impacts are as low as possible and dump stability is guaranteed. Essential are dump foundation properties, design of dump, and construction of dump. Open-pit mining operations harbour risks which can lead to project delays, operation standstill, injury to personnel, damage to equipment, or negative impacts on the environment. Therefore, risk identification and prevention of risks is essential.

Risk Assessment Methods in Mining Industry—A Systematic Review

“…The first regarded risk assessment method implementation in the mining industry for their machines and the proper operation of processes. For example, in work [121], the authors recognized risks in terms of operation, safety, geology, environment, finance, maintenance, repair, reliability, offer, and availability, and used preventative and mitigated controls to eliminate/reduce risks. In [122], this problem was analyzed with the use of a fuzzy logic-based safety evaluation method.…”

Sebaran dan Kontaminasi Logam Berat Nikel (Ni) pada Sedimen di Pesisir Desa Tapuemea dan Tapunggaya, Kabupaten Konawe Utara, Sulawesi Tenggara

“…Hal ini dikarenakan metode penambangan terbuka (open-pit mining) yang diterapkan oleh perusahaan tambang pada wilayah ini. Metode penambangan terbuka dapat berdampak negatif terhadap lingkungan (Pekol, 2019), dimana dapat menyebabkan degradasi lahan dan hutan (Pratiwi et al, 2021;Hou et al, 2019). Selain terhadap daratan, open-pit mining juga dapat berdampak negatif terhadap perairan terutama yang berada di sekitar tambang terbuka hingga yang berjarak beberapa puluh kilometer (Koščová et al, 2018).…”

Study of the impact of recultivated granite stone quarry dumps on the environment and agricultural land in the Leningrad region

“…Without properly organized reclamation, such dumps are almost never overgrown with vegetation and are a source of environmental pollution. A large amount of dust from them is transported to nearby settlements, polluting surface and ground waters [34][35][36][37][38][39].…”