The role of digital simulation in assessing and reassessing the potential of complex coal deposits

Abstract

The article addresses the increasing complexity of mined or prospective coal deposits. The paper analyses the role of digital simulation in operation assessment and reassessment of the potential of complex in structure coal deposits for more accurate understanding their investment attractiveness, reliability of knowledge on quantity and quality of the reserves. The article stresses the objective need to take into account the realities of the VUKA-world, when companies have to react rapidly to changing of external conditions by adapting organizational and technological measures as much as possible to the constantly overestimated potential of the raw material base. It is of note that reserves should be assessed in accordance with international requirements in the light of the increasing number of parameters for management. The complexity of the structure, the geomechanical heterogeneity of the rock mass, the mineral content of the impurities in the coal, its caking capacity, oxidation and enrichment are taken into account in the estimation. The paper presents the measures to increase the level of utilization of geological potential through the application of selective mining and the control of different quality coal streams in preparation for enrichment and during primary processing.