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Pre-feasibility study
From QueensMineDesignWiki

Author: John Wright

Contents
1 Introduction
2 Purpose of study
3 Study content
4 See also

Introduction
The characteristics of the pre-feasibility study include:

5% - 15% of the engineering tasks are complete 

Cost estimate accuracy is in the order of ±30%
Bottom line contingency is in the order of ±20%
Normal time required for submission of draft report is in the order of 6-12 months Report reviews and
final approval can add significant time to the overall project schedule
Normal cost range (includes supporting studies and test work – geotechnical, mineralogical,
metallurgical, environmental, etc., but not exploration geology) will be in the order of 0.5% - 2.0% of the
total project value ($1.0 - $4.0 million for a $200 million project)

Purpose of study
The purpose of a pre-feasibility study is to select the preferred option (Base Case) for the project development (including
mine access, mining method, process method, etc). This base case option is then developed in sufficient detail to support
decisions to commit the additional funds (typically several million dollars) required in order to collect additional
information, carry out a final project feasibility study, and successfully complete the required project permitting efforts.

By the time a decision is made to proceed with a pre-feasibility study, a preliminary resource/reserve report (usually NI
43.101 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Instrument_43-101)compliant) has been completed and an orebody model
showing the orebody shape, tonnes, and grade is available. Initial geotechnical, mineralogical, and metallurgical
assessments may also have been carried out. The confidence in the accuracy of this data will reflect directly in the
confidence in the completed pre-feasibility study.

Study content
By the time a project has progressed to the pre-feasibility study stage, there will be some level of expectation that the
project will proceed through to construction and operation. At this level of review, the scope of information collection
expands into several parallel efforts including:

Completion of the orebody geological model. This model will continue to be further updated and refined,
but is “frozen” at some set date for the purposes of the pre-feasibility study.
Collection and analysis of geotechnical and hydrogeological data.
Collection and analysis of mineralogical data for ore and surrounding waste rock.

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Metallurgical test work on multiple ore samples in order to determine process methods and parameters,
and to allow prediction of metal recoveries, concentrate quality, etc.
Mine design, mine production schedule, process plant design, and related infrastructure and facilities
designs. These designs are generally conceptual in nature.
Environmental baseline data collection and reviews of mineralogical information to determine possible
elements of concern with respect to water discharge, tailings disposal, and waste rock disposal (such as
acid rock drainage, ability to meet discharge water quality standards, etc.).
Begin the community consultation process to identify any issues that may impact on the final project
design and to gain public support throughout the permitting process.

 A pre-feasibility level of study provides:

A continuation of work from a favourable scoping study decision.  Typically, the first activity will be to
carry out a review of the various trade-off options presented in the scoping study.  This may include basic
schematic designs, scope descriptions, a comparative schedule and cost estimate, and a table of
advantages and disadvantages for each of the options.  Various options for each topic (for example, mine
access) are compared and a recommendation of the preferred option is then provided. In some cases, a
ranking table will be used to help the decision-making process. This table will list key factors for the
various options being compared (e.g. safety, schedule, capital cost, operating cost, project risk) with a
relative weighting (normally 1 – 3) assigned for this factor under each option.  As well, each factor itself
will have an importance weighting value assigned (again, normally 1 – 3). The sum of the option ranking
and the factor weighting is entered under each option, and the option with the highest combined total for
all factors will normally be the preferred option.

After all trade-off studies are completed, the preferred options are combined into a Base Case option for the project design,
which is developed in more detail during the second phase of the pre-feasibility study.

A suitable level of design effort to fully describe the selected pre-feasibility Base Case option, and to
allow completion of a project schedule and cost estimate. This will include:
A complete breakdown of the project work scope and defined project battery limits.  This breakdown is
presented in a work breakdown structure (WBS) format that will be used in both the schedule and the
estimate for the pre-feasibility study, and will be carried through into the feasibility study and detailed
engineering design phases.
Work descriptions and general arrangement drawings/sketches sufficient to provide accurate estimates of
facilities required, services required, quantities of work, major equipment requirements, etc.
A mine production plan identified in sufficient detail to confirm mining method(s), backfill requirements,
mining equipment requirements, production rates and production ore grades by year over the life of the
mine. This also provides overall resource recovery and dilution information.
Mine development layouts including lateral and raise development provided in sufficient detail in order
to determine overall development meters required.
A plant process flowsheet with preliminary equipment sizing and preliminary mass balance.
General arrangement drawings and quantity requirements for services to the site (compressed air, electric
power, water supply, communications, diesel fuel, etc.).
Mobile and fixed equipment list and sizes/capacities.
Productivities calculated from first principles, vendor information, benchmark studies, industry
standards, etc.
Project capital costs based on quantities obtained from general arrangement drawings, vendor budget
quotes for major items, current data base information, current labour cost information, information
supplied by the Owner and/or gained at other similar sites, industry standards, etc.
Project operating cost and sustaining capital cost estimates based on the life-of-mine production plan.
Initial environmental baseline studies completed and environmental areas of concern identified with
preliminary designs for waste dumps, discharge water control and water treatment, noise and dust
abatement, etc.
At this stage, the environmental impact assessment, permitting process, and community relations work
can truly begin as enough is known about the project to be able to reliably assess the impacts and to
describe the planned project scope and benefits.

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An assessment of project risks and opportunities identified to date (including financial, schedule, health
and safety, political, etc.). Identify if there are any fatal project risks.

The study will also include plans and estimated costs for the next stage of the project (feasibility study), including:

An assessment of additional information requirements to support a feasibility study in the areas of:
geological/geotechnical/hydrogeological studies
mineralogical studies
metallurgical studies
environmental studies and data collection/monitoring
permitting (permit application filing/reviews, ongoing community consultation)
health and safety
staffing/training 
A plan covering schedule and estimated cost to address these areas is included:
A plan, schedule, and cost for the completion of the feasibility study engineering design.
A preliminary plan, schedule, and cost for the project execution and for the ongoing mine
operation.
A procurement plan, schedule and cost if the project is fast-track and/or requires the purchase of
significant major long-lead equipment items (such as a shaft hoist, SAG mill, major electrical
switchgear, or other specialty equipment) during the feasibility study stage or prior to the start of
site construction.

The pre-feasibility study is often considered to be the key stage in the project design as it lays the foundation for the project
work scope carried forward into the feasibility study.

See also
The stages of mine design

Pre-evaluation study

Scoping study

Feasibility study

Detailed design

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