E-BOOK

LONG HOLE STOPING WITH

SHORT INTERVAL CONTROL
BEST PRACTICES TO REDUCE
STOPE-TO-STOPE CYCLE TIMES USING SIC
Contents

1. Executive Summary
2. The Long Hole Stoping Mining Method
3. Best practices to increase production
4. A case for Improving Operation Efficiency and Safety
5. Introduction to Short Interval Control
6. Introduction to FMS
7. Key performance indicators that can be assessed using GroundHog
Solutions
8. Our product capabilities
9. GroundHog Solution for Long Hole Stoping Design and
Development
10. Results
11. Conclusion
12. About us
13. References

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1. Executive Summary
Mining companies seek to maximize returns to shareholders through
the efficient extraction of resources. In this price-takers market, cost
controls are the biggest driver of shareholder value. To that end,
miners can deploy many strategic and tactical levers at different
mining stages. Long hole open stoping is one such practice used in
large-scale underground mining for its proven feasibility and low
operational cost.

Long hole stoping is primarily used for large ore bodies with steep dip,
regular shapes, and defined ore bodies. There are different variations
of the method depending on the ore body. However, the method is
based on the principle of blasting out large stopes which are usually
backfilled to maximize the recovery of the ore body. The advantage of
this method is the continuous availability of ore as there is no
suspension of work for filling along with the low operational cost. To
choose the long hole stoping method, the resistance of the host rock is
required to be moderate to high.

2. Long Hole Stoping Method

Long-hole mining is a popular underground method in which we
employ long hole drilling to produce ore. It is a system of large-scale
drilling and blasting in which large amounts of ore are broken in single
blasts. Blasted slices of rock fall into an open void within the stope. The
rock is extracted, and the empty stope is backfilled (delayed
backfilling). The method is used for metalliferous mines to mine ore
where both the ore and wall rocks are relatively strong. The method
may be applied to a variety of vertical or steeply dipping orebody
shapes and sizes.

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Long-hole stoping largely eliminates the intermediary level with the
draw and drill horizon interval governed by the length of hole that can
be drilled with minimal drillhole deviation (under 2%).

-Drill: ITH hammer

-Hole Diameter: 75-150mm
-Length: 30-60m

Figure 1. Long-hole stoping

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Normally, the vertical dimension is the largest, as in Figure 1. This
mining method provides limited selectivity. The orebody should
preferably be regular, as changes in orebody geometry outlines are
difficult to compensate for. Production holes, commonly in the range
of 50mm to 110mm diameter, are drilled either in a fan-shaped pattern,
or in a pattern parallel to the stope dip. Drilling can be done in advance
of ore extraction. Stope dimensions are determined from local ground
conditions. Mined stope width varies with orebody thickness.

Stope blocks are accessed in two directions:

Transverse
Longitudinal

Transverse stoping is common to tabular ore zones of widths

exceeding 5 meters, where stope access is driven by normal ore zone
strike. Narrower width ore zones are mined longitudinally, with stope
access driven parallel to, and within, the ore zone strike.

2.1. Longitudinal Long Hole Stoping is generally a pillarless mining

method, commonly developed in narrow, steeply dipping deposits. For
longitudinal retreat the long axis of the stope is along (or parallel) to
the strike of the orebody. The top sills are excavated to the full stope
strike width to permit drilling of parallel blastholes, typically at a
staggered pattern, as illustrated in Figure 2.

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 Figure 2. Longitudinal long hole retreat mining

Advantages

Mining cost reduction.

Faster stope production start.
Hanging wall and footwall stability is increased by the stope length.
Uneconomic ore slices are left in place and a new primary stope is
made.

Disadvantages

Cemented backfill increases production costs.

Production is decreased from long mucking distances.
Backfill cycle may be halted if a working area is not available.
Operational difficulty with drilling and filling from the same access
point.

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2.2 In transverse Long Hole Stoping (bulk mining method), a
tabular ore body is subdivided into stopes and pillars. Typically, an
expansion slot is developed by enlarging the slot raise to the width of
the stope, using parallel hole blasting. Ore is fragmented in the stope
using long parallel (primary stopes) or ring-drilled (secondary stopes),
and mucked from a drift, orientated perpendicular to the stope strike,
at the base of the stope.

Figure 3. A typical transverse long hole layout. While the

transverse method requires significant development of access
drifts in the footwall, but allows for complex stope sequencing

Advantages

High tonnage bulk mining method

Facilitates sequencing and allows for flexibility in planning and
mining
Large stope sizes can result in high productivity and lowered
drilling costs
Can be easily mechanized
Multiple stopes can be mined simultaneously

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 Repetitive techniques help to facilitate planning, training, mining,
and safety
Relatively high recovery

Disadvantages

High development requirements result in high capital cost

Development primarily in waste
Poor selectivity
Poorly suited to single narrow vein structures
Moderate dilution, especially when using backfill
Considerable ventilation needs due to active equipment on top
and bottom sills

3. Best practices to increase production

at mines using Long Hole Stoping

Adherence to Mine Planning - It is always a good practice to deploy

the mine plan with accuracy which leads to an improvement in grade
control due to better control of dilution. With accurate plan only the
part of the orebody is mined. This reduces ore transport costs and
improves cost efficiency per cycle.
Real-time visibility of operations – With the visibility of operations we
can track the availability and utilization status of equipment and can
optimize our production with available equipment.
Mechanization and Automation - In the case of tabular ore bodies we
can go with fully mechanized operation which increases the
production as well as safety.

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 4. Operation and Safety Efficiency
improvement using GroundHog
Solution in Long Hole Stoping
Main Operations in Long Hole Stoping:
1. Long hole drilling- Using ITH (In-the-hole hammer)
2. Powder loading- blasting
3. Support system- roof bolts (used in stope brow)
4. LHD- transport ore to crusher plant, mucking
5. Ventilation- for removing fumes
6. Primary crusher

GroundHog digital mining solution (SIC, FMS and Safety Management

System) helps to improve Operation Efficiency and Safety Performance
of the mine. Operation efficiency can be improved through data
capturing, real-time visibility of operation and timely correction of
deviation before it becomes a bottleneck. Similarly, pre-shift
examination of equipment and workplace, hazard identification, job
safety analysis, training management system and corrective actions
help to improve working environment and safety performance of a
mine.

A risk assessment can be carried out before the men and machine are
placed underground. Continuous monitoring of workplace safety is
recommended. Ground control is a critical issue while designing any
stoping method and subsequent systematic support must be
formulated for safe mining practices. Real-time visibility of all
operational activities and their sequence helps to take right decision
for corrective measures.

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Digital mining provides centralized single source of truth and
transparency in the system. Mining industry must constantly be
adapting to new developments in mining methods and improved
technologies.

5.Introduction to SIC
Short Interval Control (SIC)
SIC is a framework of structured strategies to higher control shift
obligations by regularly reviewing overall performance inside a shift
and comparing wherein production stands relative to plan, which
allows supervisors to put into effect mid-course corrections which
could improve the general effectiveness and performance of
manufacturing at some point of a shift.

SIC is carried out as a sequence of quick and targeted reviews which

might be commonly executed every four hours via front-line groups.
During the evaluation, employees within the front-line groups perform
the challenge of reviewing losses and identifying actions to assist and
improve performance within the destiny.

Optimized for use in underground mine operations, GroundHog SIC

controls mining production, tracks, and schedules workforce, and
helps you get deep insights to drive higher operating efficiency.

a. Create shift plan - Easily create weekly, daily shift plans to meet
advance rates and tons.
b. Streamline allocation - Streamline equipment and miner allocation
to meet shift plans.
c. Greedy-auto assign – Shift manager can auto-assign to operators
and available equipment with just one press of a button.

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d. Digital line ups - Digital line-ups on TVs and supervisor apps shorten
time to first-task-start.
e. Real-time monitoring - Monitor production in real time and mitigate
impacts.

6. Introduction to FMS

Fleet Management system (FMS)

The term fleet management refers to the overall process a business
uses for efficient fleet tasks & asset information, fuel management, cost
control, and compliance. It helps the OpsCenter continuously monitor
haulage, face utilization, equipment availability and utilization, and
fleet health. Also, it automatically tracks tonnage and material
movement. A fleet management system for underground mining
optimizes operations by controlling production, tracking, and
scheduling workforce, and presenting intelligent reports that improve
fleet productivity.

The ability to accurately monitor your fleet location, usage, and

behavior. The main objective of the fleet management system is used
to continuously monitor and optimize mines production. The FMS is
used in primary equipment like Loader, Hauler, Drill Jumbo, Bolters
etc. The system runs on algorithms and data is collected automatically
through a variety of sensors connected through mines network. In case
of equipment working at remote heading the system store the data and
transmit it to the GroundHog cloud hosting using peer-to-peer
networking.

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7. Key performance indicators that can be
assessed using GroundHog Solutions
Safety targets
Mining layout
Drill rig
Production targets
Support requirements
Explosive’s requirement
Services requirement
Ore removal and cleaning requirement
Training requirement

8. Our product capabilities:

8.1 Task list interface – Task can be allocated to Operators through
OpsCenter or Supervisor’s App. Operators get notifications of allocated
task on their tablet, can accept and update the task. This digitized
process reduces shift change over time and improve productive hours.

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8.2 Equipment pre-Ops / Worksite Inspections - Pre-shift
examination of equipment and workplace reduces the chances of
accidents/incidents and improves safety performance. Hazard
identification, job safety analysis and appropriate corrective actions
improve working environment and safety performance of a mine. A risk
assessment can be carried out before the men and machine are placed
underground. Continuous monitoring of workplace safety is
recommended.

8.3 Cycle Count and Data Capture – Operators can update their task
on their tablets. Task updated by operators are captured at OpsCenter
and production records are maintained.

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8.4 Consumables Data Capture Interface – Operators can update
consumables used during their shift. Record updated at OpsCenter and
real time visibility of consumables inventory reduces the time delay
caused due to consumables lead time.

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8.5 Delay Codes – During the shift start operator can update the status
of equipment using the delay code. In case of any mechanical failure,
maintenance team gets the notification with the reason for break
down. Communication is quick and time loss is minimum.

8.6 Alerts – Operators get notifications and alerts in case of detection

Add a to
of any hazard. They can move little bit oflocation
safe body text to avoid any mishaps.

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