TITLE: UBC RATIONAL MINING METHOD SELECTION AND AHP-PROMETHEE MCDM

APPROACH FOR MINING METHOD SELECTION OPTIMIZATION: CASE STUDY OF

BRAVURA ZIMBABWE.
Take note of these:
1. Structure of how Chapter 1 is written
Introduction
The problem of selecting the most appropriate mining method has been grappled with for decades
(indicate that according to who?). Mining method selection is the most fundamental activity in a mining
study because everything else (mention what that everything is) depends on it. The mining method
should provide as little capital and operating costs as possible, that is, the return on investments should
start as soon as possible, and it is also necessary to increase the safety of employees and provide the
necessary production (Mijalkovski 2009; Peskens 2013). This crucial decision must invariably be made
at a stage of the study phases when the least information is available (Accurately research on which
mining phase mining method selection is done). The research involved (involves) determining an
optimal mining method using multi-criteria decision-making software and mine planning software
(mention which software exactly) recently developed to assist in mine planning since the traditional
methods are not very effective (if you do not know the level of ineffectiveness do not speak of it at all).

The research also involved the improvement of the mining method selection and optimization by
utilizing mining software and MCDM software. The primary input data is obtained from the geological
ore body characteristics, consultation with experts in the industry, and conceptual studies done by the
mining department by assessing all the underground mining methods with all the optimization criteria.
The results also require the input of the experts in the field of geology and mining including academia,
researchers, and industry personnel.

Abstract
Abstract is written upon completion of project as it is a summary of the project as a whole.

Background of the mine

Company History and Location
Bravura Zimbabwe is a sister company to AITEO holding one of the largest oil refinery companies in
Africa (this statement is not necessary and not related in any way to the project under study so don’t
mention it). The Bravura PGM field Project is located in the central portion of the Hartley Complex,

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approximately 70km southwest of the capital Harare. The exploration area covers approximately 3,000
ha, extending 5 km north-south by 6 km east-west.
From October to December 1991 two diamond boreholes were drilled at -90 o inclines by Delta Gold
NL. Borehole GDX7 is located inside the Project SG area and GDX8 is nearby. Details information on
the results from these boreholes (surveying, geological logging, geotechnical logging, and assaying
results) is available. A second diamond drilling camp was initiated in the same project area between
2008 and 2010 resulting in 45 diamond drill holes (25 000m of core) being drilled and an inferred and
indicated resource being confirmed.
Bravura was then acquired from Amari Resources in 2018. The Project comprises of approximately
6x6km Special grant. The SG has been duly staked and marked on the ground and registered according
to the provisions of the Zimbabwe Mines and Mineral Act (Chapter 21:05).

Fig 1.1 (Bravura location) Bravura 2023

Geology
The ore body to be mined at Bravura is tabular, synclinal and plunges gently at approximately 1.5⁰
towards the north. The mineralized zone known as the main sulfide zone (MSZ) is located between the
mafic and ultra-mafic sequence in the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe (Zimplats, 2012). Figure 1.1 shows the
general stratigraphy within the Bravura mine area.

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Figure 1.2: Generalized stratigraphy within the Bravura Mine area
(Source: Bravuura, 2020)
According to Bravura (2022), the MSZ hosts economically exploitable PGMs and related base metal
mineralization. The MSZ is a continuous layer with a thickness ranging between 2m and 10m forming an
elongate basin. Layers of igneous rocks within the basin dip at 5° to 20° near the limbs and flatten near
the center to form a flat-lying floor (Bravura, 2022). The MSZ can be visually identified by the presence
of iron-nickel-copper (Fe-Ni-Cu) sulfides disseminated mainly on the top part of the MSZ, termed the
Base Metal Sub-Zone (BMSZ). From the base of the BMSZ is a 1 m to 5 m thick zone of elevated PGM
values commonly referred to as the PGM Sub-Zone (Zimplats, 2022).

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Bbackground of the project
The brownfield platinum project completed its exploration in January 2022 and the project is
now in the Pre-feasibility stage. Prefeasibility has the following features geostatistics,
geotechnical and environmental studies, mining method selection, detailed mine design, mine
plans, mine equipment selection, ventilation design, ore handling systems, mine schedules,
metallurgical test, plant trial runs, plant and mill flow sheets to be carried out. In December
2022 geology department completed the block modeling, ore body modeling, and resource
classification according to the SAMREC code.

The company had planned to complete the pre-feasibility study by June 2023, however, the
project has seen a major delay in achieving the set objective. The mining method, mine
designs, mine layouts mine plans mine schedules, and mine equipment have not been
determined. The priority task was to select an optimal mining method first since the selection
of other outstanding features of the PFS depends on the selection of a mining method. The
selection of an optimum mining method presents a unique challenge that requires a
meticulous optimisation methodology that incorporates all geological, technical, and
economic parameters of the Bravura ore body at the same time assessing different alternative
mining methods versus the criteria and then selecting an optimum mining method. The
company could have opted to hire a consulting company or more staff to carry out the work
however due to capital constraints the investor suggested the work should be done internally

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with the available team of one senior engineer, one entry level engineer, four graduate
trainees and the student. In this study the student is addressing the problem of the absence of
an optimum mining method which suits the specific characteristics of the Bravura ore body.

Flats

Steeps

Fig1.3 (Bravura orebody 3D model

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Problem Statement
The absence of an optimal mining method that accommodates the specific characteristics of
the Bravura ore body.
Justification

● The mine design and scheduling cannot be established before the mining methods are

decided upon. Equally, if the choice of mining methods changes after mine design and
scheduling have commenced, significant and costly delays and overruns on the project
plan and schedule are inevitable.

● Successful selection of the mining method unlocks the mining of steep and flat

reserves of Bravura resources.

Fig1.4 (Bravura reserves quantity for the steeps and the flats)

● The optimal mining method is required for the feasibility study completion and at this

stage one will ensure that the project is indeed feasible and/or identify areas requiring
further detailed studies.

● Operational efficiency: the selection of an optimal mining method tailored to the ore

body’s characteristics contributes to the maximum ore recovery.

● Primarily in the present market with decreasing metal prices, selecting an optimal

mining method means a difference between a viable and a nonviable project.

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Aim
To utilize multi-criteria decision-making models to achieve an optimum mining method for
the Bravura ore body.
Objectives
1. To carry out rational mining method selection.
2. To select an Optimal Mining Method for the Bravura ore body by utilizing AHP and
PROMETHEE MCDM software’s
3. To carry out a Sensitivity analysis.
Methodology

● Desktop Study

● Data Collection

● Rational mining method selection using the UBC software tool.

● Mining method selection optimization using multi-criteria decision-making software

AHP and PROMETHE to select an optimum mining method.

● To perform a sensitivity analysis

Expected Results

1. Decision support framework integrating various factors and alternatives for rational
mining method selection.
2. An optimal mining method for the Bravura ore body.
3. Improve the mining method selection process.
4. A mining method that will be used for detailed mine design and mining layouts
5. A methodology for mining method selection optimization
Chapter summary and report outline

The research report is structured into five chapters; Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the
study including background information on Bravura. Bravura is a start-up brownfield
platinum mining company with the great dyke in Zimbabwe.

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The significance of the research includes benefits such as an increase in LOM, improved
capital utilization, and maximization of economic value. The remainder of the report is
briefly described below. Chapter 2 reviews the literature on mining method selection
processes and tools and with focuses on the Multi-Criteria Decision Making to determine an
optimal mining method for Bravura. Chapter 3 describes the research methodology used in
this project. Chapter 4 presents and analyses the results. The chapter presents the results
review of existing mining method selection processes and tools, factors influencing the
MMS, MCDM algorithm which was coded into an application using Python programming to
simplify the process of selecting an optimal mining method, results of the mining model,
validation results of the selected mining model. Chapter 5 concludes the study and
recommends the optimum mining method for Bravura's steeps’ Mineral Resources.

NOTE FOLLOWING DATA

The selection of an appropriate method of extraction is the basis of an underground mining

operation. Primarily in the present market with decreasing metal prices, selecting an optimal
mining method means a difference between a viable and a nonviable project. Importantly, a
feasible mining method increases the safety of employees and production efficiency. In this
paper, a numerical ranking mining method selection technique and two simple applicable
multiple attribute decision-making methods are applied. These are the analytic hierarchy
process and fuzzy multiple-attribute decision-making. These methods have been employed to
select the optimal underground mining method for the Upper Orebody at Nchanga mine in
Zambia. Results from the numerical ranking mining method selection technique considered
Cut and fill as the appropriate mining method. The multiple attribute decision-making
methods accurately defined the feasible mining method. Both the analytic hierarchy process
model and Yager's method considered Sublevel caving as the optimal mining method for
Nchanga's Upper Orebody

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